Beyond the Alliance: The Ideological Roots of Russia-China Convergence

• The Institute of Contemporary China and Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences has published an important study entitled “The Modern Ideology of the PRC. Xi Jinping's Ideas as the Basis of Chinese Politics.” The document examines the relationship between “the theoretical ideas of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the country's domestic and foreign policy over the past 13 years.” 

• This collective study is the first comprehensive Russian research project to systematically investigate contemporary Chinese ideology and offers insights into how the two countries can coexist and strengthen their cooperation.

• According to the monograph, the relationship between Russia and China is a strategic alliance that goes beyond mere convenience, based on deep ideological convergence and a shared vision of a multipolar world order. This bond is manifested in both countries' rejection of neoliberal values and their opposition to US-led military blocs.

• Under Xi Jinping's leadership, China is pursuing a "vision of a strong military" with the goal of modernizing it by 2027, while preferring to use military power to achieve political objectives without direct involvement in conflict. This pragmatic security strategy resonates with the Russian approach. Furthermore, the rise of nationalism in China since 2015 is seen as an ideological trend that aligns with Russian rhetoric, helping to strengthen internal cohesion. Xi Jinping's ideas are seen as a potential theoretical basis for a new global governance system, offering an alternative to the Western model.

The relationship between Vladimir Putin's Russia and Xi Jinping's China is often described as a "no-limits strategic partnership," but its ideological roots and implications for the world order have been less explored. A seminal work analyzing this complex dynamic is the collective monograph "The Modern Ideology of the PRC. Xi Jinping's Ideas as the Foundation of Chinese Politics," edited by K.V. Babaev and published by the Institute of China and Modern Asia (IKSA) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in 2025. This study represents the first comprehensive Russian research to systematically investigate the ideology of contemporary China and offers an essential key to understanding how the two countries can coexist and strengthen their cooperation.

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Structure and Objectives of the Study

This monograph is the first comprehensive study in Russian academia entirely devoted to contemporary Chinese ideology based on Xi Jinping's ideas. These ideas have been officially recognized as the theoretical foundation of the policies of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the state. The work aims to objectively and critically analyze the CCP's ideological platform in the Xi Jinping era and its practical application in both domestic and foreign policy. The authors, including K.V. Babaev, A.N. Karneev, P.V. Troshchinsky, V.E. Petrovsky, I.Y. Zuenko, V.B. Kashin, O.N. Borokh, I.G. Chubarov, A.V. Lomanov, and D.A. Smirnov, explore various aspects of Xi Jinping's thinking.

Main Content and Topics

The study analyzes Xi Jinping's thinking in several thematic areas:

Government and law: According to Pavel Troshchinsky, director of the Center for Political Research and Forecasting at the ICCA, under Xi's leadership, "new ideological content has appeared in the legal sphere of the PRC, in particular his ideas on the 'rule of law' and 'state governance.'" Among the recently approved documents, which are unusual for the country's legal culture, the analyst cites the 2021 "Legal Aid Law" and the adoption in 2020 of the first Civil Code in the history of the People's Republic of China. A key point is the relationship between the Party and the law, described by some Chinese scholars as a "father and mother" relationship in legislation.

Foreign policy and security: V.E. Petrovsky and I.Y. Zuenko focus on diplomacy and global initiatives, particularly the "Community with a Shared Future for Mankind." They analyze the three main global initiatives (for development, security, and civilization), presented as China's response to international challenges in a multipolar world. "In 2013, speaking at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Xi outlined his main foreign policy concept, namely the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, and in subsequent years – the corresponding global initiatives on development, security, and civilization."

Economy: O.N. Borokh analyzes the ideology behind the CCP's economic policy, highlighting how Xi Jinping's leadership dynamically adapts ideological justifications to achieve specific goals, such as combating the consequences of COVID-19 or increasing productivity. The use of ideological campaigns to mobilize society in support of economic policies is emphasized.

Defense: "As Vasily Kashin, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics of the National Research University, argues, after his rise to power, a turning point also occurred in this area, with military issues becoming one of the central themes of Chinese party ideology." The "vision of a strong army" has become a central element of the "Chinese dream." "In practice, in 2015, Xi launched large-scale reforms of the Chinese military, which are still ongoing 10 years later. In 2022, Xi announced at the 20th National Congress of the CPC the goal of achieving major milestones in building an advanced, world-class military by 2027." "In his speeches, Xi refers to the Chinese classical canon (e.g., Sun Tzu's 'War is a great undertaking of the state'). When it comes to choosing between prioritizing the development of the country's economy or its military sphere, priority is given to security." "He concludes that, in terms of the role of military issues in ideology, the Xi era is comparable only to that of Mao Zedong. 'Military power must be used (if necessary) on a large scale and with decisive objectives. The conclusion that could be drawn is as follows: 'It is preferable to achieve political objectives by relying on military power, but without directly engaging in war.'"

Regional policy: I.G. Chubarov describes regional development policy, which combines free market principles with the goal of reducing socioeconomic inequalities, an aspect that has taken on greater importance under Xi Jinping's leadership.

Culture and ideology: A.V. Lomanov examines the CCP's ideology in the cultural sphere, showing how the Chinese leadership uses the "cultural renaissance" to promote the party's ideology both nationally and internationally, strengthening China's "soft power."

Critical Analysis and Contribution

The monograph aims to refute the stereotypical perception, widespread in Western media, of a China that is ideologically monolithic and lacking in pluralism of thought. "However, under Xi there has been significantly less open discussion than under his predecessor Hu Jintao." This situation is "partly associated with the concept of the 'Chinese dream', which requires engagement in activities more useful to the 'great rebirth of the Chinese nation', rather than engaging in these same discussions."

Andrei Karneev, "former director of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the Higher School of Economics of the National Research University," writes that "if in 2012, when Xi came to power and in the early years that followed, it was possible to identify a 'silent liberal majority' (as Western researchers called it) among Chinese citizens, then, in a short time, their preferences began to change." "By 2015, nationalism had become the most popular trend in public thought in China, and in 2018, according to the CPC magazine, the three main [public narratives] included populism, nationalism, and environmentalism." "By 2022-2023, according to data from Xi'an Jiaotong University, the most influential ideological movements in China were nationalism, feminism, and 'heroism' (the cult of various heroes of the Chinese nation)." "In the near future, nationalism is expected to continue to strengthen, consumerism and feminism will merge into a single ideology, while anti-globalization will increase." "At the same time, there is a noticeable trend: by 2025, the Chinese authorities began to more actively persecute overly patriotic bloggers."

The Foundation of Coexistence: Ideological and Strategic Convergences

The coexistence between Russia and China is not based on simple political expediency, but on a deep shared ideological grounding. The monograph highlights three main points of convergence that allow Xi Jinping and Putin to lead their respective countries into an increasingly close partnership.

1. A Shared Vision of a Multipolar World Order: Both nations reject the model of a unipolar world dominated by the United States and strive to promote an international order in which power is distributed among several independent powers. This strategic alignment reflects a profound disagreement with current global power structures and a shared desire to redistribute political and economic influence.

2. Rejection of Neoliberal Values: Another strong affinity is their shared rejection of neoliberal values and Western policies. Russia and China view liberal values and the promotion of democracy as interference in internal affairs and a tool for maintaining hegemony. Their coexistence is based on the defense of national sovereignty and the promotion of a development model based on internal values and traditions, rather than externally imposed models.

3. Opposition to Military Blocs: Another crucial affinity is opposition to US-led military blocs, such as NATO. "Currently, China is a member of only one organization involved in security issues (the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO), and the Belt and Road Initiative has not acquired such a capacity in its 10 years of existence. So far, the DPRK is Beijing's only official military ally. As Zuyenko points out, China's only overseas base is in Djibouti." Both countries perceive the expansion of such alliances as a direct threat to their security. Their cooperation, while not a formal military alliance, is strengthened by a shared principle of opposition to what they see as a strategy of containment.

Future Developments and Comparative Scenarios

The study is not limited to a static analysis, but projects Chinese ideological trends into the future. Nationalism, already "the most popular trend in public thought in China," is expected to continue to strengthen. Another interesting prediction is the fusion of "consumerism and feminism into a single ideology," suggesting that Chinese social dynamics will continue to evolve in unique ways, distinct from Western paths. The growth of anti-globalization, a theme that also resonates in Russia, is a further indication of how the two nations are aligning themselves against the principles of free market and international cooperation as defined by the West.

The Relationship Between Ideology and Global Governance

Babaev's work offers an original interpretation of the role that Xi Jinping's ideology could play outside China's borders. The Chinese leader's ideas are seen not only as a means of ensuring internal stability, but also as a "possible theoretical foundation for a new system of global governance." This is a crucial point, as it suggests that Chinese ideology is not merely an instrument of power, but an alternative model that can attract other countries, especially those dissatisfied with the current US-dominated order. The fact that the study was published by a Russian institution highlights the importance that Moscow attaches to this potential ideological convergence.

China's Vision of Security and Its Uniqueness

Another detail worth highlighting is China's pragmatic and non-belligerent approach to security. Despite its military modernization and focus on defense, China "is a member of only one organization engaged in security matters (the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO)" and its only official military ally is the DPRK. This approach reflects the Chinese philosophy of "refusing to rely solely on power in the world arena." This detail is key to distinguishing Chinese policy from that of Western powers, which often favor military alliances. The article could emphasize that this uniqueness is a factor that makes China an attractive partner for Russia, which shares a skeptical view of US-led military blocs.

Functional Coexistence and Future Prospects

The coexistence of Russia and China is not a rigid alliance, but a functional partnership that feeds on these ideological and strategic convergences. Xi Jinping's ideas are presented as a possible theoretical foundation for a new global governance system, offering a concrete alternative to the Western liberal model that has shown signs of fragility. The monograph concludes that Chinese foreign policy will continue to be based on Xi Jinping's ideas, making it essential for Russia to understand this ideology. The coexistence between the two giants is not only a tactical response to external pressure, but a search for a new international balance of power based on common ideological principles, which could define the contours of a future multipolar world order.