Dangerous Liaisons

Washington's conventional wisdom views a Chinese- Russian alliance as a remote prospect. Defense Secretary James Mattis, who is generally both pragmatic and strategically-minded, sees "little in the long term that aligns Russia and China." Yet a deeper look at their relations suggests...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The National interest 2019-01 (159), p.10-15
Main Author: Simes, Dimitri K.
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Alliances
Alliances (Government relations)
Analysis
Authoritarianism
Balance of power
Banking
Chinese foreign relations
Experts
Forecasts and trends
Foreign policy
Geopolitics
Land
Market trend/market analysis
Military policy
Military technology
Political campaigns
Politics
President of the United States
Russian foreign relations
Sanctions
Strategic aspects
Television
The Realist
Trump, Donald
Wisdom
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Summary:Washington's conventional wisdom views a Chinese- Russian alliance as a remote prospect. Defense Secretary James Mattis, who is generally both pragmatic and strategically-minded, sees "little in the long term that aligns Russia and China." Yet a deeper look at their relations suggests that China and Russia may well build a united front to confront the United States and its allies. Even if such an alignment doesn't last, it could have dangerous consequences. In private, Chinese and Russian officials and experts express scant confidence that their two countries can build a lasting alliance. Russians who claim on domestic television that Moscow and Beijing have already established such a relationship in all but name will admit sotto voce that China's investment in Russia has been disappointing, that Chinese banks fear exposing themselves to US sanctions by working in Russia and that Russian officials are leery of a settlement of their country's territorial dispute with Japan because any cession of Russian-held lands could encourage new Chinese claims.
ISSN:0884-9382
1938-1573