Imperialist Master, Comrade in Arms, Foe, Partner, and Now Ally? China’s Changing Views of Russia
Journal: Global power shift
Year: 2022

Abstract China no longer sees Russia as a rival. This is not the result of friendly ties, shared values, or growing economic cooperation, but an outcome of the dramatic shift in the balance of power between them. Moreover, China’s contemporary policy toward Russia is not driven by Xi Jinping’s possible fondness for Putin or Russia, but by strategic calculations about what best serves Chinese interests. China’s number one priority today is to balance the United States in the Indo-Pacific naval th