CHINA APPLAUDS PUTIN’S WIN, BACKS RUSSIA ON SKRIPAL CASE, HAILS CHINA’S ‘STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP’ WITH RUSSIA
Messages of support for Russia and its “comprehensive collaborative strategic partnership” pour in from China President Putin’s massive election victory and the fallout from the Skripal case have provided Global Times – an English language newspaper published under the auspices of the People’s Daily, the official organ of China’s Communist Party, and therefore reflecting the views of China’s leadership – with the opportunity to give Russia strong backing as it comes under renewed Western pressure. China’s President Xi Jinping (L) is welcomed by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin (R) during the opening ceremony of “The Year of Chinese Tourism in Russia” in Moscow, on March 22, 2013. AFP PHOTO / POOL / SERGEI ILNITSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI ILNITSKY/AFP/Getty Images) The first editorial , published on 16th March 2018 under the title “West hopes to hurt, intimidate Russia”, makes clear that China sides with Russia over the handling of the Skripal case This n...