On its distant Siberian frontier, the vast Chinese People's Liberation Army stands watch. Neither the PLA nor the Beijing government is in aggressive mode. Power, however, abhors a vacuum and much of eastern Russia remains, in the historic memory of the Chinese, theirs. The announcement of Russian military reductions ought therefore to be welcomed in the West. They are the first stage in the rebuilding of a military force in which ordinary Russians will be able to take pride once more.
Strong armies commanded by aggressive leaders are a menace to their neighbours.
Weak armies held in contempt by a disgruntled population are equally dangerous. Russians are disgruntled, and with reason. They have suffered the sharpest decline in economic and military power experienced by a great European people. No sensible person in the West wants to see a new Red Army, flexing its muscles to win respect. It must be hoped that the Sergeyev reforms take early effect.