**China Deepens Alliance with Russia Amid Trump’s Tariff Threat**
In a move that has significant implications for the global economy, China has vowed to deepen its alliance with Russia in the face of US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose severe tariffs on Moscow’s trading partners unless a Ukraine peace deal is reached within 50 days.
According to a report by The Telegraph on July 15, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that mutual trust between China and Russia had “deepened” after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing. Xi hailed the partnership as “a model for a new type of international relations.”
The news comes just a day after Trump warned of imposing 100% tariffs on Russia if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a peace deal in Ukraine within 50 days. During a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump expressed his frustration over the continued violence in Ukraine, saying that he speaks frequently with Putin about finding a solution.
**Escalating Tensions**
In recent weeks, Russia has stepped up missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, causing civilian casualties and damaging infrastructure. In response to Trump’s threat, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the US warning was “quite serious,” but added that Moscow needs time to evaluate the statement.
Despite China’s claims of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Beijing’s support for Russia’s economy and defense industry has made it one of Moscow’s most crucial partners. Ukraine’s sanctions commissioner, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, has accused China of becoming the leading supplier of dual-use components used in Russian weapons production.
**Chinese Support for Russia**
Ukrainian officials have reported finding Chinese-made parts in downed Shahed-type drones used in Russian attacks, including during a July 4 assault on Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed sanctions on five Chinese companies linked to supplying drone components, citing national security concerns.
Earlier this month, the South China Morning Post reported that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told EU official Kaja Kallas that Beijing “cannot afford for Russia to lose the war,” fearing that a Russian defeat would shift US focus to China. Wang has dismissed accusations of aiding Russia militarily, framing China’s support as “non-lethal.”
**Growing Alignment**
Amid growing alignment between Beijing and Moscow, Xi and Putin are expected to meet in September at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China. In June, Bloomberg reported that Trump was scaling back pressure on China over its support for Russia’s war effort, shifting his administration’s focus toward other facets of the US-China relationship.
As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how this deepening alliance between China and Russia will impact global politics and the economy.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
