Putin concedes China has ‘questions and concerns’ over Russia’s faltering invasion of Ukraine

[Scott]

 

Hong Kong CNN  — 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised China’s “balanced position” on the Ukraine war, though he conceded Beijing had “questions and concerns” over the invasion, in what appeared to be a veiled admission of their diverging views over the protracted military assault.

Putin made the comments when meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in person for the first time since the invasion at a regional summit in Uzbekistan, days after Russia suffered a series of major military setbacks in Ukraine. Russian troops are retreating en mass, having lost more territory in a week than they captured in five months.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/15/asia/xi-putin-meeting-main-bar-intl-hnk/index.html

[John Drake]

The "concern" is that so much of China's military hardware has been bought or stolen from Russia, whose technology appears to be just so much junk. That and the "modernization" of the PLA after the fashion of the Russian army should be giving Xi nightmares.

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1 hour ago, John Drake said:

The "concern" is that so much of China's military hardware has been bought or stolen from Russia, whose technology appears to be just so much junk. That and the "modernization" of the PLA after the fashion of the Russian army should be giving Xi nightmares.

I have been wondering myself about how China's forces are structured. It seems to be the case that in dictatorships, lower level people are not trusted with information and initiative is discouraged. But information and initiative seem to be crucial elements in modern warfare. As for the equipment being junk, much of that is due to poor Russian quality control in manufacturing. Manufacturing is one area where the Chinese economy excels. So, presumably, they will take care to make sure that any arms based on Russian plans, will perform as they were meant to.

Edited September 16, 2022 by placeholder

[Mavideol]

maybe their "no limits" friendship has some limits as question start to rise 555

 

Putin surprisingly reveals China’s ‘concerns’ over Ukraine at summit

Vladimir Putin has hinted at frictions in Russia’s relations with China by publicly admitting Beijing has “questions and concerns” about Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, which has suffered devastating setbacks in recent days.

 

“We understand your questions and concern about this. During today’s meeting, we will of course explain our position.”

 

https://au.yahoo.com/news/friends-indeed-putin-thanks-china-124545726.html

[Credo]

I suspect that Xi has kept a very close eye on the Ukraine situation.  Had Putin pulled off the initial estimates of a matter of days to take Ukraine, that would send a signal that Taiwan might be within an easy grasp.  The sanctions and the military backing that Ukraine, as well as the enormous amount of loyalty of the Ukrainian soldiers and citizens to an independent Ukraine, has no doubt given Xi pause in considering taking Taiwan militarily.   

It would appear there is a lot more at stake in Ukraine than just Ukraine.