This is CBS I On The World.

I'm John Pachel with Gordon Chang at Gordon G. Chang, my colleague in co-host, Vladimir Putin.

In these last days, says he accepts an invitation from China to visit China Beijing and Xi Jinping

himself during the Belt and Road Summit within these next weeks.

Unusual.

Gordon.

China and Russia, the no-limits partnership.

The old days, the one who travels to the other's capital is subordinate.

Does that still apply here in the 21st century, Gordon, from China's point of view?

If you travel to me, I'm in charge.

Well, that's the way the Chinese think from Imperial times.

But Xi Jinping did go to Moscow in the middle of March, where they had that famous meeting

where Xi Jinping, when he was bidding farewell to Putin, said, basically, we're the bosses

of the world and we're driving events.

Now, the United States sent four senior officials to China in a row without requiring a

return visit.

And that does suggest in Xi Jinping's mind that the Americans believe they are vassals.

We welcome Rebecca Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer.

She is the author of Putin's playbook, Russia's secret plan to defeat America.

She's also launching cut to the news.com, her new site to watch news about Mr. Putin and

his colleagues as they move around the planet or not.

Rebecca, very good evening to you.

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