China has responded that it will continue to engage in trade with Russia.
China accused the United States of “unilateral bullying” after President Donald Trump blamed Beijing for funding Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine through oil purchases.
Trump said last week that Indian prime minister Narendra Modi had promised him that his country would stop purchasing Russian oil and that he would persuade China to do the same.
Buying Oil from Russia and Economic Sanctions
Last week, Trump accused China and India of funding Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine by buying Russian oil. He also urged those European countries that still buy Russian oil to stop immediately.
China, however, responded that it will continue to engage in trade with Russia.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that “the actions of the United States are a typical example of unilateral bullying and economic coercion,” adding that China will take “firm countermeasures and resolutely safeguard its sovereignty” if its interests are harmed.
Russia’s illegal large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and the subsequent behavior of the Russian forces in Ukraine—including the commitment of war crimes and genocide—quickly made Russia a pariah state. A US-led coalition comprised of scores of countries imposed heavy sanctions on Russia in an attempt to stop the invasion. The sanctions were mainly targeted against Russia’s economy, but also included travel and sports, among other categories.
In the case of Russia, it was judged that the best way to bring the Kremlin to the negotiation table would be to target its oil and natural gas production and supply. Countries were encouraged to stop buying Russian oil and natural gas. For some countries, including European nations, that was easier said than done, and the economic measures met with mixed success.
A Pragmatic, Uneasy, “No Limits” Partnership
Russia and China have an interesting relationship. Before the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow and Beijing were friendly, often hosting joint military drills. Their relationship was a pragmatic one and grounded in competition with the United States. The Russo-Sino relationship was often called a “no limits partnership.” However, they were not allies in the sense that the United States is with the United Kingdom or other NATO countries.
Moreover, the two countries have also enjoyed a key trading relationship, especially after Russia was excluded from Western and Ukrainian defense products following the initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014 that resulted in the annexation of Crimea.
Although Beijing has urged Ukraine and Russia to find a peaceful solution, it has never denounced the Kremlin’s actions as scores of countries across the world have. At the same time, it has not recognized any of Russia’s territorial gains.
Furthermore, there are reports that China has been aiding Putin’s invasion by providing key hardware to Russia, including engines for cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems, machine tools for ballistic missiles, and—most crucially—microchips. The Russian military has experienced severe microchip shortages, often having to cannibalize everyday devices, including microwaves, ovens, fridges, and cars, for chips to be put in ballistic and cruise missiles. Beijing has denied these claims.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com
