China and Russia: We Will Help Each Other If Invaded

Xi Jinping and Putin Extend 'China-Russia Friendship and Cooperation Treaty'
President Xi: "Both countries will continue to unite and move forward," President Putin: "We will strengthen cooperation on sovereignty and territorial integrity"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, China and Russia reaffirmed their friendly relations once again.

China's state-run People's Daily reported on the front page of the 29th that President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit via video conference the previous day. The People's Daily stated that after the summit, the two leaders agreed to extend the "China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation." This video meeting between President Xi and President Putin came 40 days after the groundbreaking ceremony of a nuclear power plant in China that incorporated Russian technology, held on the 19th of last month.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the summit, President Xi said, "The China-Russia relationship is mature, stable, and solid, capable of overcoming any international changes and trials," adding, "We must closely cooperate on international issues to uphold true multilateralism, peace, and justice." He further emphasized, "Even if the road ahead is rugged and we must overcome difficult hills, I believe that China and Russia will continue to unite their hearts and move forward together."

In response, President Putin congratulated "the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China," and said, "The Russia-China Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation reflects the will of the peoples of both countries," adding, "This treaty will play an important role in the smooth development of Russia-China relations." He also stated, "Russia will continue to deepen strategic mutual trust with China and further strengthen efforts and cooperation to safeguard mutual sovereignty and territorial integrity." He added that Russia hopes to elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China to a higher level.

Regarding the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, the state-run Global Times evaluated the relationship between the two great powers (China and Russia) as a direct response to the Western camp, including the United States. The outlet reported that Russia needs a prosperous and stable China, and China needs the strength of a strong Russia, with both countries considering each other as priority partners to deepen cooperation in political, economic, cultural, and military sectors.

It particularly diagnosed that this is a good example showing that China and Russia respect each other in the face of some countries interfering in other nations' internal affairs under the pretext of democracy and human rights and imposing unilateral sanctions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

It also analyzed that the summit between the top leaders of China and Russia immediately after the summit between President Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden dealt a blow to Western efforts to drive a wedge between the two countries. It emphasized that China-Russia relations differ from Western blocs (alliances) that are adjusted according to the needs of the times.

Yang Jin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences specializing in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said, "China is facing challenges in security areas such as the West (Xinjiang Uyghur and Tibet) and the South China Sea (Taiwan, Hong Kong, and territorial claims in the South China Sea)," adding, "The China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, which embodies equality and mutual respect, will be a good model for building bilateral relations."

The China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation was signed in July 2001 by then-President Jiang Zemin and President Putin, containing provisions to end various disputes between the two countries, including past territorial issues. In 1963, China and the Soviet Union fought a war over the sovereignty of a small island called Zhenbao Island (Damansky Island) in the middle reaches of the Ussuri River (Amur River in Russian) in Heilongjiang Province. After losing the war, China allied with the United States in 1972 to counterbalance the Soviet Union. This was the reason for the Ping-Pong diplomacy between the U.S. and China in 1971.

Ironically, the background for the former adversaries China and Russia to join hands again lies with the United States. The Global Times claimed that at the time of signing the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, the United States had greatly destabilized the Middle East with the Gulf War and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the U.S. camp, including NATO, exerted influence in Central and Eastern Europe while pressuring Russia. It explained that China and Russia signed the treaty to check U.S. hegemony. Article 9 of this treaty states that if one party faces threats to peace and security or the risk of invasion, the other party will provide assistance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.