"Xi's Visit to Putin Amidst Growing Russia-China Alliance Raises Concerns"

Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Russia highlights China's aspirations for a greater role on the world stage, but the announcement was overshadowed by an international arrest warrant issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges. The Biden administration believes the warrant may affect China's desire to be seen as a broker for peace between Russia and Ukraine. However, the warrant is unlikely to have a major impact on the meeting or China's position toward Russia, as neither China nor Russia recognizes the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction. Despite China's posturing as a mediator, its refusal to condemn Russia's actions leaves no doubt about where Beijing's sympathy lies.