China is starting to demand territorial concessions from Russia. Easy Chinese access to the Sea of Japan will allow China to put more pressure on Russia's Pacific coast.
China wants regular access from the river to the sea:
China will enter into talks with Russia and North Korea on securing greater access to a Northeast Asia river that runs into the Sea of Japan.
An increase in Chinese commercial activity in the area is likely to see Chinese maritime forces get a boost. That could leave Japan to feel compelled to do the same, stretching its forces in an area disputed by both countries, according to one analyst.
The 324-mile Tumen River flows from northeast China to North Korea and, toward its end, Russia, ceded to the Russian Empire by China's Qing Dynasty in the 1860s. Chinese vessels must get permission from the two neighbors if they hope to sail past China's Jilin province and down the final 9 miles to reach the Sea of Japan.
China seems to be pushing while Russia is busy in Europe. Although technically Putin established the precedent of turning over territory to China back in 2005.
Russia has little choice but to bow even lower. The sky's the limit for Xi. Will North Korea save Russia from such a difficult position by rejecting China's proposal? Russia would owe North Korea big time.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
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