In 2025, the world is witnessing a profound realignment in global power as China and Russia, often called the “DragonBear,” deepen their partnership across military, economic, and diplomatic spheres. This alliance is not a formal military pact, but its scope and ambition have major implications for the balance of power, the war in Ukraine, and the future of the international order. As Western alliances face new challenges, the DragonBear is asserting itself as a force that cannot be ignored.
The Strategic Foundation: More Than a Marriage of Convenience
A Comprehensive Partnership, Not a Formal Alliance
While China and Russia have not signed a formal military alliance, their relationship is defined by deep strategic collaboration. In 2019, they upgraded ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination,” and by 2021, had agreed on a military cooperation roadmap through 2025. This framework reflects a high level of strategic trust and a shared readiness to counter the United States and its allies, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
Shared Goals, Different Priorities
Both countries are united by a desire to challenge Western dominance, but they approach the partnership with different priorities. For Russia, China is now its most important trading partner and a critical source of technology, consumer goods, and diplomatic support, especially after being cut off from the West due to the Ukraine war. For China, Russia is a useful partner for energy, commodities, and as a strategic counterweight to the United States, but its economic importance is limited compared to other global markets.
Military and Security Cooperation: Joint Drills and Technology Transfer
Joint Exercises and Symbolic Shows of Force
China and Russia have dramatically increased joint military activities. In 2024 and 2025, they conducted extensive naval patrols in the Pacific, joint bomber flights, and annual maritime exercises with Iran in the Gulf of Oman, signaling their intent to challenge Western influence in key regions. These drills, while often symbolic, demonstrate growing operational coordination and serve as a message to the United States and its allies.
Technology Transfer and Defense Collaboration
Despite China’s advances in its own military industry, Russia remains a key supplier of certain high-end technologies, such as advanced aviation engines and missile systems. There is also evidence of joint research in emerging fields like artificial intelligence and quantum computing for military applications. Reports from Ukraine’s intelligence services indicate that as of early 2025, 80% of crucial electronic components found in Russian drones originate from China, highlighting the depth of technological collaboration—even if China denies direct arms transfers.
Space and Cybersecurity
The DragonBear partnership extends into space and cyberspace. In May 2025, the two countries issued a joint statement opposing the weaponization of outer space and called for a legally binding treaty to prevent an arms race beyond Earth’s atmosphere. There is also growing cooperation in cybersecurity, with intelligence sharing and joint strategies to counter perceived Western threats.
Economic Ties: Trade Booms, But Asymmetries Remain
Record Trade Amid Sanctions
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, bilateral trade has surged to record levels, with China overtaking Europe as Russia’s top trading partner. Russia supplies China with energy and raw materials, while importing Chinese consumer goods, cars, and technology. In 2025, trade flows remain robust, but investment from China to Russia is still modest. Most large-scale projects, such as the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, remain on paper due to concerns about Western sanctions.
Sanctions Evasion and Financial Cooperation
China’s support has been crucial for Russia’s ability to withstand Western sanctions. Chinese companies have filled gaps left by departing Western firms, and both countries have worked to link their financial systems and reduce reliance on the US dollar. However, China remains cautious, wary of secondary sanctions that could threaten its access to Western markets.
The Limits of Economic Integration
Despite booming trade, the relationship is unbalanced. Russia is far more dependent on China than vice versa. For China, Russia is a convenient partner, but not indispensable. This asymmetry shapes the limits of their cooperation and gives Beijing leverage over Moscow.
Geopolitical Impact: Challenging the Western-Led Order
A New Axis of Authoritarianism?
The DragonBear alliance is often described as part of a broader “axis of authoritarianism,” which includes Iran and North Korea. Their joint military drills and diplomatic coordination are seen as efforts to counterbalance American power and contest the Western-led global order. As US alliances face turbulence, especially with shifting US leadership, China and Russia are positioning themselves as champions of an alternative model.
Diplomatic Coordination and Global Messaging
In 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s high-profile visit to Moscow and the signing of new agreements underscore the political symbolism of the partnership. Both countries present their alliance as a force for global stability and multipolarity, opposing what they see as Western attempts to dominate international affairs.
Regional Hotspots: Ukraine, the Arctic, and Beyond
The war in Ukraine remains a central issue. While China has not overtly supported Russia’s military campaign, it provides critical economic and technological lifelines, and at times, has been accused of supplying dual-use goods and components. In the Arctic, China and Russia have dismissed Western concerns about their growing cooperation, emphasizing peaceful exploration and economic development while expanding their military presence and infrastructure.
Technology, Energy, and the Future of the DragonBear
Collaboration in High-Tech Sectors
Beyond military technology, China and Russia are expanding cooperation in space exploration, satellite technology, and potentially joint lunar missions. Both countries see technological self-sufficiency as vital to national security and are investing in joint research to reduce dependence on Western innovation.
Energy as the Backbone
Energy remains a cornerstone of the relationship. Russia’s oil and gas exports to China have increased, with new supply routes under discussion. However, major projects face delays due to financing and the threat of sanctions, highlighting the challenges of deeper integration.
Risks and Challenges
While the DragonBear appears strong, it is not without risks. Russia’s growing dependence on China could create tensions, especially if Beijing seeks to extract economic or political concessions. China, for its part, is careful not to jeopardize its broader global interests by aligning too closely with Moscow, especially as it navigates complex relationships with Europe and the United States.
Common Misconceptions and Key Questions
Is the China-Russia Alliance a Formal Military Pact?
No. Despite deep strategic cooperation, there is no formal mutual defense treaty. The relationship is built on shared interests, not binding commitments.
Is China Directly Arming Russia in Ukraine?
There is no confirmed evidence of direct arms transfers, but significant technological and dual-use support exists. Reports indicate widespread use of Chinese components in Russian military equipment, often via complex supply chains and shell companies.
Who Benefits More from the Alliance?
In economic terms, Russia is far more dependent on China than the reverse. Politically and strategically, both sides gain by challenging Western dominance, but China holds more leverage due to its global economic clout.
Does the DragonBear Threaten Global Stability?
The alliance challenges the Western-led order and complicates efforts to resolve conflicts like Ukraine. However, both countries present their partnership as a force for multipolarity and balance, not direct confrontation.
Conclusion: The DragonBear’s Uncertain Future
The China-Russia alliance in 2025 is a partnership of ambition and convenience, driven by shared interests but shaped by deep asymmetries. As the DragonBear asserts itself on the world stage, it is reshaping the global order, challenging Western dominance, and driving new alignments in military, economic, and technological spheres. The future of this alliance will depend on how both countries manage their differences, respond to external pressures, and balance cooperation with competition. For now, the DragonBear is a force the world cannot ignore.