On the afternoon of May 16, 2024, Putin (front left) attended a concert in Beijing commemorating the 75th anniversary of China-Russia (Soviet) diplomatic relations. His gaze was unfocused on the performance, appearing deep in thought. Putin's body also leaned slightly away from Xi Jinping (front right, second from the right).
People News - According to Chinese (CCP-controlled) media reports, on the afternoon of February 28, CCP leader Xi Jinping met with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, declaring that China and Russia are "true friends, tempered like steel." However, a recent survey indicates that dissatisfaction and suspicion between the people of both nations are deepening.
Russian netizens question China's loyalty in military cooperation and the level of its economic investment in Russia. They also express dissatisfaction with the quality of Chinese goods flooding the Russian market. Additionally, historical territorial disputes between the two nations continue to create lasting divisions among their citizens.
A report from the U.S.-based political research and analysis firm Filter Labs reveals that Russian public sentiment toward China has significantly declined since July 2024, when Chinese businesses began complying with U.S.-led sanctions against Russia.
Although Russian state-controlled media suppress voices that highlight discord between China and Russia, Filter Labs analyzed millions of online forum posts, social media discussions, and public statements, identifying three key sources of growing Russian skepticism toward China: Concerns over the quality of Chinese products; Doubts about China’s commitment to military support for Russia; Discontent with the scale of China’s economic investment in Russia.
The U.S. has intensified secondary sanctions against non-American financial institutions involved in transactions with Russia, particularly those supporting Russia's military-industrial base. Chinese (CCP-controlled) institutions—especially banks—have largely complied with these sanctions, further fueling Russian resentment.
Filter Labs founder Jonathan Teubner told Voice of America that Western sanctions on Russia have indirectly put pressure on China as well.
"This clearly shows that the friction between China and Russia is actually caused by sanctions... It creates confusion between the two nations, which could lead to some form of discord," Teubner explained.
Russian Netizens Complain: "Chinese Products Are Low Quality"
Due to Western sanctions, many European and American products have disappeared from the Russian market, allowing Chinese goods to fill the void—particularly in the automotive and technology sectors.
The report states: "Driven by affordability, geopolitical shifts, and strategic branding efforts, Chinese products continue to expand their market share in Russia. However, for many Russians, Chinese goods remain a source of skepticism and dissatisfaction."
Take the automobile industry, for example. Chinese brands such as Haval, Geely, Chery, and Changan have gained significant market share in Russia, trailing only behind Russia's domestic brand, Lada.
Despite Russian officials' praise for Chinese cars, the survey found widespread dissatisfaction among Russian consumers regarding their quality. Many also expressed frustration over their inability to purchase Western-brand vehicles.
Some Russian car buyers argue that Western cars are superior in durability and easier to maintain. Others criticize Chinese cars for being unsuitable for Russia’s harsh winters. Meanwhile, the increasing dominance of Chinese brands in Russia’s auto market is making some Russian netizens uneasy.
Furthermore, despite the surge in Chinese car sales in Russia, after-sales service lags behind European and Japanese manufacturers. According to China's Economic Information Daily, Chinese automakers only provide full-service support in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, leaving customers in remote regions without adequate repair and maintenance services.
Questioning the Sustainability of Sino-Russian Military Cooperation
Sino-Russian military cooperation lies at the heart of the so-called 'unlimited' relationship between the two nations amid the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war. While China and Russia have increased both the frequency and scale of their joint military exercises, numerous Russian military analysts suggest that Beijing is not genuinely interested in providing long-term support to Russia.
A research report references a Russian military blogger who commented: 'China has extracted all possible benefits from this conflict, including access to the Russian market and inexpensive Russian energy, and has made strides in various aspects within the Asia-Pacific region. However, the primary objective for China—specifically, for Chinese manufacturers to penetrate the European market—remains unaddressed; additionally, their standing in that region (Europe) is worsening... Chinese officials express public support for Russia, yet they are increasingly voicing the need to halt hostilities.'
Some Russian military bloggers have openly mocked the equipment supplied by China. One blogger stated: '(China) has begun to produce refurbished drones under the pretense of new drones, with unpredictable characteristics and quality.'
Following the ban of Russian official media accounts by TikTok, the international version of Douyin, a Russian military blogger expressed frustration: 'China's TikTok promptly removed the RT (Russia Today) and Sputnik accounts, aligning with U.S. sanctions... It is clear that our 'allies' are either not allies at all or are not truly ours.'
Some military bloggers have even labeled China (the Communist Party of China) as a 'geopolitical enemy' due to its decision to 'cut off our (drone) component supply' and 'comply with U.S. sanctions.' These bloggers argue that China's (the Communist Party of China) adherence to U.S. sanctions 'once again reveals its true attitude towards our country.'
Russian officials have also shown skepticism regarding the level of support from China (the Communist Party of China). Following the release of a 'six-point consensus' by China (the Communist Party of China) and Brazil in May 2024, which aimed at a 'political solution' to the Russia-Ukraine war crisis, Russian military blogs and officials expressed dissatisfaction with this development.
In August 2024, China (the Communist Party of China) and Brazil proposed the formation of a 'Group of Friends for Peace' at the United Nations General Assembly to address the 'Ukrainian crisis.' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov raised concerns about this meeting, stating that the group 'has a lot of work to do.' He remarked, 'This is an initiative that is extremely harmful to Russian sovereignty.'
What is the Actual Scale of Chinese (the Communist Party of China) Investment in Russia?
Meanwhile, despite the attempts by China and Russia to enhance economic cooperation, the Russian public remains skeptical about the specific scale of Chinese (the Communist Party of China) investment in Russia and expresses dissatisfaction with China's (the Communist Party of China) apparent focus on Russian natural resources.
The report highlights a summary by Russian experts, as cited by the 'Russian Business Daily', stating: 'China (the Communist Party of China) rarely invests directly in Russia. By the end of 2022, China's (the Communist Party of China's) total investment in Russia reached $9.9 billion, which represents only 0.3% of its total foreign investments. While Russia is seeking investments in high-tech industries, China (the Communist Party of China) is primarily focused on mining, real estate, and banking.'
According to the 'Outline of China-Russia Investment Cooperation Plan', the Chinese side believes that the main goal of developing investment cooperation between China and Russia is to 'leverage each other's strengths in certain resources, technologies, and capabilities', explicitly proposing to 'establish enterprises for the deep processing of Russian raw materials within the territory of the Russian Federation.'
A professor of economic theory at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics remarked: 'Their investments are still limited, mainly concentrated in the oil, gas, and retail sectors.'
The survey references data from Statista, indicating a downward trend in China's (the Communist Party of China's) investments in Russia from 2013 to 2023.
Mutual Suspicion Among the Chinese and Russian Public Remains Challenging to Resolve
'Their partnership is quite fragile,' Toibuna from the Filtering Laboratory told Voice of America, 'this so-called 'unlimited' partnership is actually very complex.'
Regarding the concerns of the Chinese public about the China-Russia relationship, the report concludes that many rational Chinese netizens are worried that Western sanctions against Russia could ultimately impact China's (the Communist Party of China's) economy.
The public account on Sina Weibo called 'Witness of the Good Era' remarked: 'Only those brainless, fanatical Russian supporters would demand that these banks engage in financial transactions with Russia at any cost. Rational bankers, in reality, would certainly choose to align with those not subject to U.S. sanctions. After all, if they were sanctioned and their operating income significantly dropped, it would result in serious economic losses!'
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, while the Chinese public expresses sympathy for the casualties among Russian troops, they also question the 'true level' of Russia's military capabilities.
Furthermore, the report noted that territorial disputes between China and Russia, along with the increasingly close cooperation between Russia and India, have occasionally sparked dissatisfaction among Chinese netizens towards Russia.
Numerous comments from Chinese netizens on social media appear to support the report's findings.
On the X platform, a user named @Jingchun5 commented: 'Interests may align, but once those benefits are gone, they will part ways. With the U.S. being strong, they might continue to exploit each other for a while.'
Another user on X, identified as 'Youhai Geng', stated: 'Russia still occupies 1.5 million square kilometers of Chinese territory. Personally, I harbor more hatred for it than for Japan.'
(Reprinted from Voice of America)
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