Relationship Between Russia and China

Relationship Between Russia and chinawarfargoneThe forward-looking era of Russia and China Tension in Ukraine, Natural Gas Contract and the futurityChuqing Hu chuqingemailprotectedThe recent historyThe descent mingled with China and Russia has always been complicated. In early 1960s, be side of meats Russia (the formerSovietUnion) had been support China to rebuild the country after war diminished, friendship between the both countries diminished mainly due to the dissension on the war between China and India. During the war, the SovietUnion made public its stand to support India which significantly deteriorated its relationship with China.The incompatibility wasnt softened until 1980s when MikhailGorbachev became the president of SU and started to remedy the relationship with China. Since then, China and Russia has been on their way to a new era of competitive cooperation, or we can overly c wholly it cooperative competition.1Year 2014, a new era evolved after the tension of UkraineIn the past few months, as stated by U.S. president Barack Obama, Russias aggression towards former Soviet states unnerves capitals in Europe while Chinas frugal rise and military reach worries its neighbours.2From March 2014, the issue in Ukraine treaded on sensitive ground for China, and it has twine itself to find a neutral diplomatic position.China has long been holding the position of not to interfere in the internal affairsof other countries. However, this belief was kind of dim when China failed to state its position to the referendum in Crimea, Ukraine. Chinas action was viewed as a silent support to Vladimir V.Putin as other western countries all clearly stated their opposition against the referendum. 3Chinas silence brought new harmony to its relationship with Russia and this has been viewed as the turning point of the strategic alliance between both of the most powerful countries in the world.Two months later, on May 20th, 2014, Russia clinched a US$400-billio n deal to feed China around 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas via pipelines at a chummy price of $350-$400 per thousand cubic meters(TCM), shaking up an industry that is utilise to fetching $500-$600 per TCM from Asian markets. The deal prompted much commentary on the agreements potential to reshape global energy markets and tilt the balance of act upon in Ukraine and, more broadly, inEurope. 4Apart for the contract, Putins tattle to China in May also brought about various strategic business alliances between the two countries, which include mining, electricity, border trade, automobile, etc.A formal alliance or a double jeopardySome people would imply that China and Russia are forming a formal alliance in order to compete with the U.S. and Europe. However, although the two countries are in honeymoon in the past few months, uncertainties still last and I assume its too early to call it a formal alliance.Foremost, since the two countries have different visions regarding thei r future, both economically and politically, the discrepancy of the visions of two countries entrust make the alliance not as strong as some people imagined.What matters most to China? Growth, growth and growth. China has been struggling with the mental retardation of its GDP growth in the past year and the promise of 8% annual growth was broken due to the slackness of industrial manufacture and the cost increase cost of capital. At this moment, a long-term energy contract with a quite favorable price will a good stimulator to its economics. At the homogeneous time, Chinese government is also concerned with the destabilization aroused with its own borders. An alliance will also enhance the protection of its national interests since Russia is a neighbor as well as a friend.What matter most to Russia? Recovery, recovery and recovery. After deep recession, Russia has been long for a recovery in both its economics and international political status. Russia was known for its aggress ion when it was once on its greatest prosperity. In the recent years, as the financial recovery was on its way, Russia again started to filter for more political interests, especially towards former Soviet states. However, its also crystal clear that because of tension between Russia and the U.S., the western world will be never on Russias side regarding international affairs. The only and most power ally Russia can rely on has to be China. Putins visit and the multi-billion contract showed Russias generosity and its high expectation for the relationship.However, if Russia keeps raising its aggression after the tension in Crimea, this will put China in a very awkward situation to keep supporting Russia with equivocatory and to bump its future to be sanctioned by the western or to break its friendship with Russia and risk what happened in the 1950s to happen again?Its a double jeopardy for China. Chinas leaders cant afford to side with Russia, and they cannot side with Russias for ceful policy. According to Titus C. Chen, a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University in Taiwan.5 incomplete of them is an ideal choice for the Chinese authority since China definitely doesnt want to be friend with Russia and be enemy with rest of the world.Envisioning the futureThere are mutual strategic needs as both China and Russia want to create a multipolar world which is not dominated by the U.S., particularly as China is now facing threats from the US-led alliance in AsiaThese two powerful countries although holding different goals in the alliance, are a terrible pair and can alter the international system. China knows that, Russia knows that, and the rest of the world is more or less afraid of that.The pair will accelerate the economic growth in both Russia and China, which is favorable for both of the countries. This suggests that, as long as Russia doesnt get outrageous in its foreign policy, the friendship will be very w ell maintained in the near future. However, due to the historical mistrust, the lack of a common threat and conflicting interests in commutation Asia, the sustainability of the partnership is questioned.6Besides China and Russia, U.S. is also playing and important part in the relationship. If U.S. keeps pushing China or Russia aggressively to the corner, this will certainly repay the China-Russia Alliance. If U.S. changed its position in order to drive a wedge between the two countries, the situation will become more unpredictable but also more interesting.The tough road between Russia and China, multiple contributors, Voice of Russia, 2014China-russia-and-the-outlook-for-the-liberal-international-system, Ali Wyne , www.warontherocks.com, Jun 2nd 2014China Torn Between Policies and Partnership, Andrew Jacobs and Somini Sengupta, New York Times, March 12th, 2014Russia-China Gas Deal Narrows window for U.S.Exports, Richard Martin,Forbes, May 30th, 2014China Torn Between Policies and Partnership, Andrew Jacobs and Somini Sengupta, New York Times, March 12th, 2014Are China and Russia Moving toward a Formal Alliance?, Dingding Chen, The Diplomat, May 30th, 2014