Beijing continues to try to convince the West of its neutrality, while using its state-run propaganda machine to promote Russia’s narrative internally and abroad. Chinese social media platforms were ordered to scrub all pro-Ukraine posts. Chinese media outlets are even embedding journalists with Russian troops. The Chinese Foreign Ministry is now parroting Russian government accusations about U.S.-controlled bioweapons labs in Ukraine that the U.S. government calls “preposterous.”

Meanwhile, Chinese firms are exploring how to bail out Russia’s energy sector, which would dilute Western sanctions. Chinese and Russian banks are already working together to evade financial sanctions. Russia is turning to China for its commodity exports. As the two economies become increasingly interdependent, U.S. officials this week warned Beijing not to undermine U.S. technology export restrictions on Russia.

As long as the West deludes itself into thinking China might be a constructive player on Ukraine, a more realistic approach to the Xi-Putin alliance won’t be possible. That’s why lawmakers are trying to pass legislation imposing secondary sanctions on countries such as China that might help Russia out of this economic jam.