Xi Jinping to Meet Putin; US Expert Says Taiwan is a Potential Issue

AI Summary (NQ-processed)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China to meet with President Xi Jinping. A US expert analyzes that the Taiwan issue is a potential topic for this "Xi-Putin meeting." The analysis suggests that China may seek more fossil fuel agreements with Russia, particularly an expansion of oil pipeline capacity to China, with the aim of ensuring its energy supply security in the event of a future conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, Sino-Russian bilateral trade has hit record highs, with China purchasing large quantities of Russian crude oil, thereby funding Russia's war machine. This move is seen as a strategic preparation by China for a potential Taiwan Strait crisis.