Putin hoped Xi’s state visit to Russia would reinforce their “friendship without limits.” He wanted Xi to agree to supply weapons to help him wage his genocidal war in Ukraine. But Xi has been limiting his support to little more than parroting Putin’s propaganda.

Xi’s state visit to Russia

And who can blame Putin? After all, he has watched Biden supply weapons to help Zelensky fend off his rampage. And that supply has amounted to tens of billions in military aid.

Embed from Getty ImagesThis must have had Putin fuming. After all, it made a mockery of his friendship with Xi.

Putin wanted Xi’s visit to show how he’s getting China to play for Russia the Axis role Japan played for Germany during WWII. Instead, it showed that Xi is getting Russia to become a vassal state of China. That, of course, is according to China’s plan for world dominion. That’s to replace the United States as the leader of a new global world order – Chinese style.

Xi did little to help Putin’s war

Putin’s war in Ukraine has left Russia isolated, weak, and desperate. Russia might have to mount a humiliating retreat from Ukraine. That’s because its beleaguered fighters are running not only out of steam but out of munitions to boot.

Again, Putin hoped Xi would help. He did not. Instead, Xi got him to sign agreements for China to exploit Russians and their mineral-rich country. You know, the way China is exploiting Africans and their mineral-rich countries.

Takeaway from Xi’s visit

Putin has little to show for his friendship with Xi. So it’s only a matter of time before it ends in a very nasty breakup. Retired Russian Colonel Mikhail Khodaryonok telegraphed that, on Russian state TV no less:

First, China can only have one ally—China itself … Secondly, China can only have pro-Chinese interests. Third, China has no altruism in its foreign policy. …

We should also remember that China is a nation that keeps a list of historical grievances. It remembers well the 19th century, the century of China’s humiliation. And Russia does not take the best place on this list either.

(Newsweek, March 17, 2023)

That is a very sobering perspective. But it explains why Putin’s attempt to forge a friendship with Xi is proving so ill-fated. Ironically, it also explains this headline in the current edition of The Economist:

Russia’s elite begins to ponder a Putinless future – Once unthinkable, the president’s removal can at least be contemplated.

As it happens, I presaged this “unthinkable.” So here’s to the Russian Claus von Stauffenberg. May he prove more successful…