Part 5/18:
While Putin and Xi continue to trumpet their alliance, Russian intelligence officials are working quietly to contain China's influence. The memo cautions against publicly acknowledging China as a threat, fearing it could damage the delicate bilateral relationship. This internal discord suggests a relationship driven more by pragmatic necessity than trust.
Economically, Russia's dependence on China has surged since the Ukraine conflict began. China now purchases over a third of Russian exports and has replaced many Western firms that withdrew due to sanctions. This economic reliance gives Beijing significant leverage over Moscow, complicating Russia’s diplomatic calculus in its effort to balance cooperation with suspicion.