Russia and China have "synchronized" their policies for Eurasian hegemony? I really want to examine the Definitions Section for that word.
Ah, the partnership without limits:
The “no limits” partnership established between Russia and China this February had been decades in the making. It was not an abrupt strategic shift for either country. Both have long envisioned cooperation with their Asian neighbors as a means of constructing an anti-American bloc in Eurasia. To accomplish this goal, Russia has become rhetorically, militarily, and geopolitically synchronized with China.
Beijing’s Defense Ministry justified the recent military drills around Taiwan by calling them a “solemn deterrent against collusion and provocation between the U.S. and Taiwan.” During the 10th Moscow Conference on International Security held last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled Nancy Pelosi’s trip to the island as “part of the purpose-oriented and deliberate US strategy designed to… sow chaos in the region and the world.”
Russia and China are frenemies with benefits. Nothing more.
Russia needs to worry that China will not seek hegemony in Eurasia with Russia as a partner, but with Russia the target in both Central Asia and the Far East.
Seriously, Putin should not invite Xi Jinping to Central Asia. Isn't Russia worried about this?
Speaking in Uzbekistan at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a security grouping led by China and Russia, Xi said member countries should support the efforts each other have made to safeguard their own security and development interests. ...
He also said that China will train 2,000 law enforcement personnel from member countries over the next five years and set up a training base focusing on anti-terrorism work.
He invited member countries to sign up to China's Global Security Initiative, a concept he proposed in April which includes the idea that no country should strengthen its own security at the expense of others.
The member countries are basically former Soviet Central Asian states (except Turkmenistan). You never can tell who Xi will walk away with.
As for Russia's defense of China's claims on Taiwan? That's no partnership. That's Russia desperately hoping to get China and America to smash each other up and leave Russia standing.
Face it, if Russian rulers had any sense, they'd make peace with NATO and Ukraine in order to make Europe a safe rear area to deploy military power east to block China before Russia experiences further imperial shrinkage.
Unless it is grand strategery to synchonize Russia's kneeling before China. I guess I'm beyond guessing how Putin defines Russia's interests.
NOTE: Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
