Russia, China and the Uneasy Terms of Authoritarian Coexistence

This article was originally published as Jabin T. Jacob. 2026. ‘Russia, China and the Uneasy Terms of Authoritarian Coexistence’. India’s World. 4 January.

The mid-November meeting in Moscow between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Mishustin, is the latest step in a growing political and economic bilateral partnership driven by Western opposition to Russia’s war in Ukraine. This is not to say that there are no tensions or attempts at one-upmanship in the Russia-China relationship, but the two sides also understand the value of the relationship both in and of itself and as leverage with other powers. Even as it drives a hard bargain, China also puts in considerable effort to keep the Russians close and to expand the relationship.

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