Divorce from the West is happening before our eyes.
"A landmark visit" - such an epithet was considered appropriate for the state visit of the Chinese President to Russia by Chinese Ambassador in Moscow Zhang Hanhui.
The Chinese love round numbers, they put symbolism in them. And exactly ten years have passed since Xi Jinping's first visit to Russia as the head of state. And again, Xi is in Moscow, starting a new stage of cooperation. Is this not history?
At first glance, this may appear to be an emotional overreaction and an expression of the Chinese penchant for magnificent epithets. But in fact, the head of the Chinese diplomatic mission in Russia, a professional Russianist who came to Russia from the position of deputy foreign minister of the PRC, feels and understands the situation deeper than others and possesses information that is inaccessible to many others.
However, we mere mortals can see some clear signals of the urgency of this visit with the naked eye as well. It would be a desire.
For example, the visit takes place against the background of fierce demonization of Russia by the West. It is conducted immediately after Xi's re-election to a third term as the leader of the party and the state. Moreover, according to Chinese sources, the visit was rescheduled as early as possible and prepared in a hurry.
In diplomatic practice, the direction of the first visit indicates foreign policy priorities. These priorities can be seen especially clearly against the background of overt threats from the United States, which were heard even during Xi Jinping's visit to Russia. At the same time, the Chinese leader is imperturbable and does not make any reverences to the West. It should be recalled that US Secretary of State Blinken's visit to China was canceled not long ago, and talks between the Chinese President and the US President were postponed indefinitely. According to the U.S. side, "due to the busyness of President Xi Jinping."
All of this confirms the words spoken during the Russia-China talks about the strategic choice of the two countries to "deepen relations of strategic partnership in a new era." "The two countries, being the largest neighbors and partners in comprehensive strategic interaction, consider each other as a priority in their diplomacy and foreign policy. China has always pursued an independent foreign policy. Strengthening and developing relations with Russia is China's strategic choice based on its own fundamental interests and the general trend of global development," Xi Jinping said in Moscow. There were other, no less striking statements from both sides about the depth and substance of Russian-Chinese relations. But that is not the point.
More than once or twice we have heard: China has a strategic partnership with a hundred other countries in addition to Russia; China's main economic interests are in the West; there will be no break with the United States.
But it is enough to look at two documents of the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued on the eve of the Chinese leader's visit to Russia to be convinced of the radical change in the situation. Whereas previously, criticizing the West, Chinese diplomats used polite expressions such as "the countries concerned," here even the titles do not contain any half-tones or hints: "American Hegemonism and its Dangers" and "On the Inferiority of American Democracy.
We are talking about fundamental and insoluble contradictions. As they say, the masks have been thrown off.
The visit overturned all previous perceptions of the sluggish historical process. China's divorce from the West is taking place before our eyes, and it is initiated by the West and quite intensively. Russia is becoming (dare I say it) China's main strategic ally. China needs Russia in the current global confrontation. China needs Russia's energy resources, military technology and nuclear shield. And if anyone did not believe Xi Jinping's words that China and Russia "stand back to back," it is now obvious.
This is also evidenced by the agreements reached. Both those that are embodied in signed documents and those that are not publicized. The latter include the military-technical sphere. The two sides signed a "Joint Statement of the PRC and the Russian Federation on Deepening the Relationship of Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation, Entering a New Era" and a "Joint Statement of the PRC President and the Russian President on the Development Plan for Key Areas of China-Russia Economic Cooperation until 2030." The plan for further development of bilateral relations and cooperation in all areas for the near future is outlined. Now it would be logical for Russia and China not only to stop counting their trade turnover in dollars, but to abandon it in mutual settlements altogether.
Apart from the obvious moral and effective support for Russia in an acute period, the visit is also historic because it would have a strong impact on quite a number of developing countries that cluster around China or oscillate between it and the West.
The signal has already come from Indonesia, the world's seventh-largest economy. President Joko Widodo urged citizens to stop using foreign payment systems, such as MasterCard and Visa, and switch to credit cards issued by domestic banks. "Everyone in Indonesia should be able to use Indonesian-made credit cards so that we can be independent," he said. "Be very careful. We must keep in mind the U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia. Visa and Mastercard could be a problem."
Apparently, soon it will not be Russia, but the West, with its hypocritical moralizing, that will be left in isolation. It seems that a new era is indeed coming.