‘China benefits from the war in Ukraine’, – The New York Times

The war in Ukraine is proving advantageous for China. Due to anti-Russian sanctions, China’s trade with Russia this year exceeded $200 billion—much earlier than anticipated by both nations.

This was reported by the American newspaper The New York Times.

The biggest beneficiaries were Chinese automakers. Sales to Russia helped China surpass Japan this year as the world’s largest exporter of automobiles. Chinese car manufacturers captured 55% of the Russian market, whereas in the pre-war 2021, their share was only 8%.

In return, Russia sold not just oil and gas but also products like chocolate, sausages, and other consumer goods to China. These items started appearing abundantly in Chinese supermarkets.

“The cheap Russian energy, bypassing the sanctions imposed by the West, helped Chinese factories compete in global markets, while their competitors in other countries, especially in Germany, faced significantly higher electricity costs,” the publication noted.

Russia’s actions in Ukraine also received media support from China.

“State media in China constantly disseminate Russian propaganda. Russia is so popular in China that influential individuals on social media flock to Harbin, the capital of China’s northernmost province in the east, Heilongjiang, to pose in Russian attire in front of a former Russian cathedral,” the article stated.