The Open Society Institute hosted a forum in March on the rise of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership. Thomas Kellogg, Bobo Lo, Gilbert Rozman and Elizabeth Wishnick analyzed the relationship.
Panelists discussed whether the ties between Beijing and Moscow will evolve into an “authoritarian alliance” and counter the West, or if the partnership is limited given the specific national interests of each rising power.
Bobo Lo, director of the Russia and China programs at the Center for European Reform, argues that the relationship is an axis of convenience. In the next five to ten years the bilateral links are sound, but the “growing asymmetry” between China and Russia will lead to “strategic tension” and push both countries more to the West.
“The West should not fear the so-called strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing. You can argue that Russia may pose a threat and China certainly poses an enormous challenge, but together Russia and China are considerably less than the sum of their parts.”
For more, see his policy brief on ten things everybody should know about the Sino-Russian relationship.
Image and audio clip from OSI.