Washington

The setback in US-China relations, inevitable following Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, raises questions regarding the consequences this will have for Russia.

After the start of the special operation in Ukraine, the confrontation between Russia and the United States and NATO became the central nerve of world politics. In this regard, the gigantic efforts of Washington and its allies were aimed at preventing China from becoming the main “savior” of Russia, allowing it to avoid sanctions by reorienting its economy from West to East. All means were used: Chinese President Xi Jinping was persuaded, begged, tried to appease. Finally, he was banally threatened, warning of some “high price” that a recalcitrant China would have to pay.

This forced Beijing to demonstrate the miracles of balancing act – not to refuse cooperation with Moscow, but to declare that it does not supply weapons to Russia, does not assist it in the conflict in Ukraine, and in general it is for peace and the solution of all issues at the negotiating table. Although, it would seem, what prevents him from openly and unambiguously supporting Russia. Indeed, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last year, in Sino-Russian cooperation “there is no end point, no restricted zones, no upper limit” and, in general, although this is not an alliance, it is “more than an alliance.”

However, despite the flamboyant rhetoric, the “upper limit” was invisibly present. Beijing adhered to the principle of equidistance from the parties to the Ukrainian conflict and, until recently, listened to Kyiv, which called on friendly China to completely abandon interaction with Moscow.

Another security crisis that developed thousands of kilometers away from Ukraine, in the Indo-Pacific theater, centered on the precious territorial, economic and geopolitical asset of Taiwan, remained in the background until this week, because it was not so acute. However, now the situation has turned 180 degrees.

Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island, which pushed Ukraine into the background with a powerful information wave, makes Kyiv one of the main losers, while strengthening Moscow’s strategic position. After Nancy Pelosi crossed the “red line” in US-China relations, any new claims once morest China in connection with its actions in relation to the Ukrainian crisis become irrelevant. Now Beijing can always answer Washington: what rules do you follow in international politics?

Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island essentially turned the Ukrainian and Taiwan crises into communicating vessels. Not surprisingly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already stated that the US position on Taiwan “reflects the same line that we are talking regarding in relation to the Ukrainian situation.” It turns out that one of Russia’s main enemies in Washington, Nancy Pelosi, unwittingly played along with Moscow, demonstrating that Russia and China are indeed sailing in the same boat.

Now nothing prevents Moscow and Beijing from taking a back-to-back stance, covering each other’s rear: Russia is fighting off enemies in the western direction, and China in the Indo-Pacific region. In battle, you need to help each other, because the stronger the comrade in arms, the closer your common victory. Over whom? Of course, over the USA. So, thank you, Pelosi.

Sergei Strokan, columnist for Kommersant