https://www.scmp.com/rss/501195/feed Danil Bochkov is an expert at the Russian International Affairs Council. He gained his master of economics at MGIMO-University under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and a bachelor's degree in foreign regional studies at the Institute of Business Studies (IBS-Moscow). He also has a master's degree in world economy from the University of international Business and Economics (UIBE, Beijing) en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The collapse of Russia-US ties and continued deterioration of the China-US relationship have not only fostered closer cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, but also galvanised their geopolitical overtures to other global poles such as the Middle East and Africa. These attempts by China and Russia to secure strategic partnerships with actors outside US-dominated areas provide insight into what the future global environment may look like. When the current global security crisis is over, the new... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3204079/us-rivalry-china-and-russia-elevating-global-role-africa-and-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3204079/us-rivalry-china-and-russia-elevating-global-role-africa-and-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Dec 2022 17:00:12 +0000 The Indo-Pacific region has seen a flurry of diplomatic activity, with global leaders flocking to the Asean gathering in Cambodia, the G20 summit in Indonesia and the Apec meeting in Thailand. However, the tone of the leaders’ discussions suggests global powers’ rivalry is a long way from abating. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov slammed Western countries for trying to “politicise” a joint declaration at the G20 summit with criticism of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, although... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3200722/asias-week-summits-put-russia-under-spotlight-us-china-relations-stole-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3200722/asias-week-summits-put-russia-under-spotlight-us-china-relations-stole-show?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Nov 2022 19:30:12 +0000 Danil Bochkov Danil Bochkov As political and economic headwinds show little signs of abating, the world’s security is unlikely to stabilise in the mid-term. The Ukrainian crisis, a testimony to the ongoing erosion of the global order, could drag into winter as the prospects for peace talks have not yet crystallised. Kyiv’s Western allies are seemingly doing little to encourage Ukraine to seek a more immediate resolution to the conflict. Сonversely, Washington is set to arm Ukraine for winter fighting with another US$275... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3197901/russia-and-china-are-aligning-their-visions-multipolar-world-and-eyeing-new-supporters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3197901/russia-and-china-are-aligning-their-visions-multipolar-world-and-eyeing-new-supporters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Nov 2022 17:00:12 +0000 The Russia-Ukraine conflict seems to have transformed from what looked like a local confrontation into something more perilous for global security. The stakes have ramped up, with Ukraine going on a counteroffensive in September and reclaiming swathes of territory which used to be controlled by the Russian military. Moscow has also significantly scaled up its rhetoric and action by drafting more troops and vowing to utilise all tools at its disposal to defend its “territorial integrity”, which... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3195521/great-power-rivalry-means-ukraine-crisis-unlikely-end-soon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3195521/great-power-rivalry-means-ukraine-crisis-unlikely-end-soon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Oct 2022 19:30:08 +0000 The G7 finally forged ahead and agreed to impose a cap on the price of Russian oil on September 2. Moscow rushed to retaliate by warning it would halt oil deliveries to the states implementing the measure. To reinforce the message, Russia on September 5 vowed not to resume gas deliveries to Europe – originally stopped owing to technical issues with the Nord Stream 1 pipeline – unless the sanctions are lifted. As I argued earlier, geopolitics now trumps economics. However, this does not seem to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3192219/how-china-and-russia-are-growing-even-closer-economically-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3192219/how-china-and-russia-are-growing-even-closer-economically-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Sep 2022 01:15:06 +0000 As the global security architecture gets chipped away, regional stability is also being eroded. There are numerous recent examples: the crisis in Taiwan, escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation in Gaza, deadly clashes in Iraq, and the resumption of fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. All are exacerbated by the security crisis in Europe and its accumulating humanitarian and socio-economic costs. These global and regional trends are interconnected. Destabilisation at the tremendous... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3190828/why-india-crucial-russia-and-chinas-goal-countering-us-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3190828/why-india-crucial-russia-and-chinas-goal-countering-us-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Sep 2022 01:15:22 +0000 After achieving the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society, with absolute poverty eradicated, by the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party in 2021, China is now on course to achieve the second centenary goal of becoming a great modern socialist country by 2049, when the People’s Republic turns 100. However, President Xi Jinping’s long-held aspiration to rejuvenate the Chinese nation cannot be fulfilled without “solving the Taiwan question and realising the complete... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3188302/why-russia-strongly-backing-china-pelosis-taiwan-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3188302/why-russia-strongly-backing-china-pelosis-taiwan-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Aug 2022 01:15:22 +0000 Recently I argued that the ongoing redistribution of global power, spurred by the Ukrainian crisis, has sent major powers rushing to check their partnerships in the Euro-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Latin America. The US went on a diplomatic offensive from May to July, which saw meetings with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Quad states, Latin American leaders, G7 and Nato. Those activities were met with reciprocal moves from Moscow and Beijing. The disruption of communication channels... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3186522/us-china-and-russia-jostle-influence-globally-risk-confrontation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3186522/us-china-and-russia-jostle-influence-globally-risk-confrontation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Jul 2022 01:15:10 +0000 In today’s reality, it seems that power politics has replaced all other forms of interaction between global powers. As Hans Morgenthau frames it, “international politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power”, which means that whatever restrictions are placed on global powers, they will act by raison d’état. This was practised in the 17th century by French statesmen Cardinal Richelieu and later popularised in Henry Kissinger’s magnum opus Diplomacy. Bluntly, it stipulates that national... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3183956/us-russian-and-chinese-moves-mark-return-raison-detat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3183956/us-russian-and-chinese-moves-mark-return-raison-detat?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Jul 2022 19:30:13 +0000 Although the Russia-Ukraine crisis has accelerated destabilisation of the global security structure, there are also other developments to consider. For example, Türkiye, taking advantage of the global preoccupation with European security problems, is scaling up its military encroachments into Kurdish-inhabited territories in northern Syria. Beijing was outraged by US President Joe Biden’s remarks on May 23 in Tokyo that the United States would come to Taiwan’s defence. The next day, as Biden met... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3181531/away-ukraine-and-indo-pacific-spotlight-power-struggles-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3181531/away-ukraine-and-indo-pacific-spotlight-power-struggles-are?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jun 2022 19:30:18 +0000 With European security entering the third month of its worst crisis in decades, the Indo-Pacific region has become an alluring political destination for global powers to diversify foreign policy. Ever since the Russia-Ukraine conflict flared up and drew the attention of global powers, many believed the Indo-Pacific region would fade from Washington’s view. This was despite the United States publishing its revised Indo-Pacific strategy earlier in the year and US President Joe Biden giving... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3178909/focus-indo-pacific-even-amid-russia-ukraine-conflict-shows-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3178909/focus-indo-pacific-even-amid-russia-ukraine-conflict-shows-global?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 May 2022 01:15:15 +0000 Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in February 2021, US President Joe Biden unveiled a new vector of US foreign policy by raising the struggle of democracy versus autocracy. Later, in April, he reiterated the narrative during an address to the US Congress and implied a special emphasis on competing with China and containing Russia. This effort began to bear fruit that September with the emergence of the trilateral Aukus security grouping of the United States, UK and Australia. Originally... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3175464/us-sanctions-pressure-russia-shows-geopolitics-now-trumps-economics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3175464/us-sanctions-pressure-russia-shows-geopolitics-now-trumps-economics?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Apr 2022 19:30:24 +0000 Since Russia launched its “military operation” against Ukraine, it has faced several rounds of economic sanctions from the West. Chinese state tabloid Global Times has stressed that 140 of the 190 UN member states have shunned the anti-Russia sanctions, adding that the reverberations of the Ukraine crisis will backfire on the US. Although the US and others are already feeling some economic aftershocks, there is no evidence that a crisis is imminent. Nevertheless, the tabloid’s narrative speaks... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3173006/why-us-wont-convince-others-forgo-economic-interests-support-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3173006/why-us-wont-convince-others-forgo-economic-interests-support-its?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Apr 2022 17:30:22 +0000 Since the onset of its military action against Ukraine, Russia has found itself in an awkward diplomatic position in which it has been almost completely alienated internationally, with just a handful of states expressing support or, at best, neutrality. India’s neutrality might have come as a surprise to the United States and Europe, which have tried to push New Delhi to take a harder line against Russia. India’s stance can be attributed to its heavy reliance on importing Russian arms, which... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3170766/ukraine-crisis-leaves-indias-modi-walking-fine-line-between-us-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3170766/ukraine-crisis-leaves-indias-modi-walking-fine-line-between-us-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Mar 2022 01:15:17 +0000 February 25 is likely to usher in a change in the post-1945 world order, with national security being prioritised over sovereign rights and non-interference. Despite earlier reassurances of non-aggression, Moscow launched an offensive against Ukraine, citing domestic security concerns. The move was lambasted internationally with the Group of 7 calling it an “unprovoked and completely unjustified attack” and the European Union concerned about “the darkest hours” since World War II. There will be... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3168427/why-military-offensive-against-ukraine-was-always-russias-plan-b?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3168427/why-military-offensive-against-ukraine-was-always-russias-plan-b?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Feb 2022 17:00:20 +0000 Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin recently held their first face-to-face meeting in several years. Ahead of the talks, I suggested that the pair were likely to “synchronise their watches” and embrace closer cooperation in global politics, economics and security, look to forge a deeper energy alliance, and launch a rip tide of criticism against the US. So far, plenty of these predictions have come true in the extensive joint statement released after the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3166242/china-and-russia-cement-their-bond-xi-and-putin-take-stance-against?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3166242/china-and-russia-cement-their-bond-xi-and-putin-take-stance-against?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Feb 2022 17:30:19 +0000 After several rounds of security talks between Russia, the United States and Nato yielded no substantial progress, all sides seem to have buried any hope for a turnaround in the diplomatic and security stalemate. Another attempt to defuse the security impasse – in talks between Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in Vienna – was described as a disappointment by the Russian delegation, saying it saw no rationale for further meetings with the West in the short... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3164492/compromise-unlikely-russia-west-stand-over-ukraine-cold-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3164492/compromise-unlikely-russia-west-stand-over-ukraine-cold-war?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:30:19 +0000 Protests in Kazakhstan, under the iron rule of Nursultan Nazarbayev for 29 years, have by nature been different from those in other former Soviet states. While the demonstrations in the other states have mainly been accompanied by demands for fair elections, the expressions of public discontent in Kazakhstan in 2011 and 2016 were driven less by political factors than economic ones. In Kazakhstan, the first protests associated with regime change occurred in 2019, as Nazarbayev’s successor,... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3163083/kazakhstan-unrest-could-undermine-regional-security-and-russias?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3163083/kazakhstan-unrest-could-undermine-regional-security-and-russias?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Jan 2022 17:30:13 +0000 Both Moscow and Beijing have already lauded the past year as the most outstanding period in their bilateral partnership. During the recent video conference between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-December, the leaders referred to each other as “friend”. Putin hailed bilateral relations as “a shining example of interstate cooperation” while Xi said the ties had demonstrated “major political advantages”. On December 23, during his annual end-of-year press... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3161394/china-russia-relations-2022-alliance-any-other-name?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3161394/china-russia-relations-2022-alliance-any-other-name?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Dec 2021 19:30:15 +0000 No sooner had the video conference between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin finished than Biden promised “devastating consequences” in the form of new sanctions against Moscow should it act recklessly on Ukraine. Putin detailed Russia’s red lines on Ukraine, including deployment of strike weapons and Nato’s eastward expansion. Instead of seeking compromise, the US and its allies appear to be growing more acrimonious towards Russia as well as China. In October, US... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3160101/how-western-pressure-pushing-china-and-russia-ever-closer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3160101/how-western-pressure-pushing-china-and-russia-ever-closer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Dec 2021 19:30:20 +0000 It has been less than six months since Moscow deemed Russia-China relations to have moved beyond a classical alliance into what was hailed as a “Russian-Chinese tandem”. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described them as at the “best level in history”. And Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed that bilateral ties are “a new type of international relations”, classified as a “comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era”, the highest rank in China’s diplomatic... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3157778/us-pressure-pushing-russia-china-cooperation-new-levels-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3157778/us-pressure-pushing-russia-china-cooperation-new-levels-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Nov 2021 17:30:13 +0000 There has been much geopolitical turbulence since Nato’s classification of China as a “full-spectrum systemic rival” last year. Acrimonious US-China relations have only grown more tense. US President Joe Biden’s China policy, once hoped to provide a course correction, looks more Trump-like than not. Meanwhile, China’s strength has continued to grow. President Xi Jinping is seeking to enshrine himself alongside other paramount leaders like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. He is cementing his legacy... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3156200/how-bad-faith-undermining-efforts-repair-relations-between-us-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3156200/how-bad-faith-undermining-efforts-repair-relations-between-us-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Nov 2021 19:30:16 +0000 No sooner had tensions abated after the Aukus alliance announcement and the Quad summit than China began scaling up its diplomatic efforts and rallying partners to address deteriorating relations with the United States. Breaking from traditional US “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan, President Joe Biden recently said that America would defend the island if China attacked. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for support for Taiwan’s “robust” participation in the United Nations. And, adding... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3154525/bidens-taiwan-stance-spurs-beijing-ramp-its-diplomatic-outreach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3154525/bidens-taiwan-stance-spurs-beijing-ramp-its-diplomatic-outreach?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:30:17 +0000 On September 21, US President Joe Biden gave his first address to the United Nations stressing that Washington is “not seeking a new Cold War or a world divided into rigid blocs”. But no sooner had Biden stepped down from the UN General Assembly podium than he welcomed leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to the White House. In their first in-person meeting, all four leaders pledged to facilitate a free and open Indo-Pacific region “undaunted by coercion”, a nod to Beijing’s ramped-up... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3151607/aukus-alliance-us-turns-away-europe-and-drives-china-closer-russia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3151607/aukus-alliance-us-turns-away-europe-and-drives-china-closer-russia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:45:22 +0000 America’s hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan has prompted a drop in President Joe Biden’s approval rating and energised the debate over the decline in US global leadership. Russia and China are among the main proponents of the argument that the swift US pull-out should be seen as a bellwether by America’s allies such as Ukraine and Taiwan – a sign that they may similarly be abandoned. Viewed internationally as a mess, the clumsy US departure might, however, be politically considered more of a... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3148896/us-not-retreating-global-leadership-its-refocusing-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/world/article/3148896/us-not-retreating-global-leadership-its-refocusing-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Sep 2021 19:30:23 +0000 When then-US president Barack Obama launched his “pivot to Asia” in 2011, little did he know it would see its de facto rekindling 10 years later under his Democratic successor Joe Biden. America’s turn towards Asia under Obama was positive at first, but in the long run it saw ups and downs as Donald Trump rolled back several major initiatives. Biden has effectively reprioritised the region in the US foreign policy agenda, with a de facto “pivot to Asia 2.0”. The Biden administration has... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3144475/us-china-relations-beijing-ready-compete-washingtons-new-pivot-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3144475/us-china-relations-beijing-ready-compete-washingtons-new-pivot-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Aug 2021 18:30:13 +0000 This month, Russia and China commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation, a cornerstone document which Russian President Vladimir Putin calls a “fundamental international legal act” that has guided bilateral relations through the years to an “unprecedented height”. In the face of mounting pressure from the US-led democratic camp, both countries wish to exhibit their close-knit unity. Putin stressed in his June video call with Chinese President... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3142081/russia-china-bromance-going-strong-its-far-perfect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3142081/russia-china-bromance-going-strong-its-far-perfect?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jul 2021 17:30:18 +0000 On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a video call with his French and German counterparts in an attempt to improve relations with the European Union. Despite all the tensions in Beijing’s relationship with Brussels, the trio agreed to continue to work together on climate change, the pandemic and international trade. They concurred that potential exists at the moment for the revival of the Iran nuclear deal. They also discussed global vaccine supply, even though China’s vaccines have not... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3140295/will-china-eu-ties-improve-after-xi-macron-merkel-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3140295/will-china-eu-ties-improve-after-xi-macron-merkel-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jul 2021 20:00:16 +0000 Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to meet his US counterpart Joe Biden on June 16. Putin has already said not to expect any breakthroughs at the summit, while US officials have argued that “really significant deliverables” need more time to manifest themselves. Despite low expectations for the meeting, both sides see it as a timely opportunity for an in-person exchange of intentions on the most pressing issues of shared interest. Each side’s ambitions for the rendezvous seem different.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3136592/how-us-belligerence-driving-china-and-russia-closer-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3136592/how-us-belligerence-driving-china-and-russia-closer-together?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jun 2021 19:30:00 +0000 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov for the first time on May 20, marking the commencement of high-level diplomatic exchanges between the two countries in the Joe Biden era. Washington’s relations with Moscow have nosedived recently following US sanctions on Russia in March and April. The United States has rebuked Russia, classifying it as an “opponent” and, like China, an “authoritarian state”. Biden during his presidential campaign called Russia the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3134732/russia-china-partnership-strong-enough-withstand-nascent-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3134732/russia-china-partnership-strong-enough-withstand-nascent-us?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 May 2021 16:30:11 +0000 India and Russia recently agreed to launch a “two-plus-two” foreign and defence dialogue, an important milestone in relations. Russia has joined an exclusive clique of Australia, Japan and the United States in enjoying interactions with India in a two-plus-two format (involving two appointed ministers from each country). It speaks volumes of India’s attempts to diversify its foreign policy planning while pursuing strategic autonomy in relations with major powers. With the rise of the Quad and... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3132811/how-indias-shift-west-over-china-threatens-relations-russia-and-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3132811/how-indias-shift-west-over-china-threatens-relations-russia-and-its?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 May 2021 01:15:16 +0000 US President Joe Biden’s foreign policy priorities have taken a new turn recently, with Washington’s reassurances to Taiwan of its commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act concerning the island’s ability to defend itself. Beijing, meanwhile, has upped the ante in regional security by unveiling plans to increase defence spending by 7 per cent in 2021. In January, China adopted more aggressive coastguard regulations and has increased its military presence in the South China Sea. It also warned... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3131072/how-biden-has-made-common-enemy-china-rally-domestic-and-foreign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3131072/how-biden-has-made-common-enemy-china-rally-domestic-and-foreign?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Apr 2021 17:30:13 +0000 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent two-day meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi was announced on the same day that the Alaska talks between China and the United States kicked off. Despite speculation over the timing, Beijing has denied that Lavrov’s visit was aimed at third parties or connected to the US talks. This was the first meeting between Lavrov and Wang since last September, when they met on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Moscow and... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3126825/china-and-russia-show-united-front-amid-hail-us-led-sanctions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3126825/china-and-russia-show-united-front-amid-hail-us-led-sanctions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Mar 2021 17:30:15 +0000 The US and the EU unveiled coordinated sanctions on Russia and its top brass on March 2 for the poisoning and jailing of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, with the US sanctions targeting seven Russian officials and 14 entities involved in the chemical and biological industrial base in Russia. Hailed as “a demonstration of transatlantic unity”, these are new US administration’s first sanctions against Russia. President Joe Biden also extended the Crimea-related sanctions imposed during... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3124651/bidens-america-china-and-russia-can-expect-more-clashes-over-human?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3124651/bidens-america-china-and-russia-can-expect-more-clashes-over-human?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Mar 2021 17:00:16 +0000 US President Joe Biden has instructed the Pentagon to review America’s China-related strategy to meet challenges in the Indo-Pacific. The establishment of a China task force to revise US capabilities in Asia signifies the huge importance Washington attaches to China and the Indo-Pacific. The European Union has also been ramping up its policy planning for the region, with Germany, France and the Netherlands taking the lead. The US’ first freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3122072/will-indo-pacific-become-new-battleground-us-and-china-led?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3122072/will-indo-pacific-become-new-battleground-us-and-china-led?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Feb 2021 01:15:12 +0000 Russia is facing a second week of nationwide protests against the detention of opposition activist Alexei Navalny. Rallies on January 31 beat modern Russia’s previous record in terms of detentions with some 5,000 people detained and 93 journalists apprehended in 142 cities. The focus of protests has shifted to the central region with a concentration on Moscow and St Petersburg. The police came prepared as most public transport and dining locations in major areas were shut down. The police acted... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3120179/how-western-reaction-navalny-arrest-and-protests-fuels-russian-fear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3120179/how-western-reaction-navalny-arrest-and-protests-fuels-russian-fear?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Feb 2021 20:00:07 +0000 The US Navy recently released its updated Arctic strategy, which calls for a new focus on competition with Russia and China in the region. The document, called “A Blue Arctic”, stresses that, “Without sustained American naval presence and partnerships in the Arctic Region, peace and prosperity will be increasingly challenged by Russia and China, whose interests and values differ dramatically from ours.” The Communist Party-affiliated tabloid Global Times reacted by calling the “hegemonic US” the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3117366/new-kind-cold-war-us-extends-competition-china-and-russia-arctic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3117366/new-kind-cold-war-us-extends-competition-china-and-russia-arctic?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Jan 2021 17:30:13 +0000 China recently conducted a successful launch of its medium-lift Long March-8 rocket, the first step in a plan to develop a series of reusable rockets like American aerospace company SpaceX’s Falcon range – making China the second in the world to tap into such technology. Moreover, China has been leading the world in space launches, with 39 conducted in 2018 and 34 in 2019, leaving the United States and Russia behind. This year, China has accounted for 35 per cent of global space... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3115660/new-space-race-us-how-far-can-chinas-cooperation-russia-go?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3115660/new-space-race-us-how-far-can-chinas-cooperation-russia-go?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Dec 2020 22:45:11 +0000 Having secured enough electoral college votes to wrest the US presidency away from Donald Trump, former US vice-president Joe Biden is expected to initiate a major revision of American foreign policy, which has seen many dramatic turns under Trump. This will no doubt include North Korea – a regional actor critical to China. Trump’s brash attempts at diplomacy there, notably his meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, did not pay off. Trump also launched a trade war against China to hold... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3109056/unlike-china-russia-shouldnt-expect-any-major-improvements-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3109056/unlike-china-russia-shouldnt-expect-any-major-improvements-us?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Nov 2020 22:45:09 +0000 A long-time target of US and EU sanctions, Russia will soon face the menacing threat of new restrictions. On Monday, an agreement to impose new punitive measures gained the full support of 27 EU foreign ministers, following Franco-German accusations that Russian authorities were behind the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. If Russia has been a constant target of sanctions – not least since the 2014 Crimea crisis – for China, until recently it was an experience best forgotten. Most... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3105557/heat-western-sanctions-will-only-force-russia-and-china-closer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3105557/heat-western-sanctions-will-only-force-russia-and-china-closer?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2020 17:00:06 +0000 A new escalation of the long-standing border dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region has already become the worst military clash since the last flare-up of tensions in 2016. Both sides declared martial law and initiated either full (Armenia) or partial (Azerbaijan) mobilisation of their armed forces, using rockets and artillery which resulted in hundreds of civilian and military losses that made this clash the deadliest since the 1990s. The possible outcomes of the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3103849/armenia-and-azerbaijan-clash-where-will-china-stand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3103849/armenia-and-azerbaijan-clash-where-will-china-stand?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2020 20:00:09 +0000 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... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3099105/energy-deals-south-china-sea-are-limits-if-russia-wants-strong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3099105/energy-deals-south-china-sea-are-limits-if-russia-wants-strong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2020 01:45:09 +0000 The rise in tensions along the China-India border in the Himalayas began in early May and resulted in bloodshed earlier this month with violence in the Galwan valley. This border stand-off bears similarities to the skirmish in 2017, with the only exception being a lack of fatalities three years ago. The intensification of this dispute has spurred concern among Nepal, Japan and other regional players who have to balance their foreign policy between China and India. It has also drawn the attention... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3091044/why-russias-relations-india-and-china-will-survive-galwan-border?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3091044/why-russias-relations-india-and-china-will-survive-galwan-border?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jun 2020 14:00:12 +0000 US President Donald Trump said on May 30 that the G7 had become outdated and did not represent what’s going on in the world. He suggested bringing in Russia, India, South Korea and Australia for this year’s summit, which spurred resentment among US allies vis-à-vis Russia as an attendee. The loudest concerns were voiced by the United Kingdom and Canada, who have rebuked Russia for its outlaw behaviour. Trump’s proposal to restart Russian participation in the Group of 7 – formerly known as the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3088166/russia-will-not-be-donald-trumps-tool-us-diplomatic-war-against?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3088166/russia-will-not-be-donald-trumps-tool-us-diplomatic-war-against?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jun 2020 17:00:14 +0000 The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc worldwide. The global economy is expected to contract sharply. The International Monetary Fund draws a sombre picture, predicting that last year’s 2.9 per cent growth will reverse to minus 3 per cent this year, its worst performance since the Great Depression. The repercussions of the coronavirus, which are not confined to economics, are likely to galvanise geopolitical competition. But there is little evidence that it could seriously weaken China or... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3084070/us-covid-19-blame-game-pushing-china-and-russia-closer-together-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3084070/us-covid-19-blame-game-pushing-china-and-russia-closer-together-are?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2020 03:00:13 +0000 Xi Jinping’s three-day state visit to Russia earlier this month left the strong impression there was a high-level Chinese-Russian bromance going on. The president frequently referred to Vladimir Putin as an “old” or “good” friend and stressed the importance of Russia to Beijing’s foreign policy. This is underlined by the fact that Russia is the country he has visited most frequently since coming to power in 2012 (the pair have met 31 times in the past six years). Given that the visit coincided... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3014596/why-putin-xi-bromance-sign-things-come-russia-and-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3014596/why-putin-xi-bromance-sign-things-come-russia-and-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jun 2019 08:00:13 +0000