Xi Jinping, the
Chinese President, pledged support for Vladimir Putin’s Russia amid the Ukraine
war. The leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) said China will support
Russia in “sovereignty and security matters,” a promise with direct
implications on the war in eastern Europe. Xi was celebrating his 69th
birthday on June 15.

On his birthday,
Xi is reported to have spoken to Putin over the phone. According to the Chinese
Foreign Ministry, Xi Jinping also pledged to deepen strategic coordination
between the two countries. Another readout released by Russia says the
relations between China and Russia are at an “all-time high” and reaffirmed
Moscow’s commitment to “consistently deepen the comprehensive partnership.”

This is reported
to be the second conversation between Putin and Xi Jinping since the war in
Ukraine began on February 24. The two had spoken right after Moscow launched a “special
military operation” in Ukraine, something that the West calls an invasion.
China, standing true to its friendship with Russia, refrains from the use of
the word “invasion”.

While Beijing has
been careful to show its support for Moscow with regard to the Ukraine war in
public fora and has called for west European nations to take an independent
view of Beijing. In Wednesday’s call, Xi reiterated that China has always “independently
assessed the situation in Ukraine” and called for “all parties” to push for a “proper
settlement of the Ukraine crisis.”

Moscow’s reading
of the phone call stated: “the President of China noted the legitimacy of
Russia’s actions to protect fundamental national interests in the face of
challenges to its security created by external forces.”

The United States
has repeatedly called on the Chinese state to withdraw its support for Russia
on the Ukraine war. Beijing and Moscow, however, have a no-limits deal since
the Beijing Olympics. Russia and China growing closer is a threat for American
hegemony across the world. Moreover, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has kept
Taiwan on the edge for months.