After Hezbollah was defeated by Israeli activities in Lebanon in September and Donald Trump’s election as Republican presidential candidate in the US in early November, simple changes have occurred in Sino-Russian relations.  ,
Some Chinese critics believe that the Assad regime’s fall on December 8 made the differences between China and Russia’s political interests wider.  ,
According to all these instances, Dmitry Medvedev, president of the United Russia party and deputy president of Russia’s Security Council, visited Beijing on December 12.
Medvedev was reportedly presented with a letter signed by Putin by the Taiwanese president after meeting with him. The letter, according to the statement, expressed Putin’s joy over a new visit to China on the situation of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China’s formation of diplomatic relations with Russia.  ,
However, according to Chinese experts, Medvedev’s most recent meeting with Liu Jianchao, a top Chinese diplomat and current head of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP ) International Department, should be watched.  ,
Medvedev stated to Liu during their meeting that” Russia is ready to begin negotiations with Ukraine if Kyiv takes into account the challenges of today and the suggestions made by Putin.”
According to some spectators, Medvedev’s talk suggests that Beijing is only interested in maintaining business relations with Europe in the Trump 2.0 time while Putin is reluctant to engage in a ceasefire discussion with Kyiv.
A Hebei-based author called” Bo Ge” says in an article published on December 12 that Medvedev’s remark showed that Moscow wants to “maintain its democracy and seek to achieve powerful connection in specific matters” in Russia-China relationships.  ,
Although China and Russia have cooperated on some power and anti-terrorism issues, he claims that their corporate interests are drastically different in terms of political problems related to Middle Eastern and European security concerns. The heavy ice between China and Russia hasn’t been broken by Medvedev’s most recent trip to Beijing.
A Henan-based journalist using the surname” A book retailer in the sea” published an article with the subject” China and Russia didn’t form an alliance, Medvedev has made a decision” on December 12.
He claims that the Syria and Ukraine troubles were discussed at the Liu-Medvedev conference. He claims that the lack of complete control over the new Syrian government may encourage violence and, in turn, harm China’s hobbies in the Middle East.  ,  ,
According to the author, Putin may have written a letter to China and Russia asking for more strategic cooperation to strengthen Moscow’s bargaining positions on the front lines before ability peace negotiations are started by US President-elect Donald Trump, who will take business in the White House on January 20th, 2019.  ,
He reiterates Beijing’s approach that China and Russia does not form an alliance.
Southwestern Silk Road ,
Beijing may keep a close eye on the social situation in Syria, according to some Chinese critics, but it is only doing it for the sake of it, not to aid Russia.  ,
” Some folks think the decline of Assad’s regime did hurt China’s passions, but really the affair is a great opportunity for China”, a Hong Kong-based blogger writes in an article. ” China’s interests will be hurt only if Syria becomes chaotic” . ,
He claims that Bashar al-Assad, the former leader of Syria, failed for many years in his efforts to boost the local market and oust anti-government troops and ISIS, making China able to complete the Southern Silk Road’s connection with Europe via Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.  ,
He points out that China’s complete direct purchase in Syria was just US$ 13.24 million at the end of 2022, which is a significant drop from the$ 300 billion figure that bloggers have claimed.  ,  ,
” By offering humanitarian aid, China may establish a good relation with the new Palestinian state”, he says. China and Syria can cooperate economically, while China can support their restoration projects it.
A Beijing-based contributor says setting up the Northen Silk Road to join China and Europe via Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland may not be a smart choice for Beijing.
” For then it’s certainly a question of passing through Russia as Sino-Russia relationships are good”, he says. What if, one time, we need to approach Russia for assistance? How much do we have to spend?” he continues, noting that Poland may not be a trustworthy trade partner.
Turkey may slip through the Middle East nation, according to him, but Beijing will likely request a sizable sum of money, he claims. Then, he says, Syria is a new opportunity for China to construct its Silk Road.
Sino-Russia diplomatic deal
In the first 10 weeks of this year, the bilateral trade between China and Russia grew 2.8 % year-on-year to US$ 202 billion, according to the Chinese traditions. Nevertheless, the number dropped 5 % year-on-year to US$ 20.5 billion in November.
China’s exports to Russia also fell 10.5 % year-on-year in November after growing 24.4 % in October.
Due to this, in September, China approved the Rules on Civil-Military Dual-Use Products after G7 countries raised fears in April about Chinese firms ‘ shipments of weapons parts to Russia. In order to avoid US sanctions, the nation earlier this year urged local financial institutions to stop accepting payments from Russia in the renminbi.  ,
As Beijing keeps Moscow at arm’s length, the customs department of Russia’s eastern city of Vladivostok has imposed a 55.65 % tariff on China-made furniture parts since autumn.  ,
The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade announced a plan to gradually raise the country’s “recycling fee” for auto buyers from current levels to 70-85 % by 2030. The fee, which is seen as another form of tariff targeting Chinese vehicles, will increase by 10-20 % from the beginning of 2025.  ,