Former Bush Adviser Talks About China's Benefits from Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The conflict in Ukraine is beneficial to China, as the fighting gives Beijing the opportunity to more actively advance its interests in Asia. This opinion was expressed by American political scientist, former adviser to US President George W. Bush on Russia and Eurasia Thomas Graham in an article for the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

China, he believes, is winning strategically while the conflict continues, since the fighting distracts Washington's attention from the Indo-Pacific region. This gives China more opportunities to advance its interests, the political scientist believes.

During his visit to Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, Chinese President Xi Jinping showed no signs of reconsidering relations with Russia, the expert notes. China continues to develop economic cooperation with Russia and express a position on the military operation similar to Russia's, Graham writes.

The U.S. has little leverage to pressure Beijing to change its position, Graham said. Additional tariffs or sanctions could backfire: President Donald Trump’s high tariffs have, in his view, alienated China from Washington. Rather than back down, China could deepen its partnership with Russia, Graham said. Beijing could also target a yuan-based financial system to undermine sanctions and U.S. economic influence, the former Bush adviser said.

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