Xi Jinping is subtler than Vladimir Putin—yet equally disruptive
How to deal with Chinese actions that lie between war and peace
TWO YEARS after Xi Jinping declared a “no limits” partnership with Vladimir Putin, and as the leaders meet again in Beijing on May 16th and 17th, the world is getting a good look at what China’s approach means in practice. It is not pretty. As we explain this week, Chinese firms are sustaining Mr Putin’s war in Ukraine by selling Russia items needed to make weapons. China’s coastguard is bullying vessels in the South China Sea, enforcing its bogus territorial claims. And China’s spies are allegedly meddling in Britain and elsewhere.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The challenge of Xi Jinping ”
Leaders May 18th 2024
- Is America dictator-proof?
- Canada’s law to help news outlets is harming them instead
- America’s 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs: bad policy, worse leadership
- Xi Jinping is subtler than Vladimir Putin—yet equally disruptive
- Big tech’s capex splurge may be irrationally exuberant
- Volodymyr Zelensky’s presidential term expires on May 20th
More from Leaders
How to improve clinical trials
Involving more participants can lead to new medical insights
Houthi Inc: the pirates who weaponised globalisation
Their Red Sea protection racket is a disturbing glimpse into an anarchic world
Donald Trump will upend 80 years of American foreign policy
A superpower’s approach to the world is about to be turned on its head
Rising bond yields should spur governments to go for growth
The bond sell-off may partly reflect America’s productivity boom
Much of the damage from the LA fires could have been averted
The lesson of the tragedy is that better incentives will keep people safe
Health warnings about alcohol give only half the story
Enjoyment matters as well as risk