RRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Beijing is placing China’s diplomacy under closer scrutiny, as it balances its partnership with Moscow against strained relations with the U.S.
In an interview with Anewz, Anna Evans, a political analyst, said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s trip to Beijing, alongside fresh signals that President Vladimir Putin may visit China soon, comes at what she called “one of those critical junctures”, when it matters to show that Russia and China “remain very much aligned”, particularly because of the war and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.
Evans argued that China’s energy exposure has sharpened Beijing’s interests, saying “China purchases 90% of Iranian oil”, and that limits on shipping and naval movements through Hormuz make Russian energy supplies “absolutely precious” for China, even if Russia’s own exports do not rely on the strait.
Evans said the relationship, often seen as tilted towards China because of its economic weight, could appear more balanced in the current crisis because Beijing “vitally needs Russia, even more than it needed before, for its energy”, while Moscow relies on China in financial and technological terms.
She further told Anewz that a Putin visit would be about showing the partnership is intact and about practical steps, including investment in pipelines and other infrastructure that can secure energy flows, and access to critical raw materials for technology industries.
On whether China is positioning itself as a broker between rival camps, Evans said this is Beijing’s “usual strategy”, a preference for “silent negotiation” and “a backstage role”, describing China as “very silently a back channel”, rather than a power that seeks the limelight, even when it has clear interests in Russia, Iran, and the wider Middle East crisis.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said Tehran is not currently involved in direct talks with Washington about reopening the St...
Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, after years of ...
Indonesian rescue teams are searching for 28 people still unaccounted for, three days after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Madura isla...
A tourist aircraft crashed near Peru's UNESCO-listed Nazca Lines on Saturday (1 August), killing all 13 people on board, authorities said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Saturday he would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said Tehran is not currently involved in direct talks with Washington about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were to begin on Monday.
Two firefighting helicopters collided while battling a major wildfire in Greece on Sunday, killing two crew members as emergency services continued efforts to contain fires fuelled by extreme heat and dry conditions across Europe.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said wildfires that swept across France were now under control. Authorities warned that risks remained as Greece and Spain continued battling active blazes across parts of Europe.
Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, after years of questions over the health and well-being of the 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Indonesian rescue teams are searching for 28 people still unaccounted for, three days after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Madura island.
17 Gaming won the PUBG: Battlegrounds title at the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana after a closely fought tournament that was decided in the 15th and final match.
Cuba faced another nationwide blackout after its electricity grid failed, deepening an energy crisis tied to fuel shortages and U.S. sanctions.
The Japanese yen strengthened on Monday after Japan and the United States confirmed a rare coordinated currency intervention to halt the currency's slide following weeks of pressure.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment