China clearly understands the reasons Russia launched its operation
In the ancient city of Samarkand, two of the world's most consequential leaders prepared to meet — not merely as heads of state, but as architects of an emerging order that challenges the post-Cold War settlement. Xi Jinping's first journey beyond China's borders in over two years, set against the backdrop of war in Europe and tension across the Taiwan Strait, was itself a message: that Beijing and Moscow, bound by what they call a 'no limits' partnership, intend to navigate the world's fractures together. The meeting at the SCO summit was less a diplomatic event than a public declaration of civilizational alignment.
- Xi Jinping breaks a two-year self-imposed isolation to travel to Uzbekistan, signaling that this moment — on the eve of his expected consolidation of supreme power — demanded a visible show of strategic solidarity with Moscow.
- The Kremlin frames the encounter in the language of deep trust rather than routine diplomacy, describing an 'unprecedentedly high level' of partnership that goes well beyond transactional interest.
- Moscow's praise of Beijing's 'balanced approach' to Ukraine — and its assertion that China understands the 'reasons' for the invasion — reveals a shared narrative that quietly legitimizes Russia's war without requiring China to openly endorse it.
- Taiwan's presence on the agenda, left deliberately unexplained, underscores a parallel logic: both nations face Western resistance to territorial ambitions they consider non-negotiable.
- Western governments watch the deepening Russia-China axis with open alarm, recognizing that the combined weight of Moscow's military posture and Beijing's economic reach represents the most serious challenge to the liberal international order in decades.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were set to meet in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit — but the encounter was anything but marginal. The real business was bilateral, and it centered on two conflicts reshaping global politics: the war in Ukraine and the simmering standoff over Taiwan.
Xi's journey to Central Asia was itself a threshold moment. He had not left China in more than two years, a period marked by pandemic isolation and growing estrangement from the West. The timing was deliberate — within weeks, Xi would move to secure his position as China's most dominant leader since Mao. His meeting with Putin was not incidental to that consolidation; it was a statement about where China stood as he prepared to cement his authority.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov outlined the agenda in Moscow, but his language revealed what Russia most wanted to project: an 'unprecedentedly high level of trust' and a 'strategic partnership' that transcended ordinary diplomacy. On Ukraine, Moscow praised Beijing's 'balanced approach' — a formulation suggesting China was neither condemning the invasion nor openly endorsing it — and noted that China 'clearly understands the reasons' behind Russia's military operation, using Moscow's own terminology for the war.
Taiwan would also be discussed, though Ushakov offered no details. The silence was its own signal. Both nations faced Western resistance to territorial ambitions they considered non-negotiable, and neither was prepared to yield. What was unfolding in Samarkand was not the birth of a new alliance but a public affirmation of one already in motion — a counterweight to American and European influence, timed to coincide with Xi's rise and Russia's continued prosecution of its war.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were set to meet in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Thursday for talks that Moscow said would carry unusual weight given the moment the world was living through. The gathering would take place on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, but the real business was bilateral—and it centered on two conflicts that had reshaped global politics in recent months.
Xi's journey to Central Asia marked a significant threshold. He had not left China in more than two years, a span that encompassed the pandemic's worst years and the deepening isolation of Beijing from much of the Western world. The timing was deliberate. Within a month of this trip, Xi would move to secure his position as China's paramount leader, a consolidation of power that would make him the most dominant figure in the country since Mao. The meeting with Putin, then, was not incidental—it was a statement about where China stood as Xi prepared to cement his authority.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov laid out the agenda in Moscow. The two presidents would address bilateral matters and the major regional and international questions of the day. But Ushakov's language revealed what Moscow most wanted to emphasize: the "unprecedentedly high level of trust" between the two nations and their "strategic partnership." This was not the language of transactional diplomacy. It was the language of alignment.
On Ukraine, Ushakov offered a careful characterization. Moscow valued what it called China's "balanced approach" to the conflict—a diplomatic formulation that suggested Beijing was not condemning Russia's actions, even if it was not openly endorsing them either. More pointedly, Ushakov said that China "clearly understands the reasons that forced Russia to launch its special military operation." This phrasing—using Russia's own terminology for the invasion—indicated a shared narrative. The two countries would discuss this "thoroughly" at the upcoming meeting, he said.
Taiwan would also be on the table, though Ushakov did not elaborate on what that discussion might entail. The omission itself was telling. Both nations had territorial ambitions that the West viewed as threats: Russia in Ukraine, China across the Taiwan Strait. Neither was willing to concede ground or accept Western pressure to abandon its objectives.
What was unfolding was a deepening partnership that Western capitals were watching with undisguised concern. Russia and China had long described their relationship as having "no limits." Russia brought natural resources and military capability; China brought economic weight and demographic scale. Together, they represented a counterweight to American and European influence that had dominated the post-Cold War order. The meeting in Samarkand was not the beginning of this alignment—it was a public affirmation of it, timed to coincide with Xi's consolidation of power and Russia's continued prosecution of its war in Ukraine.
Citas Notables
The presidents will discuss both the bilateral agenda and the main regional and international topics, and will give a positive assessment of the unprecedentedly high level of trust within the bilateral strategic partnership.— Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov
China clearly understands the reasons that forced Russia to launch its special military operation.— Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does it matter that Xi is leaving China for the first time in over two years specifically now?
Because he's about to lock in his power for another term. This trip signals that he's confident enough to be abroad, and it's a show of strength—he's not isolated, he's meeting Putin as an equal on the world stage.
What does "balanced approach" actually mean when Moscow uses it to describe China's stance on Ukraine?
It means China isn't condemning Russia publicly, but it's also not sending troops or weapons. It's a way for Beijing to maintain plausible deniability while signaling to Moscow that it understands the logic of what Russia is doing.
Why would the West be anxious about a Russia-China partnership?
Because separately, each is a regional power with limits. Together, they control vast resources, military capability, and population. They can coordinate on issues where Western interests are at stake—Ukraine, Taiwan, the Middle East.
Is there any daylight between Russia and China on these issues?
Not publicly, and that's the point. By meeting now, they're showing unified messaging. Whether they actually agree on everything behind closed doors is another question, but the appearance of alignment is what matters geopolitically.
What happens after this meeting?
Watch for joint statements that use similar language about Ukraine and Taiwan. Watch for whether China moves closer to Russia economically or militarily. And watch whether the West tries to drive a wedge between them—because that's the only real counter to this partnership.