China Takes The Far East Without A Fight
10- 13.06.2026, 17:07
- 9,184
The longer the war goes on, the more Russia depends on Beijing.
Putin, who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine under the banner of restoring Russia’s imperial glory, may ultimately go down in history as the politician who turned Russia into China’s economic vassal. This view was expressed in a column for The Hill by David Kirichenko, a research fellow at the British think tank Henry Jackson Society .
The author of the article argues that the war against Ukraine is not only draining Russia’s economy and military capabilities but also strengthening Beijing’s influence over Moscow. According to him, the Kremlin is trying to present to the world an image of an equal partnership between Russia and China, but the reality is quite different.
As Kirichenko notes, the longer the war lasts, the more Russia depends on China economically, technologically, and strategically. He emphasizes that Beijing is gradually increasing its support for the Russian military machine, while simultaneously gaining more leverage over its partner.
The article states that today Russia relies heavily on China for supplies of electronics, industrial equipment, automobiles, and dual-use technologies. Western sanctions and the severing of ties with many international markets, the author writes, have effectively made China Moscow’s main economic lifeline.
This dependence is particularly evident in the energy sector. Kirichenko points out that Beijing has yet to approve the implementation of the “Power of Siberia-2” gas pipeline, which is of critical importance to Russia following the loss of a significant portion of the European gas market. China continues to demand substantial discounts, taking advantage of the Kremlin’s weakened position.
The author also highlights the changes taking place in Russia’s Far East. Due to demographic challenges and a lack of investment, the region is becoming increasingly integrated into China’s economic sphere. In some parts of Siberia and the Far East, local residents and officials already view Beijing as a source of solutions to problems that Moscow is unable to solve on its own.
“China does not need to formally annex Russian territory to dominate it. Economic dependence, financial leverage, and regional integration can achieve what once required military conquest,” the expert concludes.
The author notes that even in the event of new territorial gains in Ukraine, Russia could face catastrophic long-term consequences. In his view, severing economic ties with Europe for the sake of imperial ambitions increasingly binds Moscow to a relationship in which Beijing holds the decisive say.
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