Opinion | Energy deals in South China Sea are off limits if Russia wants strong China ties

Russia and China have drawn close in recent years, striking agreement on almost all key issues of global concern: be it global governance, climate change, the world economy, or politics and geostrategic intricacies. Some experts have even called their relationship a quasi-alliance, especially in light of Russia’s assistance in helping China establish an early-warning anti-missile system.

But this “strategic partnership” does not come without bumps in the road. Relations have so far survived the test of several minor blows, such as public divisions over the status of the Russian city of Vladivostok, which is believed to belong to China historically.

Beijing is also reportedly unhappy about Moscow’s supposed suspension of delivery of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system China has bought. The contract was signed in 2015 and the delivery of a second batch was completed late last year, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

But in July, Chinese websites reported that further deliveries had been halted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and some speculated the reason had to do with Moscow’s unwillingness to supply China with weapons which could be used in a stand-off with India, ever since deadly border tensions erupted in June between the two.