The Strategic Alignment between Russia and China: Myths and Reality (original) (raw)

The recently reinvigorated discussion of the prospects of a new China-Russia alliance is accompanied by the reemergence of age-old myths about China-Russia relations. These myths are cliché views of Russia, China, and the relations between them that have become the default rhetorical background of many evaluations of the chances for a China-Russia alliance to materialize. In this article, I use empirical evidence to debunk four such popular myths that are often brought up as reflecting the obstacles of a potential alliance between the two countries.