Axis of despots challenges West
Friday’s warm embrace in Beijing between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping sent a message to the world’s democracies. Whether it presages a full-scale new “axis of power” between Moscow and Beijing remains to be seen. But the leaders of the world’s two major autocracies are proclaiming their close ties.
With Russia preparing to invade Ukraine, and tensions over Beijing’s threat to Taiwan, the importance of Mr Xi’s pledge of strong political and economic support for Russia in its confrontation with the West is incontrovertible. In denouncing NATO expansion in eastern Europe, which is at the heart of the Ukraine crisis, the Chinese despot spoke ominously of deeper “back-to-back strategic co-operation” between Beijing and Moscow. Such help from his giant neighbour will doubtless embolden Mr Putin, not just in targeting Ukraine but in his ambition to regain Russian influence.
Their joint statement was deeply significant. It linked China’s denunciation of NATO and Russian support for Beijing’s threat to Taiwan, and denounced the AUKUS nuclear submarine alliance between the US, UK and Australia. Criticising Washington’s “negative impact on peace and stability” in the Asia-Pacific they claimed, for no good reason, to be “seriously concerned” about AUKUS.
Mr Xi and Mr Putin have reportedly met 30 times previously, but have never before expressed such close views. It may be, as John Lee writes on Monday, that “the advanced democracies still enjoy huge advantages, notwithstanding their sneering rhetoric against us”. For decades, India and Vietnam have long counted on Moscow’s help in rebuffing Chinese expansionism and aggression. Questions arise, too, about China’s response to Mr Putin’s attempt to reassert Russia’s influence over the former Soviet empire when, in places such as Kazakhstan, they are in fierce competition against each other for influence.
The two powers have a history of conflict. There were fears of a nuclear conflict when, in 1969, they fought an intense border war that erupted over interpretations of Marxist-Leninist ideology. For all that, the challenge that emerged from Beijing demands strong leadership from the West. As he mobilises to invade Ukraine, the “unprecedented” relationship he has forged with Mr Xi is important to Mr Putin. It is also important to Beijing as it cynically plays the Russian card, with its vast nuclear arsenal, in its quest to dominate Asia. If the free world is to overcome the new axis of despots the threats to Ukraine and Taiwan must be driven back.