"Putin Met Xi Jinping, Expected Weapon Support but Seems No Results"

Putin's Overtures Met with Lukewarm Response from Xi Jinping
Western Media: "Xi Jinping Attempts Tightrope Walk Between Russia and the West"

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a state visit to China on the 16th and 17th, actively courting Beijing, but Western media evaluations indicated that Chinese President Xi Jinping maintained a lukewarm attitude throughout. From Putin's perspective, China's help is crucial to winning the war with Ukraine, but Xi, seeing little benefit, kept an appropriate distance, mindful of the West.

Leaders of both countries attending the performance commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia

On the 17th (local time), the British BBC reported, "Russian and Chinese state media highlighted the friendship between the two leaders, but in reality, this is no longer an equal partnership."

BBC noted, "President Putin visited China with a polite demeanor, hoping the Chinese government would continue trade with Russia, which is under heavy sanctions and isolated. His remarks were filled with sweet tones and flattering expressions."

Particularly, BBC focused on Putin revealing that his family is learning Chinese, contrasting with his usual restraint in mentioning his children in public. However, Xi's response "did not mirror this noble praise. Instead, his remarks were more formal and even dry," the report said.

BBC added, "While relations with the West may be strained, the Chinese government has not isolated itself from the world like Russia and does not wish to do so. Xi is attempting to strike a delicate balance between Russia and the West."

The British weekly magazine The Economist also pointed out, "China's leader (Xi Jinping) is not trying to abandon Putin. However, unlike his Russian friend (Putin), he gains nothing from chaos," adding, "With China's economy slowing, it benefits from avoiding a complete break with the West."

In a report by the British daily The Telegraph, U.S. Asia expert Michael Auslin said, "Even if China does not become the sole hegemon, it will be one of the great powers, but Russia is essentially just a legacy of what was once a great power," and that the trajectories of the two countries are completely different, making a long-term equal partnership impossible.

U.S. CNN assessed that President Putin did not seem to gain much from this visit to China. The outlet reported, "Although it is unclear what discussions took place behind the scenes, Putin left Beijing with almost no publicly acknowledged achievements," adding, "Despite grand rhetoric, there were almost no concrete commitments."

Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker told CNN, "Putin went to China to ask for more help, but it seems unlikely he will receive it," and "He will not be able to get direct support for the war from China, including weapons or ammunition."