Editorial | Greater China-Russia cooperation the result of divisive US strategy
- With both nations the focus of American attempts to weaken and isolate, joining forces is inevitable
Just before the start of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games last Friday, they held a summit and declared agreement on a host of diplomatic, political, economic, technological and environmental issues that put them a step closer to an alliance.
To emphasise the importance, the full 5,300-word text of the joint statement was released in English at the weekend, detailing common cause on core issues not before broached. With both nations the focus of American attempts to weaken and isolate, joining forces is inevitable.
The statement outlines to what degree and even goes further, showing a shared aspiration to reshape the global world order to replace that fashioned by the West under the leadership of the United States after the second world war. The geopolitical and economic agreements struck help build the partnership needed to push for such a goal.
With Chinese sovereignty threatened by the US’ closer ties with Taiwan and the presence of American and allied naval vessels in the South China Sea, and Nato enlarging its military footprint in Eastern European countries and the Russian military massing more than 100,000 troops on its boundary with Ukraine, territory is perceived as being at risk.
