Yes, so far from Kazakhstan to Ukraine the partnership is China is the carrot while Russia is the stick.
When you look at China’s past history...way back to present you see they pretty much operate as they did then. It’s all about expansion and in the way we see it happening today. .....They present themselves as the Benevolent Provider to unite the world... just as they did when they brought the warring states together to form China. And they were masters at getting states to fight each other. They’re doing the same thing today.
Interesting enough Kazakastan could be a problem for China now and then under the former President. More than once he stood his ground to get the best deals he could regarding China. ...especially on the Belt and Road deals. So of course they finally got him out of office.