China’s absolutely central role in Vladimir Putin’s geopolitical strategy was on full display in his remarks ahead of the SCO Summit. Every aspect of his plan to challenge the West and build a new world order hinges on the “unprecedented” strength of the Moscow-Beijing alliance.
Economically, China is Russia’s lifeline. Putin hailed it as “by far Russia’s leading partner,” whose massive purchases of energy and goods (part of a $100 billion trade surge) have allowed Russia to withstand Western sanctions.
Financially, China is the key to breaking dollar dominance. The shift to ruble-yuan trade is only possible because of the scale of the Chinese economy and the growing international influence of the yuan.
Politically, China provides the necessary heft for Putin’s multipolar vision. Their “common stand” against sanctions and “similar views” on security give his proposals the backing of a second global superpower, transforming his agenda from a Russian grievance into a joint Sino-Russian world vision. Putin’s entire strategy, which he will advance at the SCO, is built on this indispensable Beijing bedrock.