Photo/Illutration Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, gestures while speaking to Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16. (Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met face to face Sept. 15 for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.

The meeting came as the two leaders were visiting Uzbekistan.

The country behind the war that continues to exact a heavy toll on Ukraine’s population and its close ally said they will respect each other’s interests in a pledge that smacked of self-righteousness. The two powers have no right to discuss a new world order.

While conceding that China had “questions and concerns” over Russia’s war in Ukraine, Putin was quoted as saying, “We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis.”

The announcements by the two governments offered no indication they held in-depth discussions on ways to bring the war in Ukraine to an end.

Russia and China used the meeting to highlight their close friendship and reconfirm their shared interest in countering the United States, which is disturbingly dangerous.

If the two powers join hands and take a more hostile stance against Western countries, it would heighten tensions and confrontation in global affairs.

Xi said China would “work with Russia to … play a leading role in injecting stability and positive energy into a world of change and disorder.”

But his actions do not match his words.

What is needed now is the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. China has a duty to try to persuade Moscow to reach that decision.

Beijing has a track record of championing the importance of the United Nations and calling for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.

Conniving at Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, a violation of international law, contradicts this position.

China appears to be aware of this contradiction as Beijing has shown a slightly different stance toward Moscow from their onetime “honeymoon” relationship.

It is not clear what China’s “concerns” refer to. It has also not been reported how Xi responded to Putin’s “balanced position” comment.

This suggests China intends to distance itself from Russia’s reckless behavior, at least to some extent, by keeping its position on the matter opaque.

But the fact remains that China, along with India and a number of other countries, has refused to join sanctions against Russia led by the United States and Europe, while it continues to purchase Russia’s resources, which have been subject to Western embargoes.

While keeping a low-profile, China has been supporting Russia and trying to promote its own interests.

As the self-appointed leader of emerging countries, China has a responsibility to remonstrate with Russia over the war that has caused spikes in global energy and food prices. China must not provide any military support to Russia.

With the war against Ukraine stalled, Russia apparently intends to show, through cooperation with China, it is not isolated in the international community.

But Putin’s efforts to snuggle up to China reflect the predicament he has brought upon himself.

Like Russia and China, many other countries have kept a distance from the West on this matter. But they all want to see an early end to the war.

Russia should confront the reality and start to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 18

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