U.S. intel: China still supports Russia but "unsettled" by Ukraine

Heads of U.S. intelligence agencies on Tuesday told Russia and China are closer than ever in a House Intelligence Committee, but Beijing authorities may have concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine that may affect their relationship in the future.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and CIA Director William Burns both said the partnership between the Kremlin and Chinese Communist Party is growing stronger in testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, reports the Washington Examiner.

However, Haines said it seem Beijing had mixed feelings about the invasion of Ukraine, which is well into its second week.  

“[In] terms of the impact of the current crisis, I’d say that it’s not yet clear to me exactly how it will affect the trajectory of their relationship,” Haines told the Congressmen present. “I think it’s clear that China has not come out and criticized Russia for their actions, clearly, and yet at the same time, they did abstain, for example, in the context of the U.N. Security Council resolution and in other scenarios, and it does seem as if they are potentially paying a price for not criticizing Russia, and that may have an impact on how this trajectory moves forward.”

Burns agreed, saying that thought “President Xi and the Chinese leadership are a little unsettled by what they’re seeing in Ukraine,” especially at Putin’s slow progress and logistical problems.

“They did not anticipate the significant difficulties that the Russians were going to run into,” Burns said. “I think they’re unsettled by the reputational damage that can come by their close association with President Putin, and … by the economic consequences at a moment when they are experiencing lower annual growth rates than they’ve experienced for more than three decades. I think they’re a little unsettled about the impact on the global economy.”

The CIA director said he though Beijing was also “a little unsettled by the way in which Vladimir Putin has driven Europeans and Americans much closer together.”

China has walked a fine line with its ally on the Ukraine invasion. On one hand, it blames the U.S. for fueling tensions with Russia and has avoided calling it an “invasion.” Beijing has also kept Chinese banks open to Russians as Western ones shuttered theirs.

But Beijing has voiced opposition to an invasion of Ukraine since the end of the 2022 Winter Olympics, concerned that taking Russia’s side would alienate it from the Western markets it needs for continued economic growth.