Ariel Cohen
As Russia touts a milestone in the agreement to construct the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, the action signals increasing dependence on China, and Moscow's weakened position in the bilateral relationship.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The spectacular displays at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin were carefully crafted to showcase the evolution of Xi Jinping’s Beijing-centric political bloc which aspires to rival Washington. The U.S. administration is embracing an “America First” agenda and using tariffs as a foreign policy battering ram. Meanwhile, President Trump may be on to something in writing “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America.”
Founded in 2001, the SCO has often been heavy on declarations but light on substance. This year, however, marked a significant shift, with member states, led by China, touting economic competition as the primary path to challenging U.S.-centric post-World War Two arrangements. The Chinese leader promised to open the Chinese BeiDou global navigation system to SCO members to compete with GPS. More importantly, Xi announced the launch of the SCO Development Bank, a China-backed initiative aimed at funding infrastructure in Eurasia. This project was long in the works — Moscow had blocked it, clinging to the idea that the region is its backyard.
Now Moscow has reversed its position, embracing Beijing’s initiative. This is the latest in a long line of Kremlin concessions in the increasingly one-way Sino-Russian relationship. Russia needs China more than China needs Russia. Both parties are aware of this, and Beijing is eager to deepen Russia’s strategic dependence. Arms supplies and energy deals Moscow was pushing for earlier might have put Russia in a position to win against Ukraine soon after its 2022 invasion decisively but were deliberately delayed by China. Instead, Xi let Moscow bleed so Beijing could secure a better negotiating position. This dynamic is at play in every sphere of Sino-Russian cooperation. It is most obvious now in energy. Russia used the summit to tout progress on its flagship Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to China. However, reading between the lines, it is clear this deal is yet another sign of Beijing’s ascendancy.
The Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline and Russian Strategy
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