Beijing’s statement that China does not want Russia to fail in Ukraine was meant as an apology to Putin, an CCP insider said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently told the EU’s top diplomat that China does not want Russia to fail in Ukraine because Beijing wants to keep the United States distracted—emphasizing that a Russian collapse would allow the United States to redirect its strategic focus toward Beijing.
This statement, to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, raised eyebrows internationally, as it departs from China’s long-standing claims of neutrality regarding the war.
Yuan Hongbing, a former professor of law at Peking University who now lives in exile in Australia, revealed that a recent intelligence breach had left Russian President Vladimir Putin furious with China’s communist leadership. According to Yuan, Wang’s statement served as an indirect apology, aimed at repairing trust and signaling continued support for the Kremlin.
Citing a high-level source within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Yuan told The Epoch Times that in May, a mid-level official from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs defected to Russia following internal disputes with his superior. He took with him a cache of classified documents, including contingency plans drafted by Beijing in the event of a Russian defeat in Ukraine.
These leaked documents revealed Beijing’s lack of confidence in the stability of Putin’s regime. Chinese leaders had also expressed concern that a Russian defeat would allow the United States and European powers to quickly support pro-Western forces in Moscow, thereby reshaping the postwar political landscape.
The plans suggested that Beijing is considering two strategies regarding its relations with Russia, according to Yuan’s source.
The first plan involves backing the Communist Party of Russia to lead the country in a post-Putin era—an attempt to shape Russia’s future political landscape in line with the CCP’s ideological interests.
The second, more audacious scenario envisions a direct geopolitical play: if Western powers move decisively to dominate post-war Russia, China would support the creation of a breakaway “Eastern Russian Federation” east of the Ural Mountains.
By Olivia Li