Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to China to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese dignitaries. During their meeting, they discussed American-Sino relations, economic policies and practices, foreign exchange programs and China’s relationship with Taiwan. They also focused part of their discussion on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Since the start of the full-scale military incursion in February 2022, the international community has worked hard to punish Russia for its behavior. Several countries around the globe have imposed stiff economic sanctions against the Russian Federation. Some Russian banks were removed from the international financial messaging system, known as SWIFT. Numerous Western countries reduced their reliance on Russian gas and oil.

Hundreds of Russian oligarchs and politicians had their assets frozen or seized, and there are now discussions to use these assets to force Russia to rebuild Ukraine. And the Russian Federation was expelled from several international organizations due to its invasion of Ukraine. It is estimated that Russia has lost hundreds of billions of dollars due to these international sanctions.

Despite these punishments, Russia has done little to alter its behavior. Instead, it has sought ways to undermine and circumvent international sanctions. One way has been to strengthen its relationship with China.

Throughout the war, China has refused to condemn the Russian Federation for its invasion. Chinese authorities instead have attempted to........

© The Hill