Why Vladimir Putin is not a pariah in China
Hindustan TimesFor generations, China’s people have been told that the outside world is—rather often—an unsafe and disappointing place. It is a year since his declaration that China and Russia enjoy a “friendship without limits”, days before Vladimir Putin launched his blood-soaked, land-grabbing invasion of Ukraine. “Of course” locals remember Russia’s past depredations, said a woman whose shop sells Russian honey, chocolates and other souvenirs to Chinese tourists. But if cross-border trade opens up, “Heihe has a chance to really take off.” Might trumps right A neighbouring shopkeeper called Russia poor and China rich. If Russia chooses to attack Ukrainians, that is a civil war, the friend growled: “It is all the same country.” A third trader predicted that shoddy Russian infrastructure will slow local development, though cheap oil and gas from Russia should help China overall.