Why hasn’t China supplied arms to Russia?

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin recently met in Moscow and, contrary to US intelligence predictions, there was nothing about China providing military support to Russia. In this video, we explore why China has not sent military aid to Russia, what China wants from Ukraine, and how this might change in the future.

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Satellite imagery data provided by Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCO, Landsat / Copernicus, Data LDEO-Columbia, NSF, NOAA.

[itryen]

These treaty names... I can't wait for them to announce the "Treaty of us two being very awesome"

[GSXK]

Russia went from world Superpower to vassel State in 30 years. Damn.

[winzyl]

Because China can clearly see the winning side here, it serves them no purpose to antagonize the vast majority of the world and face severe blowback, but also it doesnt want russia to collapse altogether. China will carefully walk a tightrope of helping russia in a way that can only be perceived as neutral, like selling oil but not providing any weapons.

[dragons_hook]

Months ago: "is China sending lethal aid to Russia?"

Now: "why ISN'T China sending lethal aid to Russia?"

[avlasting]

Their statements said it all. Putin emphasised ideology essentially at all costs while Xi emphasised harmonising China's goals with economic realities. Xi is far more practical than Putin and also sees their support as exceedingly risky, which Xi is adverse to, and rightly so.

[aL_]

i guess some of the nuance gets lost in translation but it's really funny how Putin and xi make their relationship sound like two kids on a playdate

[lucianoosorio]

MacArthur: Nuke em!
Truman: No!
MacArthur: NUKE EM!
Truman: NO!
MacArthur: AH COME ON!
Truman: You’re fired

[LizardSpork]

When your house is on fire, you will quickly find out you have two kinds of neighbours: the kind that lends a hose... and the kind that enquires about a fire sale.

[efanferdiantowibowo]

China is a pragmatic country. They will only act based on their own self interest. My guess is, China dont consider helping Russia in their war will be beneficial to them in the long run. Sure it will strengthen their bond, but at what cost?

[mathewfinch]

There's also the fact that Russia's main justification for the war was recognizing two breakaway provinces of Ukraine as independent. China is not incentivised to support the idea of breakaway provinces.

[scotandiamapping]

(This is my speculation so dont take this as fact)

China probably needs Russia as a functioning state since every other major source of oil for them has to go through the Malacca Strait and the longer this goes on the more unstable Russia becomes, and it's hard to import from a defunct state, so China will want this over as quickly as possible.

[Elongated_Muskrat]

I think it’s overestimated how much China could affect the outcomes in the war so doing nothing or very little is the rational course for them

[rsuriyop]

I'm really surprised that you failed to mention China's Belt and Road Initiative plan for Ukraine. This is likely another major reason why China wants to bring peace in this region. Because then it would allow them to revive the Silk Road as a major railway linking the east to the west.

[maximmeyer]

I think the question should be "Why should China help russia ". Because there is no reason. They got russian market and cheap oil/ gas. So there is nothing to gain by doing more and taking risks

[juhanivalimaki]

One reason missing. The only thing Russia can give for the military material help is oil and gas. (Well rubles too, but nobody trusts the value of the ruble). And China will already get all oil and gas that can be transported to China. That is, even China is regarding Russia as empty pocket hobo.

[jensschroder]

China has its own interests. As long as Moscow is on the sunny side, friendship is a given. But if Moscow isolates itself in world politics and stands against China's important trading partners, China does not want to be on the losing side.

[fatherted]

A farmer never put two male pig's in the same style it asking for trouble !

[ballroomscott]

Stating that the US doesn't want the war to end any time soon is a dangerous oversimplification of the situation. It would be more accurate to say that the US is not in favor of the war ending in any way that could be beneficial for Putin.

[harrytheprince]

It's weird to see the start of the Resource Wars sooner than Fallout predicted

[dengist]

That's a weird question. Why would China supply arms to Russia in the first place? Having good relations doesn't mean they are military allies