Xi Risks Leaving China Isolated by Backing Putin to Counter U.S.
- Defeat for Putin would undermine Xi’s foreign policy strategy
- Chinese strategists view Russia as key in broader U.S. fight
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Xi Jinping bet that establishing a “no limits” friendship with Vladimir Putin could prevent the U.S. from containing China. Now that agreement threatens to leave Beijing more isolated and alone.
A phone call between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday appeared to achieve no major breakthroughs. The U.S. continued to threaten unspecified consequences if China provides support to Russia, and Beijing insisted it was supporting peace talks while blaming the U.S. for triggering the conflict.