Putin Arrives In China To Deepen 'Anti-West' Ties With Xi Jinping; Trump Watches Closely | N18G

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:34]One summit, two strong men, [music] and a message aimed straight at the United States.

[00:00:40]Just days after Donald Trump wrapped up his tense Beijing visit without major breakthroughs, Russian President Vladimir Putin is now landing in China for a high-stakes meeting [music] with Xi Jinping, and the timing is no coincidence.

[00:00:58]As the Iran war rattles global markets, oil routes through Hormuz remain under [music] threat, and America struggles to contain crises from Ukraine to West Asia, Beijing and Moscow are moving closer than ever.

[00:01:12]Putin hailed China-Russia ties have reached an unprecedented level of trust, while Xi Jinping referred to the Russian President as an old friend.

[00:01:20]Together, the two leaders are preparing to project an image of a new global power axis, one that challenges [music] US dominance without openly declaring confrontation.

[00:01:30]The official reason for the visit is to mark 25 years of the China-Russia friendship treaty.

[00:01:36]But behind the ceremonies and handshakes lies a much bigger agenda.

[00:01:40]While Trump came to Beijing seeking leverage, Putin is seeking alignment.

[00:01:48]Putin's visit to China comes immediately after Trump's closely watched summit with Xi Jinping.

[00:01:53]Trump's meeting produced headlines, but there were very few concrete outcomes.

[00:01:58]There was no major breakthrough on trade tensions, Taiwan, or even AI.

[00:02:03]Most importantly, China did not offer any support for Trump's efforts to pressure Iran.

[00:02:09]For the Kremlin, Trump leaving Beijing empty-handed sends a clear signal that China is not abandoning Russia, and it is not fully siding with America, either.

[00:02:18]Beijing [music] is carefully positioning itself as a neutral superpower by talking to Trump one day and hosting Putin the next.

[00:02:24]China's balancing act is strategic. It wants stable ties with the United States because America remains one of its biggest economic partners.

[00:02:32]China also needs Russia for discounted energy, military technology cooperation, and as [music] a geopolitical partner against Western pressure.

[00:02:41]For Putin, this visit is also deeply symbolic. The Ukraine war isolated Russia from much of Europe, and China has become Moscow's [music] economic lifeline now. Trade between the two countries has exploded, doubling from 2020 to 2024, and crossing $245 billion.

[00:02:58]Russia sends China oil, gas, and coal.

[00:03:01]China sends Russia machinery, vehicles, electronics, and industrial goods.

[00:03:05]While both countries deny forming an anti-West alliance, their actions tell a different story.

[00:03:13]At the center of this summit is one giant project, the Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline. This proposed 2,600 km gas pipeline can pump 50 billion cubic meters of Russian gas into every year, and is a critical pipeline for Putin.

[00:03:30]Before the Ukraine war, much of that gas went to Europe, but Western sanctions shattered Moscow's energy business with the West.

[00:03:36]Now, Putin wants China to become Russia's long-term energy anchor, and the Iran war may suddenly make that project even more attractive. With tensions threatening shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, overland pipelines look safer >> [music] >> and more reliable. That gives Russia a powerful argument, but China is still cautious.

[00:03:54]Beijing does not want to become too dependent on Russian energy.

[00:03:57]It is also negotiating with Central Asian countries like Turkmenistan and expanding alternative [music] supply routes through Myanmar and Sakhalin.

[00:04:06]Despite years of talks, Power of Siberia 2 remains stalled because Beijing wants cheaper gas, while Moscow desperately needs revenue.

[00:04:14]Which means Xi Jinping currently holds the stronger hand and Russia needs this deal more urgently than China does.

[00:04:23]Beyond energy, the Xi-Putin summit is also about reshaping global influence.

[00:04:28]Both leaders are expected to coordinate on artificial intelligence [music] governance, trade systems outside Western control, and cooperation through platforms like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

[00:04:41]They are also expected to discuss Ukraine, Iran, [music] and the future of global security alliances.

[00:04:47]For China, Russia remains a valuable strategic partner, especially as tensions with the United States continue to rise. [music] For Russia, China is no longer just a partner, it is a necessity.

[00:04:59]While Beijing publicly presents itself as neutral, its growing closeness with Moscow tells a more complicated story.

[00:05:06]China has avoided condemning Russia's war in Ukraine.

[00:05:10]It has continued buying Russian energy, and Western officials believe Chinese technology has helped Russia's military-industrial base survive sanctions pressure.

[00:05:19]At the same time, Beijing does not want total confrontation with the West, so Xi Jinping is walking a careful line.

[00:05:26]The Chinese president is engaging with Trump [music] diplomatically, while standing beside Putin strategically.

[00:05:32]The China-Russia relationship is emerging as one of the most important forces shaping what comes next.

[00:05:37]It's not quite an alliance and not exactly neutrality, but together, Xi and Putin are building something [music] that could redefine the balance of power in the 21st century.