Comments on: Russia’s Chinese neighbourhood

By: nicu popescu » How China sees Russia (EU Observer)

nicu popescu » How China sees Russia (EU Observer) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:41:37 +0000

[...] very different balance of power and a Russia that is much weaker than USSR. As I wrote previously, Chinese views on the post-Soviet space do not differ much from those in Europe or the US. They differ in style (China is more deferential [...]

By: MD

MD — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:54:18 +0000

Unfortunately Moldova did not get any dime from China yet.

“But having influence and having a sphere of influence are two very different things.”
What’s the difference?
Following that logic we can say that neither China, nor EU or US have spheres of influence, when in fact they have increased influence in certain areas. The fact that Turkmenistan has built a pipeline to China does not mean that Central Asia is not in the Russian sphere. The military bases, the discussions about them say everything plus the ODKB and the regional organizations.

By: nicu popescu » Germany’s new Ostpolitik (again)?

nicu popescu » Germany’s new Ostpolitik (again)? — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:28:35 +0000

[...] blog recently raised some aspects of the Russian-Chinese partnership (Russia’s Chinese neighbourhood and Russia’s vs China’s rise). In Berlin three persons raised this as well. One asked whether [...]

By: nicu popescu » Russia’s Chinese neighbourhood (EUObs)

nicu popescu » Russia’s Chinese neighbourhood (EUObs) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:27:45 +0000

[...] EU Observer blog, 7.12.09 [...]

By: Germany’s new Ostopolitik (yet again)? « Neighbourhood

Germany’s new Ostopolitik (yet again)? « Neighbourhood — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:54:38 +0000

By: Alexander

Alexander — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:40:22 +0000

Russians have a great ambitions but these ambitions do not correspond to the state of their development. Yes, we have to admit that for the last 10 years, thanks to Putine and his team, Russia managed to recover and to prevent its own vanishment from the worlds map (which was almost the case in the end of the Yeltsin regime). But still, Russia is too weak and underdeveloped to face up with such economic giants as Chine or EU. The Russian government should better concentrate on the development of their country rather than showing some steroid muscles.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:03:22 +0000

captainjohann: “Russia’s vacant land mass is inviting to the Chinese as also the oil and mineral wealth”

The idea that the Chinese are just going to ride in their all gung-ho and just take the entirety of Siberia is just ridiculous. Imagine the enormous cost on both sides, especially China given the enormous amount of tactical nukes that Russia posses specifically for this sort of conflict. China will continue to just pay for Russian resources in the Far East.

By: Kazimierz

Kazimierz — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:54:18 +0000

Nicu writes:
“Certainly, Russia is a very influential actor in the post-Soviet space and this will remain so. But having influence and having a sphere of influence are two very different things.”
———-
To the best of my knowledge no Russian leader used expression “sphere of influence”.

But the real issue is different.
Are we evolving toward World Republic or World Dictatorship?
In other words, will we have several strong competing countries and hence have international law that bounds everyone, or will we have One Dominant Center saying ‘our will is the law’?
This is the issue.

By: captainjohann

captainjohann — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:14:22 +0000

It is now G2. Russia’s vacant land mass is inviting to the Chinese as also the oil and mineral wealth.During Yeltsin’s regime he sold out to the west lot of Silver and now Putin is brining it back slowly

By: Vlad

Vlad — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:16:46 +0000

Just got back from China. It is a very competitive, fast paced, developing society. China will compete with the US, EU, Japan and of course with Russia. China is a bigger danger for Russia then any other country.

Russians should stop believing how great they are and work harder on improving their economics, fighting corruption… Should give Russian citizenship to former USSR citizens to populate Russia. And should stop being scared of the US and EU. No reason for that.