Xi Jinping conducted phone calls with both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in early February, employing careful diplomatic choreography that signals Beijing's intention to maintain its strategic partnership with Moscow while managing relations with Washington. The back-to-back conversations underscore China's refusal to choose between the two powers, instead positioning itself as a bridge—or, from another perspective, hedging its bets in an increasingly multipolar world.
According to United24Media reporting, Trump characterized US-China relations as "exceptionally good" during his call with Xi and revealed plans for a visit to China in the near future. The two leaders discussed trade relations, the Taiwan situation, Russia's war in Ukraine, and Iran—a broad agenda reflecting the comprehensive nature of bilateral engagement despite ongoing strategic competition.
The timing and sequencing matter in Chinese diplomacy. By speaking with both leaders in succession, Xi demonstrated Beijing's commitment to maintaining what Chinese officials call "strategic autonomy"—the ability to pursue relationships with both Washington and Moscow simultaneously, without subordinating Chinese interests to either power's preferences.
In his conversation with Putin, Xi reinforced the "no limits" partnership language that has characterized Sino-Russian relations since the two leaders' February 2022 summit, just weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Both leaders described their cooperation as at an "unprecedented level," and Putin accepted Xi's invitation to visit China in the first half of 2026, with additional meetings planned for later in the year, including the APEC summit in November.
The calls addressed Trump's "Peace Council" proposal for resolving the Ukraine conflict, though neither Beijing nor Moscow formally accepted or rejected the initiative. Both leaders expressed support for trilateral security talks in Abu Dhabi involving the United States, Russia, and China—a format that would elevate Beijing's role in European security matters and further entrench the triangular dynamic shaping global order.
In China, as across Asia, long-term strategic thinking guides policy—what appears reactive is often planned. Beijing's simultaneous engagement with Washington and Moscow reflects calculations rooted in Chinese assessments of a shifting international system. Chinese strategists view the current period as one of "great changes unseen in a century," requiring China to secure strategic depth through partnerships while avoiding entrapment in conflicts that don't serve Chinese interests.
Yet the alignment with Russia carries risks for Beijing. Earlier reports indicated Chinese support for Russian military production capabilities, contradicting Beijing's public claims of neutrality regarding the Ukraine war. This complicates Chinese efforts to position itself as a mediator and raises questions in European capitals about whether China can be trusted as an honest broker.
For Washington, the diplomatic choreography poses a strategic challenge. The Trump administration appears willing to engage Beijing pragmatically on trade and regional security while simultaneously competing for influence. But China's deepening ties with Russia—particularly in defense cooperation and energy markets—limit the extent to which Washington can decouple the two relationships.
The phone calls also reflect domestic political priorities within the Chinese Communist Party. Xi has consolidated power around a foreign policy vision emphasizing multipolarity and resistance to what Chinese officials characterize as American hegemony. Maintaining the Russia partnership serves this vision while providing Beijing with strategic cover as it pursues technological self-sufficiency and economic restructuring at home.
From an Asian geopolitical perspective, China's balancing act between Washington and Moscow creates uncertainty for regional partners. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan all depend on American security guarantees while maintaining extensive economic ties with China. Beijing's ability to sustain relationships with both the United States and Russia demonstrates the fluid nature of alignments in the Indo-Pacific, where economic interdependence coexists with strategic competition.
The planned visits—Trump to Beijing and Putin to China—will test whether this diplomatic balancing act can produce substantive outcomes or whether it merely postpones harder choices about China's international alignment. For now, Beijing has signaled its intention to maintain strategic flexibility, pursuing cooperation where possible while hedging against the risks of overcommitment to either power.
