Vladimir Putin’s Russia could be reduced to “China’s colony” after the war in Ukraine, a war analyst claims.
Harry Kazianis, an expert on US foreign policy and national security issues involving China, said the country will be forced to sell off its assets to Beijing because it has been crippled by a broad package of economic sanctions imposed by the West.
In an interview with the Express, he said China “bought as much as they could” following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and it “would love to” follow that "blueprint" in the coming years when Russia becomes increasingly desperate.
There are growing concerns about an economic collapse in Russia, as the Rouble has lost more than a quarter of its value since the invasion and it hit an all-time low of 120 against the US dollar earlier this month.
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Mr Kazianis, an analyst at the US thinktank Centre for National Interest, also claimed President Xi Jinping is looking to get "a foothold in Russia" and he may exploit the Kremlin’s vulnerability to gain access to its advanced military technology.
It comes after US President Joe Biden warned the Chinese leader that his country would face consequences if it provided economic or military assistance to Russia, whiles its forces are fighting in Ukraine.
"Even if [Putin] pulled all of his troops out of Ukraine today, the sanctions aren't coming off - so for him, the dye is already cast,” said Mr Kazianis.
"If he survives, he's going to have to become China's colony at this point.
"That's the only way he's going to get the financial support he needs to survive.
"And it's not a sure thing that the Chinese are going to want to do that. It's a really bad situation.
"It is in their interest, provided the war doesn't go nuclear.
"I think the Chinese would love to try and get as much of a foothold in Russia as possible - and they see trillions of dollars in resources.
"They see a Russian military that they would love to go in and take all the technology and add it to their own.
"And that's what they did when the Soviet Union collapsed, and that is why China is the superpower that it is now.
"They bought as much as they could from what was left of the Soviet Union and now the US and its allies are facing a Chinese military that has taken all that best Soviet equipment and upgraded it.
"So they would love to follow that blueprint again."
Mr Kazianis said the Chinese leaders would also have to consider the "reputational damage" that would come from partnering with Russia.
"They don't seem to care what anybody else thinks, they probably don't care what their own people think,” he said.
“It depends on how far this war goes."
According to the United Nations, 816 civilians had been killed and 1,333 had been wounded in Ukraine by March 17, while more than 3.2 million refugees have fled the country.
