Sino-Russian Friendship Needs Careful Handling

If China unites with Russia against the US out of pure geopolitical considerations, the scholar warned, it will suffer considerable economic losses and its domestic political stability will be threatened. Modern international relations are much more than the simple oppositions of the Cold War, and global issues like security and climate change and security pose greater risks, Feng said. 　　

It thus needs to be recognized in the first place that the goal of Sino-Russia relations is to achieve mutual growth instead of opposing a supposed enemy, according to Feng. While China and Russia vow to link the Belt and Road Initiative and the Euroasia Economic Union for joint development, there will surely be a lot of pros and cons to weigh and even frictions to deal with, Feng said. But it’s reassuring that leaders of the two nations have already come to a strong consensus that collaboration is needed.

Although Russia is no longer in the first league of global economies, Feng noted, its geopolitical influence and international role are still strong. But the weaker it becomes, the more alarming are its political uncertainties and the impact it will create globally, he said. China thus needs new wisdom to deal with a weakening Russia, he added.　　

In terms of its diplomatic interactions with Russia, China has so far managed to keep a delicate balance amid a fragile international situation, Feng said. China has refrained from sanctioning Russia like the US did, adopted an impartial stance over the Ukraine issue, and respected Russia’ relationships with Central and Northeast Asian nations, according to the scholar. 　　

In terms of its investments in Russia, China is exposed to huge risks as Russia’s legal and financial systems are far from perfect, Feng said. But from a pure business perspective, he said, high risks very likely mean high profits.