In this week’s #Forum2000online Chat, Vladimir Rouvinski, Director of the Laboratory of Politics and International Relations (PoInt) and Associate Professor (Department of Political Studies) at Icesi University in Cali, Colombia, joined Martin Ehl, a journalist and Chief Analyst at Hospodářské noviny (ihned.cz), to talk about the Russia-China relationship in the current context. Who makes the rules? Is there a natural alliance between Russia and China against the United States? What is China watching with special attention in the Ukraine? In the interview, Mr. Rouvinski says that Russia will become much closer to China because there are only few other options left, but "It depends on China. China will be the actor that will be defining the rules of the game, the rules of coexistence between China and Russia. Not Russia". Mr. Rouvinski explains the complexity of the relations between both powers and also offers a brief analysis of their influence in Latin America and in the world.
According to Vladimir Rouvinski, you will learn that:
- Russia will become much closer to China because there are only few other options left, but China will be defining the rules of the game, the rules of coexistence between China and Russia, not Russia.
- China does not want to rush and make any mistakes that may place into question China’s relation with the West.
- China is taking advantage of Russia's weaker position, especially in the field of energy.
- Many experts believe that there is a natural alliance between Russia and China against the United States, but there are some factors that fuel certain fears and rivalries between the two powers.
- China is watching very carefully the performance of Russian weaponry in the Ukrainian theater. Beijing is very interested in how Russian weapons, especially the new ones, perform in a real war.
- There are many sectors of the economy where China can help Russia to overcome the Western pressure of the sanctions without being hit back by the US sanctions.
- There is a worrying alliance between Russia and China against the global liberal order and democracy. Both authoritarian regimes are seen as alternative models to liberal democracy.
The interview was recorded on March 30, 2022, and moderated by Martin Ehl, a journalist and Chief Analyst at Hospodářské noviny (ihned.cz).
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