China-Russia Relations

Trump and Putin’s visits confirm Beijing as the new global pivot

China’s recent hosting of both the US and Russian presidents shows that while it is not yet replacing the US as the strongest among the three powers, there is a definite shift in the balance, and China is dealing with both on its own terms. Academic Alexander Korolev explains.

Alexander Korolev

26 May 2026

After Trump and Putin, Xi turns to North Korea

Amid rumours of Xi Jinping visiting North Korea, analysts believe this is a calculated move by China to hold the strategic initiative and balance ties among the US, Russia and North Korea. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei finds out more.

Sim Tze Wei

22 May 2026

How China sustains the illusion of equality with Russia

Amid its meetings with US and Russian leaders, academic Marcin Kaczmarski observes that China holds a firm upper hand in its relations with Russia, while continuing to massage Russia’s great-power ego.

Marcin Kaczmarski

22 May 2026

Xi meets Putin after Trump summit to balance China-US-Russia triangle

Four days after a historic meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing. Amid signs of easing China-US tensions, the Russian president’s visit serves as a powerful reminder that China-Russia relations remain strong. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting speaks with academics to find out more.

Lim Zhan Ting

20 May 2026

Who decides when the Iran war ends?

In the Iran war, the US, China and Russia each pursue their own objectives, while Iran and Israel follow separate agendas, creating a complex web of interests. No clear path to a ceasefire has emerged, and the conflict’s endgame remains uncertain. Academic Hao Nan examines the possible scenarios.

Hao Nan

27 Mar 2026

Trump’s bluster, Xi’s subtlety: Reading the G2 call

The Xi-Trump call highlighted the stark contrast between US President Donald Trump’s brash style and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s measured diplomacy, with Taiwan and G2 dynamics taking centre stage as the world watched closely. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong gives her take.

Han Yong Hong

06 Feb 2026

Why Washington can’t outbid Beijing and Moscow in Central Asia

Central Asia is courted by the West but sustained by Beijing and Moscow. The region uses Western attention to lift its value — yet its survival still hinges on China and Russia. How long can this price-raising game last? Academic Hao Nan explains.

Hao Nan

08 Dec 2025

Greater China-Russia strategic alignment links two ‘battlefields’ of Eurasia

Although the Russia-Ukraine war and Taiwan Strait situations are different, strategic alignment between China and Russia on issues involving Japan and the “one China” principle during critical moments means there is room for linkages and even mutual restraint between the two “battlefields” in Eurasia, observes Lianhe Zaobao’s associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei. 

Sim Tze Wei

04 Dec 2025

[Big read] Border waltz: In Heihe, Russians cross to China for brighter smiles and warmer ties

In Heihe, a Chinese city across the river from Russia, dental clinics outnumber cafes — and Russian visitors fill their chairs. As Moscow leans closer to Beijing, this small border town tells a larger story of shifting power, dependence, and quiet cooperation. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting reports from the border city of Heihe in China’s Heilongjiang province.

Lim Zhan Ting

23 Oct 2025

Xi’s long game vs Trump’s deals: A clash of global futures

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, leaders of the world’s most powerful nations, embody radically different styles and visions for global order. Their diverging paths, from Xi’s long-term statecraft to Trump’s transactional populism, risk a bleak future if ideological divides persist. US academic Zhu Zhiqun examines this quagmire.

Zhiqun Zhu

09 Sep 2025

China: The powerful outsider missing from Russia-Ukraine talks

China is notably absent from high-profile Russia-Ukraine negotiations, yet its influence on the conflict’s outcome is undeniable. What explains this paradox of power from the sidelines? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Sim Tze Wei notes the intriguing position of China in current world affairs.

Sim Tze Wei

21 Aug 2025

Putin (and China) dodged Trump’s sanctions bullet at the Alaska summit

China may actually have much to gain from a US-Russia detente, says Italian commentator Emanuele Scimia. Better relations between Putin and Trump, with a resulting relaunch of the US-Russia dialogue, would bring greater stability to the international system — a boon for China’s problematic economy.

Emanuele Scimia

18 Aug 2025