In this June 8, 2018 file photo, Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during an awarding ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China.聽 AP
BEIJING聽 鈥� In the race to woo Vladimir Putin, China鈥檚 Xi Jinping is beating Donald Trump.
Trump鈥檚 quest to kindle a bromance with the Russian president has made some Americans squirm. His gushy performance in Helsinki, expressing confidence in Putin instead of US intelligence agencies, ignited outrage across the political spectrum back home.
Should Beijing worry that Trump could succeed in pulling Putin away from China?
Probably not, political analysts say.
Trump鈥檚 charm offensive might cause Beijing a twinge of unease, given its tumultuous history with Moscow. But in this love triangle, Putin and Xi are linked by strategic necessity, plus genuine personal affection.
鈥淭rump has made clear that he is a big fan of Putin,鈥� said Li Xin, director of the Russia center at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Studies.
鈥淏ut everyone knows that Trump frequently changes his mind,鈥� said Li. 鈥淗is attempts to be friendly cannot compete with the history and the intimacy of Xi and Putin鈥檚 relationship.鈥�
Moscow and Beijing are linked by practical and political needs.
China wants Russian oil and gas to power the world鈥檚 second-largest economy. Moscow needs Chinese trade and investment more than ever following its estrangement from the West over its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
They share a loathing of Islamic radicalism in Central Asia and resent US global dominance.
鈥淏oth leaders seek to curtail American influence, weaken US alliances and modify the international system so it is more favorable to them,鈥� Bonnie Glaser of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington said in an email.
Trump raves about Putin鈥檚 political skills, but the Chinese and Russian leaders have long enthused publicly about their unique rapport.
Ahead of a visit to Beijing in June, Putin reminisced about celebrating his birthday with Xi over vodka and sausages five years ago.
鈥淚鈥檝e never established such relations or made such arrangements with any foreign colleague, but I did it with President Xi,鈥� Putin told Chinese state TV.
Xi presented Putin with China鈥檚 first 鈥渇riendship medal鈥� 鈥� an ornate gold necklace 鈥� and called him 鈥渕y best, most intimate friend.鈥�
The Russian and Chinese presidents have spent more time with one another than either has with any other foreign leader.
As far as it is possible for global leaders to become real friends, they are 鈥渟etting a pretty high bar,鈥� said Alexander Gabuev, a Sino-Russian relations expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center.
鈥淐hina has nothing to worry about,鈥� said Gabuev.
Following the Helsinki summit, China鈥檚 foreign ministry welcomed improved US-Russian relations. A spokeswoman said Beijing was 鈥渇ull of confidence鈥� about its own ties with Moscow.
鈥淐hina-Russia relations will not be affected by any external factors,鈥� said Hua Chunying.
Yet there is the remote possibility Washington and Moscow might one day feel the need to unite against China if its rising influence tramples their interests, suggested commentator Harry Kazianis.
鈥淲hile we might rightly see Moscow as a rogue nation today, tomorrow it could be a partner in containing a common foe,鈥� Kazianis wrote this month in The American Conservative.
That is unlikely any time soon, experts say.
Trump backtracked on one of his comments after the outcry back home over his apparent dismissal of US intelligence reports that Moscow meddled in the 2016 election.
Rather than view Trump as a rival for Russia鈥檚 friendship, China is more likely to be pleased by the growing split between Trump and American allies in Europe.
鈥淏eijing has better ties with both Washington and Moscow than they have with each other,鈥� Glaser said. 鈥淐hina likely expects that Trump鈥檚 visit will not change this reality.鈥� /ee