Taking (Another) Turn to the East: Making Sense of Russia’s Stance in the Asia-Pacific (original) (raw)
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2019
The world of international relations has become increasingly complex in our everconnected global sphere. Alliances among powers can prove to be very beneficial in balancing power or gaining international influence. Once a great international power, Russia has been reduced to a declining hegemon trying to cling to relevancy in a challenging western world order. Here lies the crux of the question that will be posed within this paper. How can Russia regain strength and surface itself in an international system that wants to suppress it? China, on the other hand, is seeing great levels of growth within this system, while still maintaining the title of ‘revisionist power’. In this, arises an interesting area of study: the possibility of a Sino- Russian alliance. Although Russia has historically been wary of surrendering a region that it has come to call theirs, it cannot offset the international balance alone and understand that its own revival is the solution. Given Russia’s diminishing role in world politics and general decline, coupled with economic incentives and a shared revisionist perspective of the current world order, especially following the Ukrainian crisis, a Russian-Chinese alliance presents a prime opportunity for Russia to regain strength and relevancy a world order where it has been increasingly isolated. In looking at the economic and political opportunity presented by China’s Belt Road Initiative, this project could prove to be the final component that is successful in pushing Russia to China.
Russia's Pivot to Asia: Between Rhetoric and Substance
Over the last 20 years, the Russian Federation has voiced repeatedly the willingness to embrace its Asian potential. Harnessing the economic prowess of the Asia-Pacific for the development of Siberia and the Russian Far East was the underlying motivation of Moscow’s pivot to Asia. Before the Ukraine crisis, the gravity of Russia’s pivot was protracted. Its engagement with Asia was seen as a counterbalance to the West rather than as a genuine embrace. This instrumentalized approach gave Russia’s policy a disingenuous feel, leaving no particular imprint on the Asia-Pacific’s economic and security architecture. Since the onset of the Ukraine crisis, Russia intensified its engagement, marking a qualitative shift in its relations with the People’s Republic of China. With the flourishing Sino-Russian strategic partnership at the forefront, the relationship developed mutual economic necessity and geopolitical underpinning.
Russia's Asia Pivot: Confrontation or Cooperation
Recent tensions between Russia and the West highlight Russia’s growing ties with Asia, particularly China. Before the Ukraine crisis, this pivot to Asia had more to do with Moscow’s assessment that Asia will be the major source of future economic growth. Russia seeks Asian, especially Chinese, investment to open up new sources of oil and gas, which will in turn allow it to play a larger role in regional security and diplomacy. Economic ties are the basis for the deepening Sino-Russian partnership, while Beijing has also provided important diplomatic support as the West has sought Russia’s isolation. Yet to avoid excessive dependence on China, Russia has worked to cultivate relations with other Asian powers, especially India, Vietnam, and Japan. This interest in harnessing Asian economic growth gives Moscow and Washington a common interest in regional stability, but one that is unlikely to be fully realized as long as bilateral relations remain focused on Europe and Eurasia.
Towards a “Greater Asia”? The Prospects of a Sino-Russian Entente
RIAC Digest of International Publications, 2015
At least, three “problems” will inflict Moscow’s future relationships with non-Western countries, and especially China. Russia’s repositioning in world politics will be, first, hampered by its weakening economy and growing international isolation. A Sino-Russian alliance is, second, hindered by lacking cultural ties and ideational foundations. Third, China’s growing engagement with and in Russia will encounter a number of specific challenges such as growing Russian xenophobia or the two countries’ increasing rivalry in Central Asia.
PROSPECTS FOR THE SINO-RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP: VIEWS FROM MOSCOW AND THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST
Journal of East Asian Studies, 1998
Although Russian policymakers have sought to achieve greater balance in Russia's foreign relations with European and Asian states, many Russians remain ambivalent about their country's engagement in Asia, especially the rapidly developing Sino-Russian partnership. Much hailed by Russian and Chinese national leaders, the increasing salience of China in Russian foreign policy has led to a debate in the Moscow policy community and to intense criticism in some of the Russian border regions
Russia and Asia-Pacific: From ‘Competing’ to ‘Complementary’ Regionalisms?
This article addresses Russia’s role in the Asia-Pacific region and asks whether and how its conception of its role has changed. It is suggested that within Russia there is a re-evaluation of regionalism, underway in both academic and public spheres, which seeks to engage with ‘Eurocentric’ approaches to regionalism and, to some extent, challenge it – much of this remains at a discursive or rhetorical level. However, there is also evidence to show that Russia is attempting to diversify relations in the region away from China due to the overdependence of Russia’s Far Eastern region on China in economic terms. Keywords: Russian foreign policy; Asia-Pacific; regionalism; Russian Far East; China
Kireeva Anna. Russia’s East Asia Policy: New Opportunities and Challenges
Since the demise of the Soviet Union, Russia’s foreign policy has evolved from a Westernoriented one to a multi-dimensional one, with substantial focus on East Asia. Russia’s East Asian policy is stimulated by its bid for great power status in the region. Russian-Chinese relations have been the axis of Russia’s East Asian foreign policy, though the relations have not been without their challenges. Overdependence on China threatens Russia’s independent policy in the region and encourages Russia to search for ways to diversify its ties. The rise of China and the US counter-offensive have resulted in a changing strategic environment in East Asia. A need for balancing between the US and China has brought about ASEAN countries’ desire to welcome Russia as a “balancer” in the region. It corresponds with Russia’s course on intensifying cooperation with East Asian countries in order to facilitate the development of Siberia and the Russian Far East.