The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to Moscow’s catastrophic dependence on Beijing, which is gradually establishing complete control over the Russian Far East without any military intervention.
PRC leader Xi Jinping and Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin / © Associated Press
American analysts have published a detailed review of the geopolitical situation, revealing the extent of Russia’s loss of strategic independence due to the war. Instead of the dreamed-of restoration of the empire, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has turned his own state into a vassal of China, ceding its economy and eastern regions.
This is reported by The Hill.
Economic and Technological Dependence
Russia today is totally dependent on China for the supply of electronics, industrial equipment, vehicles, and dual-use technologies. After the imposition of Western sanctions, Beijing became the main lifeline for the Russian economy.
This inequality became most evident during energy negotiations regarding the construction of a new gas pipeline. China refused to finalize the deal and continues to demand huge discounts, openly exploiting Moscow’s weakness.
Even in the field of artificial intelligence, the aggressor country is forced to rely entirely on Chinese microchips. During the Russian dictator’s last visit to the PRC, local officials complained that Chinese automakers were simply destroying their domestic market.
Gradual Annexation of the Far East
Growing dependence is becoming particularly noticeable in the Russian Far East, which has lost nearly 300,000 local residents since 2010. Demographic and economic weakness makes this vast region extremely vulnerable to Chinese influence.
In some parts of Siberia, local officials and residents are already openly turning to Beijing for solutions to problems that Moscow cannot handle. In Irkutsk, disappointed Russians asked Vladimir Putin to involve the Chinese in building schools.
“The Russian Federation is unable to do this,” the residents of Irkutsk stated.
In Yakutia, China’s share in foreign economic cooperation increased from 27% in 2021 to over 45% in 2024. At the same time, the mandatory study of the Chinese language began to be widely introduced in local schools.
According to analysts, China does not need to officially annex territory to dominate it. Economic dependence, financial leverage, and regional integration are successfully achieving what was once sought through military conquest.
Military Support and International Position
While Russia loses territories, Beijing continues to support its military machine to exhaust the West in Ukraine. Recently, European intelligence agencies obtained evidence of the training of hundreds of Russian soldiers directly at closed military bases in the PRC.
The exposed facts of direct aid to Moscow will be a key topic of discussion at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union countries on June 15. European leaders plan to consider reducing the critical dependence of their own defense industry on Chinese suppliers.
Meanwhile, on the international stage, Beijing is trying to demonstrate peacefulness and calls for the prompt resumption of negotiations to end the conflict. Sun Leyi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the PRC to the UN, emphasized the need for maximum restraint from both sides, as “peace cannot be achieved by military means.”
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