What does Xi Jinping want from Vladimir Putin?
Big questions loomed behind the Chinese leader’s trip to Moscow
Ever since the second world war global politics has been moulded by the “strategic triangle” between America, China and Russia. Co-ordination between Mao Zedong and Josef Stalin in the early 1950s fuelled American determination to halt the spread of communism. That led to America fighting wars in Korea and Vietnam, its commitment to defend Taiwan, and many proxy conflicts elsewhere.
This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “Seizing the opportunity”
International March 25th 2023
From the March 25th 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from International
Why don’t more countries import their electricity?
The economics make sense, but the geopolitics are nerve-racking
Trump unmasks American selfishness, say cynics
But sceptics are wrong to call America First business as usual
Inside the Houthis’ moneymaking machine
After a ceasefire in Gaza, they may continue their Red Sea racket
Marco Rubio will find China is hard to beat in Latin America
China buys lithium, copper and bull semen, and doesn’t export its ideology
Donald Trump has a strong foreign-policy hand, but could blow it
Bullying foreigners can be sadly effective, but also a dangerous distraction
Women warriors and the war on woke
Trump’s Pentagon pick wants women off the battlefield