Last week, we looked at some of Vladimir Putin’s other options short of an overt invasion across Ukraine’s borders. The most likely moves he has available included cyber warfare and “unconventional” attacks using non-uniformed troops or arming dissidents inside of Ukraine. But another option found further down on the list was the possibility that he might further strengthen his ties to the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping, leveraging that relationship to apply more pressure on NATO and western allies. It appears that Putin was already thinking along those lines himself because he’s leaving for Beijing today to meet with Xi before they go to attend the opening of the Olympics. (Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is heading to Beijing amid the soaring tensions over Ukraine on a trip intended to help strengthen Moscow’s ties with China and coordinate their policies in the face of Western pressure.

Putin’s talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday will mark their first in-person meeting since 2019, helping cement a strong personal relationship that has been a key factor behind a growing partnership between the two former Communist rivals. After the talks involving top officials from both sides, Putin and Xi will meet one-on-one over lunch before attending the opening of the Winter Olympics.

In an article for the Chinese news agency Xinhua published Thursday, Putin emphasized that Moscow and Beijing play an “important stabilizing role” in global affairs and help make international affairs “more equitable and inclusive.”

Putin also published an article in Chinese state media criticizing the United States and some of our allies over a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics. He described the decision as a case of western nations “politicizing sports to benefit their ambitions.”

Clearly, Vladimir Putin has no problem with the ongoing genocide against the Uyghur Muslims in China, but why would he? Russia has oppressed plenty of groups as well. In a show of solidarity, the leaders of all of the central Asian nations that were formerly part of the Soviet Union and who still maintain close ties to Russia also announced that they would be attending the games.

In a separate release through the China Media Group, Russia attempted to draw parallels between the two nations and their engagement with the United States. They compared the pressure being exerted on Russia over Ukraine to the confrontation with China over Taiwan. It was suggested that the United States and its allies exhibit “a blatant disregard for their territorial and security concerns.”

As another part of what was obviously a coordinated public relations campaign, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser simultaneously announced an expanded trade partnership between the two nations. This will reportedly include “more than a dozen agreements on trade, energy, and other issues.”

At this point, the Olympics in Beijing are shaping up to be a stage for the future of international relations. As I’ve mentioned here before, we truly do seem to be witnessing the formation of a 21st-century Axis of Evil including Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela. Now we’re seeing that influence solidifying in most of the central Asian nations. In the western hemisphere, Cuba and Nicaragua are increasingly in bed with Russia and China as well. The global divisions we’re seeing are probably worse than they’ve ever been since the end of the cold war and it’s a very disturbing trend.