Next China: Xi’s Russia Problem

There are "no limits" to the friendship between China and Russia.

That declaration made in a joint statement between President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin earlier this month could haunt China as it tries to balance supporting Moscow against U.S. criticisms, while portraying itself as a responsible global power.

As Russian forces attacked cities across Ukraine, the Chinese government called for restraint and a de-escalation through dialogue. No stranger to Western sanctions, China said the penalties against Russia, which target Putin's inner circle and the builder of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that runs to Germany, were counterproductive and suggested U.S. support for NATO’s expansion had left Putin with few options.