This is not a good sign.
The opening day of the Beijing Winter Olympics saw Russia and China proclaim a strategic alliance that would balance what they perceive as the harmful global influence of the U.S.
The joint statement released Friday affirmed the pair’s relationship’s strength. Declaring that “Friendship between the two States has no limits, there are no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation.” The countries announced plans to unite in numerous areas, including artificial intelligence, climate change, space, and Internet control.
This agreement comes as the neighbors are embroiled in ongoing tensions with Washington, China experiencing a diplomatic boycott of the China-hosted Winter Olympics, and Russia under threat because of the Ukraine crisis.
Their statements also see the countries support each other on critical points at the center of their tensions with the U.S.
Russia supported China’s stance on Taiwan, agreeing that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, and voiced opposition to the Island seeking independence.
China expressed its support for Russia’s desire for NATO expansion to end, also supporting Russia’s demands for the West to give security guarantees.
The two nations also voiced their disapproval of the AUKUS alliance between Australia, Britain, and the U.S. declaring it amplified the dangers of an arms race. They also noted their concern about plans by the U.S. “to develop global missile defense and deploy its elements in various regions of the world, combined with capacity building of high-precision non-nuclear weapons for disarming strikes and other strategic objectives.”
Moscow and Beijing also criticized “certain states” for attempting to establish global hegemony, fan confrontation, and impose their standard of democracy, statements many believe were directed at Washington.
Then, the two countries revealed they would be strengthening cooperation on artificial intelligence and information security, adding that “attempts to limit their sovereign right to regulate national segments of the Internet and ensure their security are unacceptable.”
Russia’s state energy giants also benefited from the newly-strengthened relationship, announcing a new Beijing-approved gas and oil supply deal worth tens of billions, further diversifying Russia’s energy exports away from the West.
It was also announced by the Kremlin that Putin and Xi Jinping were looking into expanding trade in national currencies to hedge the unpredictability regarding the use of the dollar. This announcement follows a warning by U.S. President Joe Biden that Russian companies could be cut off from trading in dollars if Russia invades Ukraine.
