China opposes the confiscation of Russian assets: what lies behind Beijing's decision

China's Position on Russian Assets

According to ХВИЛЯ: China continues to oppose the use of frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine, emphasizing that unilateral sanctions do not contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The statement from Chinese official Lin Jian reflects Beijing's official position, which does not support actions that violate international law and are not agreed upon by the UN Security Council.

China-Russia Economic Ties

China has significant economic ties with Russia, particularly in the energy sector. Since the beginning of 2022, China has saved about 20 billion USD on Russian oil purchases. In 2024, Russia accounted for nearly 19% of China's energy resource imports, totaling approximately 100 billion USD. The share of Russian oil in China's imports reached 20%. The maximum discount on Russian oil for China in the summer of 2022 was 16%, however, by the end of 2023, the average discount for Chinese clients had decreased to 5% off the Brent price.

Furthermore, in the context of oil discounts, it is worth noting that India saved 12.6 billion USD in discounts from 2022 to 2025. Overall, discounts for India and China could have cost Russian oil companies 33 billion USD.

This statement from China indicates Beijing's desire to maintain strategic economic ties with Moscow, which are critically important for its energy security.

In light of global economic challenges, China seeks to avoid confrontation with Russia, which could have long-term implications for international politics and economics. At the same time, such an attitude may heighten tensions in relations with Western states that support sanctions against Russia for its aggressive actions in Ukraine.