Letter from China: Beijing backs Moscow

China’s energy imports have offered Russia a lifeline as Western sanctions bite

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three months ago prompted speculation as to how much support China would be prepared to provide to its northern neighbour and ‘strategic partner’. The most recent energy trade data from the world’s second-largest economy appears to provide an answer. While Beijing has declined to provide direct diplomatic support, it has boosted energy imports from Russia, offering a lifeline to Moscow that has enabled it to withstand Western economic and financial sanctions. The value of China’s imports from Russia in April hit a record high of $8.89bn, up by 56.6pc from a year earlier and 13.3pc higher than March, according to Chinese customs figures. Purchases of oil, gas and