Despite Vladimir Putin’s eagerness to deepen ties with China, he may soon find that his “Chinese wish list” of economic and political demands is just wishful thinking. With the global economy in disarray, China is unlikely to be able to provide the kind of investment and support that Putin is hoping for. Furthermore, the geopolitical tensions between the two countries, especially over the disputed territories in the South China Sea and the Russian-backed war in Syria, make cooperation on a grand scale unlikely.
Moreover, China’s own economic problems, particularly its slowing growth and ballooning debt, mean that it is unlikely to be able to spare the kind of resources that Putin is seeking.