U.S. 'Zero-Sum Game' Mindset Under Trump Pushed Russia, China Closer, Beijing Says

China's backing Russia's commitment to defending its national interests in a measure of support Beijing says grew stronger after a "certain country" pursued a policy of unilateralism.

Tensions mounted between the United States and China during former President Donald Trump's final year in office. As America's relationship with Beijing eroded, China grew closer with Russia, and President Vladimir Putin hasn't ruled out a formal alliance between the two nations, raising concerns in the U.S., as the two nations are considered top adversaries.

Part of what pushed the two countries together may have been the United States. China foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying didn't mention Trump or the U.S. by name, but said a "certain country" had been pursuing the "erroneous policy of unilateralism and protectionism" for the past "few years."

"Clinging to the 'mindset of zero-sum game,'" China accused "a certain country" of "hyping up" the differences in ideology and political systems in an attempt to create divisions.

"Against such a backdrop, China and Russia always stand side by side to support each other on issues concerning respective core interests, firmly reject hegemony and bullying and jointly uphold international equity and justice," Hua said on Monday.

It's not the first time China's hit the U.S. for Trump's unilateralism and protectionism approach to governing. In 2017, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng called unilateralism an "unprecedented challenge" to the multilateral trading system. The next year, foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang accused former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of using criticism of China's "predatory" economic practices to "cover up its unilateral and protectionist moves."

Criticism over America's unilateral decision-making didn't end when President Joe Biden took office, and in April, Chinese President Xi Jinping criticized the "unilateralism of individual countries" in a speech at an economic forum. He too never mentioned the U.S. specifically but warned against one or more countries forcing rules upon others.

China's relationship with Russia is much like America's relationship with Russia in that it's strongest when there is a common enemy. The two have no formal alliance, but in September, Putin said it was "quite possible" to imagine one and in January, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said there was "no limit" to how far the cooperation between the two countries could go.

When having to pick a side between the U.S. and Russia, China puts its weight behind Putin. In April, Putin warned the West not to cross a "red line" and that anyone who provoked threats to its security would regret it more than "they have regretted anything in a long time."

At the same time, Biden announced sanctions on Russian officials, a move Wang criticized as being "power politics and hegemonic bullying."

"China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination in the new era," Wang said. "We will continue to understand and support each other in safeguarding our respective sovereignty, security and development interests."

Newsweek reached out to former President Donald Trump for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.