China is in the process of forming a military alliance with Russia and raising the stakes before the conflict with the United States

On March 16-17, 2024, Xi Jinping received a large Russian delegation from Putin in Beijing and Harbin. As a result of the visit, the PRC and Russia upgraded their “comprehensive partnership and strategic coordination for a new era (in the context of boundless friendship)” to “eternal good neighborliness for all storms”.

According to a joint statement by Xi and Putin, the 75th anniversary of their relations in October 2024 will be the “starting point of a new era” of their interaction. The statement refers to deepening relations between China and Russia at all levels, primarily in military cooperation.

The tone of the joint statement’s messages unambiguously emphasizes Beijing’s strategic determination to escalate its stakes on the world stage.