Vladimir Putin flies in to meet Xi Jinping, but there’s only one man calling the shots
Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing was marked by a grand welcome from Xi Jinping, showcasing their strong bilateral ties. Despite the apparent camaraderie, the dynamics of the US-China relationship remain more significant for Beijing. The recent summits highlight China's growing influence on the global stage, with Russia increasingly positioned as a secondary partner.
- ▪Putin was welcomed in Beijing with a military honor guard and a 21-gun salute.
- ▪The visit follows a similar high-profile summit between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.
- ▪Experts note that while the friendship between Xi and Putin is strong, China's relationship with the US is more crucial for its foreign policy.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-05-20T06:30:04Z","datePublished":"2026-05-20T06:30:04Z","description":"The Russian leader has been welcomed to Beijing with the same red carpet pomp bestowed on Trump days earlier. But while Putin and Xi share an unmatchable bromance, the US-China relationship matters more to Beijing.","headline":"Vladimir Putin flies in to meet Xi Jinping, but there’s only one man calling the shots","keywords":"China relations, Analysis, Just in, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, South China Sea, For subscribers","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lisa Visentin","jobTitle":"North Asia…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.