Sino-Russian ties broaden constructive goals

By Yang Cheng Source:Global Times Published: 2015-7-31 0:03:31

The relationship between China and Russia in the post-Cold War era has always been the focus of attention globally, due to the size and scope of both powers. But so far, no consensus has been reached in assessing this bilateral relationship. The definition of bilateral ties has varied from the "axis of convenience" described by Bobo Lo, which eschews formal alliance in favor of more flexible and opportunistic arrangements, to seeing this as a historical high in Sino-Russian relations.

In contrast to the dim prospects expressed by Western scholars, the bilateral relationship has proceeded from strength to strength.

In the past, the West tended to believe that China and Russia wished to change the international order despite their lack of ability to challenge the US-led Western system based on liberal values and legal rights.

After the Ufa summits of both the BRICS and the SCO early this month, media both outside and inside Russia have tended to converge on their assessment of the events.

Mainstream Western media either hyped a Sino-Russian alliance or speculated the renaissance of an eastern NATO. At the same time, Russia is eager to express its joy over the changing world order brought by the challenge from the emerging BRICS and SCO blocs to the West-led international systems, and the Chinese media defined the dual summits as a "landmark."

Against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis, China-Russia relations have made unprecedented progress since May, which adds to Western anxiety. The cooperation between China's Silk Road economic belt and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), that Russia has become the third largest shareholder of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and that the two are supporting each other in commemorating the end of WWII, all show that a robust Sino-Russian relationship is being ushered in.

But such rapid development will definitely bring new challenges to both governments. For example, integrating China's Silk Road economic belt to the EEU is more difficult to implement than imagined. The EEU is more of a geopolitical bloc than an economic one.

Some Russian experts have expressed their wills to apply the EEU's standards to the process of promoting the Silk Road economic belt. But the Chinese side has no intention to build up a new international institution, at least for the foreseeable future. Despite being the initiator of the project, China needs to take into consideration different demands from all the countries involved.

Meanwhile, although both sides have reached a number of agreements including financial cooperation at the government level, Chinese commercial banks are concerned that Western sanctions on Russia may implicate them and as a result they are slow in action. This has caused dissatisfaction from the Russian side. Some radicals even criticized it as the same as the Western lip service at the beginning of the 1990s. 

The above indicates the unique worldview of Russia: it believes it is destined to be a great power on the world stage instead of being a caretaker of any other country. Although China has been catering to Russian interests and made some compromises in key issues since the Ukrainian crisis, Russia holds mixed feeling toward its rising partner.

Therefore, the West is oversensitive over the prospects of a China-Russia alliance. Neither Beijing nor Moscow makes such an alliance its strategic priority, and it is more so with Moscow.

At the current stage, a comprehensive strategic partnership is an optimal choice. The current relationship is not like the ties with the Soviet Union, then described as China's "elder brother," but like full sisterhood. The two countries are close but have equal rights and obligations without either dominating.

In fact, China and Russia have become more and more bold in discussing divergences. This proves that bilateral ties are on the right track. The emergence of divergences doesn't mean malaises, but means bilateral relations are marching steadily and the two have acquired high mutual trust. One can listen to criticism from the other, because both aim at a constructive relationship.

It is not important which, China or Russia, leads the situation at any time, because both can assume the role as necessary. The strategic framework of bilateral ties determines that cooperation between the two far exceeds competition. The increasing frequent cooperation will ease potential frictions and keep away conflicts.

The author is an associate professor at the School of Advanced International and Area Studies, East China Normal University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn



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