Beijing confesses that it fears Washington will forget about Putin and go all out against the Asian giant. The balance between neutrality in the war in Ukraine and the partnership with Putin had been the prevailing script embraced by Chinese diplomats.

Beijing cannot afford to see Russia lose the Ukraine war, because it needs America focused on Moscow and Kyiv — and away from the Pacific, China’s top diplomat told his EU counterpart, according to a new report.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas on July 3 that the country cannot afford for Russia to lose the war in Ukraine amid fears the U.S. would shift focus towards Beijing,