Archive · 25 Jul 2025
China's Economic Lifeline to Russia Amid Sanctions and EU Tensions
China is helping Russia's economy stay afloat while many other countries have put sanctions on them.
China is buying a lot of Russian goods like oil and wood, and selling them things like clothes and cars.
The main border town where this happens is Manzhouli.
This trade has grown since Russia invaded Ukraine, but it's also making China's relationship with Europe difficult.
There are some disagreements, like Russia's restrictions on certain wood exports to China and China's tariffs on Russian coal.
China's trade with Russia has surged since the Ukraine war began, with trade exceeding $240 billion last year.
Manzhouli, China's border crossing with Russia, facilitates the flow of timber, rapeseed, and used cars between the two countries.
China's support for Russia has helped Moscow survive Western sanctions, but strained relations with the EU.
Russia has become an economic satellite of China, relying on it for manufactured goods and raw materials.
China has faced tensions in trade with Russia, including tariffs on coal and restrictions on car imports.
- Who
- China and Russia, and the EU.
- What
- China and Russia's increasing economic ties and the impact of sanctions.
- When
- Trade surged since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022.
- Where
- Manzhouli, China, on the border with Russia.
- Why
- China is supporting Russia's economy amid Western sanctions, but faces challenges from the EU.
China's Perspective
EU's Perspective
Support for Russia
China's Perspective
Economic support for Russia stabilizes the relationship and offsets impacts of sanctions.
EU's Perspective
The EU views China's actions as enabling Russia's war economy and creating instability.
Economic Dependence
China's Perspective
China is benefiting from acquiring raw materials from Russia.
EU's Perspective
Russia is becoming an economic satellite of China as a result.
- Trade Value (2023)
- Exceeded $240 billion
- China's Manufacturing Output
- 32% of the world's
- Russia's Manufacturing Output
- 1.33% of the world's
- China's Car Market Share in Russia
- 60% (late summer 2023)
- Car Import Fee in Russia
- $7,500