According to the Pentagon, Russia has become a greater burden on China following the invasion of Ukraine

*Paromita Das

According to a senior Pentagon official, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has increased China’s strategic burden because Russian troops have been on the offensive in Ukraine for the majority of the month-long conflict.

“I do believe that what Putin has done in Ukraine has made Russia much more of a strategic burden for Beijing than it was six weeks or six months ago,” said Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl.

China’s government has shifted its stance toward Russia, expressing support for Moscow’s complaints about Nato expansion while avoiding labelling its actions as an invasion.

While Beijing’s censors work hard to keep any criticism of that viewpoint out of the public eye, the disagreement has sparked heated debate among Chinese policy experts and the general public.

Analysts say the argument highlights tensions created by a clash between Chinese diplomatic values and alignment with Russia, as Beijing attempts to assess how the war will affect its interests.

Following standoffs over Ukraine and Taiwan, China and Russia announced a “no limits” alliance in February, promising to work more closely together against the West.

According to a senior US defense official, the Ukrainian army pushed Russian forces stationed outside Kyiv for weeks as far back as 15 miles in a massive counteroffensive on Wednesday.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide a battlefield update.

Russian forces have moved nearly 40 kilometers away from the capital.