Emily de la Bruyère, co-founder of Horizon Advisory, a consultancy firm that specializes in the study of China's global economic influence, and a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), sheds light on how the West's response to Putin's war on Ukraine has allowed China to benefit from its “access to the Russian market and resources” while cementing Moscow's dependence on Beijing.

She spoke with the Association of Foreign Correspondents (AFPC-USA) to provide them with a greater understanding of the issue, emphasizing that China's support for Russia has implications for multinational businesses, governments, and China's strategic rivalry with the United States, particularly as it relates to “industrial competition” and access to critical resources. As China provides Russia with capital, goods, and even military-relevant technologies, the West risks “inflicting costs” on itself without succeeding in punishing Russia appropriately for its invasion should Beijing’s role continue unchallenged.

The international system has been unwilling to confront Beijing for its support to Russia, she says, partly due to the West’s “global industrial and economic dependence” on China. Thus, the continuation of the Ukraine war serves Beijing's interests, as it makes Moscow “economically and geopolitically beholden” to Beijing while keeping the West “embroiled in a protracted conflict that risks draining energy resources, defense industrial base capabilities, economic vitality, and political resolve to compete abroad.”

De la Bruyère’s interview with foreignpress.org is within the scope of AFPC-USA’s partnership with the Hinrich Foundation. The AFPC-USA is solely responsible for the content of this interview.

The following conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.