Take, for example, the boundless relationship between China and Russia and grains of salt: Li Daokui

Li Daokui, a former adviser to the country’s central bank, known as the People’s Bank of China, said the so-called “borderless” China-Russia partnership is “situational” and should be taken “with caution.”

Before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, Beijing and Moscow announce “Borderless” strategic partnership They said it was intended to counter American influence. In a joint statement, the two countries said there were no “prohibited areas” of cooperation, but did not mention Ukraine even though Russian forces were massing at the Ukrainian border at the time.

“I chose to believe that China would not support Russia in a military way,” Lee, a current professor of economics at Tsinghua University at Mansfield Freeman, told CNBC.Squawk Box Asia” Wednesday. “[The] A boundless relationship must be read with a grain of salt.”

“However, China will continue to engage with Russia on the basis of humanitarian principles. That is, to help the Russian population get through this very difficult period,” he said.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Beijing’s official position has been to blame the conflict on NATO’s eastward expansion. Chinese authorities have so far Refused to fully condemn Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor.

It stands in sharp contrast to much of the developed world, where many countries have imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russian companies, banks and individuals. He left Moscow with dire consequences for its unjustified invasion.

The Russian economy is expected to fall into a deep recession this year, with the Institute of International Finance predicting a contraction of up to 15% as a result of the war.

Lee predicted that Beijing, meanwhile, would be “very proactive” in pressuring both Russia and Ukraine for a “quick deal.”

“Let’s keep in mind: Before this conflict both Russia and Ukraine were good friends with China,” he said. “People tend to forget – Ukraine is really great, and a great friend of China too, along with Russia.”

On the issue of Taiwan, Lee said the issue was “of a completely different nature” compared to Ukraine, a Attitude that reflects Beijing’s feelings.

Beijing has repeatedly announced Intention to reunification with TaiwanIt is a democratically autonomous island off the coast of mainland China claimed by the People’s Republic of China.

“A huge number of countries in the world do not recognize Taiwan as an independent country,” Li noted. Globally, only 14 countries are listed as diplomatic allies of Taiwan, according to the island’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ukraine, on the other hand, has been largely recognized as an independent country, he said.

“what [Russia] He was doing, whatever his war or special military operation against Ukraine…is a violation of the recognition of many other countries,” Li said. On the other hand, most countries of the world recognize the Taiwan issue as an “internal issue of Chinese politics.”

“This is fundamentally different,” he said.

CNBC’s Evelyn Cheng and Holly Eliat contributed to this report.