At the same time, Moscow has detected growing Chinese espionage efforts targeting mid-level government officials but has avoided publicly confronting Beijing for fear of damaging the increasingly unequal relationship.

The imbalance was highlighted during Putin's May visit to China, when Moscow failed to secure a long-sought deal for the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. Chinese officials demanded Russian gas at below-market domestic prices and told Moscow not to raise the project again unless the terms changed. Putin ultimately left Beijing with 42 agreements and joint declarations — but no pipeline deal.

China has also grown uneasy over Russia's deepening military relationship with North Korea. Beijing, which has long viewed Pyongyang as within its own orbit, is particularly concerned that Russian technology transfers could strengthen North Korea's nuclear or submarine capabilities and push South Korea and Japan closer to the U.S.

Putin has also privately pushed for a trilateral Russia-China-North Korea summit, but Beijing rejected the proposal.