On February 24, China’s President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in which the two men emphasized that no external force can drive a wedge between their two countries.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry readout, Xi told Putin: “History and reality make it clear to us that China and Russia are good neighbors that cannot be moved apart, as well as true friends that share hardships, support each other, and pursue common development.” He later emphasized that the China-Russia relationship “has a strong internal driving force and unique strategic value. It is neither targeted at any third party nor affected by any third party.”

Putin agreed. A statement from the Kremlin quoted him as saying: “Russian-Chinese political ties are an essential stabilizing factor in global affairs. This relationship is strategic in nature, not subject to political bias, and not aimed against anyone.”

The message was clear: the........

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