Kathrine Frich
When two of the world’s most powerful autocrats meet, the rest of the globe watches for the political aftershocks.
A major diplomatic summit in Asia has just concluded with a massive statement aimed directly at Western leadership.
This high-profile alliance is wasting no time making its grievances known.
Targeting Washington
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping recently met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to sign a sweeping joint declaration.
The venue was identical to where Xi hosted US President Donald Trump last week.
The new document contains fierce criticism of American foreign policies and takes direct aim at Trump’s strategy.
According to WP News, the declaration accuses Washington of destabilizing global security and pushing for a “hegemonic” order.
During the talks, the leaders celebrated their deep strategic alignment.
As reported by the Chinese news agency Xinhua, Xi observed that the world faces a “complex and unstable situation” where “a trend of unilateral hegemonism is rising in the global arena.”
Law of the jungle
To counter Western influence, the nations officially extended their 2001 friendship treaty.
A joint statement from the delegations declared that “Attempts by several countries to manage world affairs alone have failed, but the global situation is becoming increasingly complex, and there is a danger of a return to the ‘law of the jungle,'”
A major point of dispute is America’s planned Golden Dome missile defense shield. Both Moscow and Beijing fiercely oppose the project, stating that it “poses a clear threat to strategic stability” by disrupting the military balance.
The declaration also blasted recent US and Israeli military strikes. “These unlawful actions undermine stability in the Middle East,” the document noted, while demanding an immediate return to diplomatic negotiations regarding Iran.
A strict warning
The document further accused Washington of maintaining irresponsible arms control policies following the expiration of the New START treaty.
The leaders expressed deep concern over American plans to deploy medium and short range missiles.
Beyond military issues, the alliance extended its defensive rhetoric to Latin America.
The declaration stated that both countries “stand against interference by external forces in the internal affairs of Latin American and Caribbean countries under any pretext.”
While Beijing officially claims neutrality in Ukraine, economic ties with Moscow are stronger than ever. As reported by the dpa news agency, Putin highlighted Russia’s role as a major energy provider, with China serving as the main buyer of its oil and gas.
Sources: WP News, Xinhua, dpa
