“This representation acknowledges that while both Putin and Xi have developed a stronger connection, which now recognizes each other’s core interests, it nonetheless fails to raise the relationship to one of alliance status,” the authors further state.
The authors unconvincingly assert that “China and Russia share little in the way of a future vision, but rather their relationship is built upon achieving their own individual aims”.
Meanwhile the facts tell a different story.
“Recently some opinions have emerged that China does not see any prospects for improvement of the economic situation in Russia, that Russia is in total dependence on China, that the Chinese-Russian trade and economic ties are going downhill and there is no future for the interstate relations between the two,” reads an article in the Chinese People’s Daily.
“Nobody knowns where the grounds for such opinions originate,” it continues. “However it is absolutely clear that both China and Russia are decisively and steadily pursuing the development of equal and beneficial relationship based on mutual respect and gain, comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. The interstate ties are able to pass a strength test and withstand any challenges.”
As if admitting that there is still potential for a real alliance between Beijing and Moscow, the American authors however propose that the US could play a central role in brokering ties between the two BRICS partners.
“The United States is best served fostering dialogue with Russia and China,” they claim. “The United States needs their cooperation in many of the most pressing global issues of the day. The success of key international initiatives, such nuclear non-proliferation, the downing of flight MH17 and the ongoing crises in the Middle East, demands the partnership of China and Russia. And any global political fragmentation will only detract from resolving these critical issues.”
The People’s Daily however is convinced that the two countries do not need any intermediary and are fully capable of coping on their own.
