China is studying Russia’s methods of countering Western sanctions, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Beijing has set up a special interagency group to study the impact of sanctions on Russia and prepare regular reports for the country’s leadership.
The purpose of these activities is to learn from Russia’s experience in mitigating the impact of Western restrictions. Chinese officials reportedly visit Moscow regularly and meet with representatives of the Russian Central Bank, the Finance Ministry, and other agencies.
China is also interested in Russian incentives for the development of domestic production in the face of sanctions pressure. According to The Wall Street Journal, Beijing may fear that if the situation around Taiwan escalates, the United States and its allies may impose sanctions on China similar to those imposed on Russia in connection with the Ukrainian conflict.
The newspaper’s sources emphasized that the work of this group does not mean that China is preparing an invasion. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Beijing was committed to conducting normal exchanges and cooperation with all countries in the world, including Russia, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.