Z and Xi: China and Russia Strengthen Ties

Russian soldier (Left) showing off his special exercise badges with a Chinese soldier (Right). Both patches symbolize the cooperation between the two nations. Note the Russian soldier with a Chinese Army flag patch. (CGTN: CA)

By CGTN: Central Asia

Russian troops pose with Chinese counterparts at the conclusion of a training exercise. (CGTN: CA)

As tensions grow between the west and Russia, mainly due to their now 2 year long Special Military Operation in Ukraine, the other regional players in the east, Iran and China, are starting to also posture against their western counterparts.

Iranian backed Hamas and Hezbollah have started offensive ground operations and launched missiles toward Israel respectively, and their Yemen based proxy, the Houthis, have also increased their attacks on what they say are pro Israeli vessels following their raid and capture of the ship galaxy Leader.

Chinese soldier readying his gear before a night training exercise. (CGTN: CA)

A Russian and a Chinese soldier recreate an old Sino-Soviet propaganda poster. (CGTN: CA)

China has been the least aggressive of the two, preferring power projections in the South China Sea and furthering their trade interests in Myanmar, certain African nations, western nations, and so on. Despite this, military cooperation has increased over the past year between Russia and China, with the two nations holding war games between their armed forces. Russian and Chinese troops have historically trained together as regional and political allies, however the frequency of these training exercises has doubled. This may be indication of strengthened ties between the two nations.

Chinese national, bearing a Russian uniform, tells his viewers he is deploying with many of his fellow comrades. (CGTN:CA via ourwarstoday2 on instagram, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2fzuxjvwyu/?igsh=ZDE1MWVjZGVmZQ==)

There are reports of Chinese speaking nationals in Ukraine. Whether they are mercenaries or part of the Russian military is unclear. One such netizen posted on Sina Weibo, while he poses with at least dozens of other Chinese speaking people and motivates them. He then says in another excerpt of the video, that he is in Ukraine. Our sources cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video, however, the overall geography and the uniform these men are wearing seem to resemble that of the Russian armed forces.

The same Sina Weibo netizen telling his viewers he is in Ukraine. (CGTN:CA via ourwarstoday2 on instagram, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2fzuxjvwyu/?igsh=ZDE1MWVjZGVmZQ==)

We attempted to reach out to a Chinese People’s Liberation Army representative for a comment, but did not reach out for comment.