As the Russian economy sinks under the weight of crippling sanctions, its most powerful ally, China, has shown little initiative to offer Moscow a lifeline.
Beijing has offered some moral support to the Kremlin, but U.S. officials and experts contend that even if China wanted to fill an economic void created by sanctions and Western companies fleeing over Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, it would face major obstacles in offering Russia the reprieve it might need to sustain its weekslong offensive in Ukraine.
China has condemned the West's use of sanctions against Russia. While sanctions do not hinder China’s ability to expand trade with Russia broadly, they inhibit Chinese firms from using key Western products and services. For example, as tech companies such as Apple and Microsoft draw down sales in Russia, Chinese tech firms would be cut off from the U.S. market if they sent banned materials into Russia.
“I think the word is ‘subterfuge,’” Hufbauer told the Washington Examiner. “I think they will not make a big show of breaking the sanctions, but in many subtle ways or ways that cannot be easily perceived, they will help Russia escape the most harsh sanctions.” Without subverting sanctions, China could expand with Russia the trade of goods and services that are not restricted by the West. For example, Beijing could ramp up oil and commodity purchases from Russia and try to sell critical goods to which Russia has lost access.
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