Beijing is courting Moscow for its support in the international court proceedings that surround the disputed South China Sea, according to an article by the South China Morning Post.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to jointly oppose the "internationalizing" of the dispute.
"Both China and Russia should stay on guard against abuses of mandatory arbitration," said Wang on Tuesday, April 19.
In a communique released after a meeting between Lavrov, Wang, and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, it was stated that all related disputes involving the South China Sea must be addressed through peaceful negotiations and agreements. However, neither India nor Russia has anything to do with the coveted sea.
Experts believe that China's actions that seek Russia's aid are part of the preparations for the court ruling of the proceedings launched by the Philippines, expected to be released May or June of this year. In addition, it implies that China is in a pressure spot, as more nations appear to be rallying to the Philippines' cause.
"China is almost isolated in the saga," said Li Xing, a professor of international relations at Beijing Normal University, told SCMP. "As strategic partners, China and Russia are taking care of each other's core interests and coordinating."
Lavrov has already expressed last week that the South China Sea tensions must not be internationalized. However, Russia has yet to respond to give China its support. After all, the nation is embroiled in its own lawsuit at the Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding the right to operate a passenger airport in Crimea.
Whatever the court ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is, it must be binding, said Hugo Swire, British minister of state responsible for East Asia.
Earlier this month, the European Union called on China to respect the proceedings and the eventual ruling of the international tribunal.
Foreign ministers from the members of the Group of Seven have also expressed concerns over the tensions in the South China Sea.