"Although Russia is the focus right now, it is clear that China is America’s main strategic competitor – and so when Washington turns back to dealing with Beijing, China will be grateful to have Russia on its side."
The West wants to remove Putin, whose unpredictability and genocidal behaviour must also be a bit of an embarrassment for China. If Putin 'loses' in Ukraine but manages to stay on as president, China's refusal to help oust Putin, internationally now a lame-duck president, will also draw the West's ire and mistrust.
On the other hand, if China could be seen to help neuter Putin, it would remain friends with the post-Putin Russia, and create better ties with both the West and Ukraine. It would be a boost for China's rather beleaguered international reputation, and wouldn't itself need to change China's plans for Taiwan. Over short- and long-term timescales, visibly removing Putin can only result in a win for China. And everybody else.
"Although Russia is the focus right now, it is clear that China is America’s main strategic competitor – and so when Washington turns back to dealing with Beijing, China will be grateful to have Russia on its side."
The West wants to remove Putin, whose unpredictability and genocidal behaviour must also be a bit of an embarrassment for China. If Putin 'loses' in Ukraine but manages to stay on as president, China's refusal to help oust Putin, internationally now a lame-duck president, will also draw the West's ire and mistrust.
On the other hand, if China could be seen to help neuter Putin, it would remain friends with the post-Putin Russia, and create better ties with both the West and Ukraine. It would be a boost for China's rather beleaguered international reputation, and wouldn't itself need to change China's plans for Taiwan. Over short- and long-term timescales, visibly removing Putin can only result in a win for China. And everybody else.
Hu Wei, vice-chairman of the Public Policy Research Center of the Counselor’s Office of the State Council has an opposing view to Hu Xijin and can be read here. https://uscnpm.org/2022/03/12/hu-wei-russia-ukraine-war-china-choice/