Chinese defense minister visits to Russia is normal.

Published: April 18,2023

By staff writer 

Russian president Vladimir Putin, Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu, and Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu attend a meeting in Moscow. Photograph: PavelBednyakov/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN/EPA

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu is on an official visit to Russia from April 16 to 19, at the invitation of his counterpart Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. China and Russia have enjoyed good cooperation for decades and government officials from the top have visited each other with the purpose of strengthening t cooperation between the two countries in various fields including defence. 

While the visit is normal and there is nothing out of the ordinary between countries that enjoy good relations and share a common border, western media outlets have taken their own interpretation of the visit as meant to “reshape the world order” and “weaken American influence,” going further to claim that China is likely to provide weapons to Russia in reference to ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. 

China has been very clear since the break out of the war between Russia and Ukraine that it does not support any country but instead interested in political settlement of the conflict through dialogue. In February this year, China released a 12 point paper where it clarifies that conflict and war benefit no one and called “all parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiraling out of control.” The proposal also called for an end to the “Cold War mentality” and called for all countries’ “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity be effectively guaranteed.”

Since the 1990s, both Russia and the US have been the first destinations for China’s defense ministers’ overseas visit. In 2013, 2018, and 2023, China’s defense minister chose Russia as destination for their first visit after assuming position, which have also borne witness to the continuous improvement of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. 

As good neighbors who share common borders, the two countries’ defense exchanges have significant importance for maintaining mutual security trust and mutual political trust, and normal relations with neighboring countries.