Cooperation With Russia Allows China to Focus on East Asia – Analyst

 

Speaking about China's priorities in foreign affairs, Xu noted that "the most important region for China is East Asia, including Southeast and Northeast Asia." He explained that "almost all territorial disputes between China and other countries lie there." The expert added that one of the greatest threats to Chinese security is "America’s rebalancing of the Asian-Pacific [region], and separatism, which sometimes combines with terrorism."

On Afghan security, the expert noted that in China's view, only the country's government can solve its security problems: "If Afghanistan’s central government cannot be effective, clean and strong enough, any help from outside will be useless. God helps those who help themselves."

Xu emphasized that in the Asia-Pacific region, "Russia and China can cooperate to deal with many problems, such as terrorism in Central Asia, or Japan's desire to violate the basic international principles set after WWII." He noted that in Asia, "Russia is China's most important partner, because a good Sino-Russian relationship means a stable strategic rear."

With regard to China-Russia relations in general, Xu noted that the two countries have achieved a great deal through their comprehensive partnership, which includes cooperation in the "political, military, economic, cultural and other spheres."

With regard to the present conflict in Ukraine, Xu noted that while "it is a local matter now…if the two sides cannot achieve a political solution, the crisis could possibly escalate to a larger scale, and several great powers will get involved in it." The expert notes that "at that time it will become a question of global stability," which could lead to Russia confronting "the US and maybe the EU," which would be "a tragedy of power politics."

 

Touching on the pressing issue of China's slowing growth, the analyst noted that in his view, "China's economy is going into a new normal status. High growth rates — 8% or higher — will not be reached again. China will put more attention on the updating of its economic structure with a medium-high growth rate. The Chinese economy does face some problems, but one cannot say that China is entering a period of economic turmoil." Xu added that he believes that "China will greatly narrow its economic gap with the US within the decade."