China | From Russia with love?

Why young Russian women appear so eager to marry Chinese men

They speak fluent Mandarin and love China. Shame they are fake

Photograph: Twitter
|BEIJING

IN THE EARLY stages of China’s history as a communist state, the Soviet Union was often referred to as Sulian dage, or Soviet big brother. China relied on it for weapons, funding and political support. In many ways the roles have now reversed. Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, this month in Beijing. China has been accused of propping up Mr Putin’s war machine.

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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “From Russia with love?”

From the May 11th 2024 edition

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Wegovy hits the People’s Republic, at last

China mainlines “Musk’s miracle medicine”, at a fraction of the cost in America

China’s government is badgering women to have babies

It is testing an expanded pro-natalist playbook


Police officers and a police dog are on guard around the Japanese school in Shenzhen, Chin

China suffers eruptions from its simmering discontents

Amid random violence and increasing protests, fears mount for social stability 


Trump, trade and feeding China’s pigs

As a trade war looms, China looks to cut its reliance on America

Helping America’s hawks get inside the head of Xi Jinping

China’s leader is a risk-taker. How far will he go in confronting America?

Snuffing out the flame of freedom in Hong Kong

Dozens of pro-democracy activists are thrown into jail for up to a decade 



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The war in Ukraine is straining Russia’s economy and society

Despite advances on the battlefield, pressure is growing

How to make a success of peace talks with Vladimir Putin

The key is robust security guarantees for Ukrainians


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How will Donald Trump handle the war in Ukraine?

And how will Ukraine, Russia and Europe respond?


Vladimir Putin fires a new missile to amplify his nuclear threats

The attack on Ukraine is part of a new era of missile warfare

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This has big implications for Russia, which has come to rely on Central Asian ports

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Donald Trump must decide how to compete in a new arms race