One Year into the “No-limits Friendship”: Assessing China’s Lifeline to Russia

This policy outlook will examine the Sino-Russia relationship, focusing on its pace during the war in Ukraine. China’s announcement of the “No-Limits Friendship” policy with Russia shortly before the Ukraine war underscored its inclination in favour of Moscow. Since then, symbiosis characterised bilateral relations, with China giving Moscow a boost in the areas of energy, trade, and currency swaps. The other side of the coin is that China has more leverage than ever. The trajectory of this relationship will depend on China’s ability to address Russia’s concerns and maintain a shared anti-American sentiment against the current status quo.