China is yet to condemn Putin’s war, and Russia has reportedly asked Beijing for economic and military support. Is Xi proving to Putin’s most important ally? And what does Russia’s faltering invasion mean for China’s potential takeover of Taiwan?

Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Programme at the German Marshall Fund, joins Arthur Snell to explain China’s stance on Russia’s invasion, and what war in Europe means for Asian security. 

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• “Putin and Xi have a close relationship, they’ve met 38 times. I’d be surprised if Putin did not give Xi a heads up about his plans.”
• “If China offers Russia military support of any significance, that will have a very negative effect on the US-China relationship, which is already at a dangerous point.”
• “China will be careful about how dependent it becomes on Russian oil and gas in the future.”
• “A weakened Russia is not in China’s interest. It won’t allow Moscow to be the close partner that Beijing needs.”
• “Taiwan will be far better prepared for an invasion by China than it is today.”
• “There is a sentiment in China that it’s time has come. The US is in decline and Beijing needs to seize this opportunity to advance its interests.”
• “I don’t think Xi Jinping is getting good advice. Like Putin he has a very small inner circle of people giving him advice on policy.”

DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production.

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