Russia on alert for Xi betrayal as China 'plotting land grab'

 

A leaked intelligence memo suggests that President Vladimir Putin’s security services believe China is laying the groundwork to claim parts of Russian territory—particularly in the Far East, including the strategic port city of Vladivostok. The internal document from the Federal Security Service (FSB) reveals deep concerns about Beijing's intentions, starkly contradicting the Kremlin’s public narrative of strong bilateral ties.

According to the eight-page FSB report, believed to have been drafted in late 2023 or early 2024 by a previously unknown intelligence unit, Chinese actions are viewed as an attempt to "encroach" on Russian land under the pretense of deepening cooperation. The document even refers to China as “the enemy” and outlines fears of Chinese espionage targeting Russia’s military and strategic infrastructure. It also raises alarms about Beijing’s Arctic ambitions and efforts to exploit longstanding territorial disputes.

The New York Times described the leak as offering “the most detailed behind-the-scenes view to date” of how Russian counterintelligence perceives China. It portrays an intensifying and covert rivalry, despite the much-publicized “no-limits partnership” declared by Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2022.

Among the key grievances is China's attitude toward 19th-century border agreements, particularly the 1860 Treaty of Peking, which transferred control of the Vladivostok region to Russia. The FSB notes that Chinese nationalists continue to reject the legitimacy of those treaties and accuses Beijing of stoking historical resentment to build public support for potential future claims.

In 2023, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources ordered that official maps use Chinese names for Vladivostok and seven other cities—an act interpreted in Moscow as a soft power maneuver to assert cultural and historical influence over the region. The FSB memo also cites growing interest among Chinese academics in identifying evidence of “ancient Chinese peoples” in the Russian Far East as part of a broader effort to legitimize territorial claims.

The report further alleges that Chinese intelligence is actively recruiting Russian nationals, especially those with personal or academic ties to China, and is monitoring Russian military involvement in Ukraine to gather information on Western military technologies.

Former CIA officer Paul Kolbe commented on the findings: “You don’t have to scratch very deep in any Russian military or intel official to get deep suspicion of China. In the long run, China is a potential threat.”

Despite these internal tensions, Moscow and Beijing continue to present a united front. Just last month, Putin and Xi signed a joint declaration to “further deepen” their cooperation—papering over what appears to be growing mistrust behind the scenes.