Russian President Vladimir Putin with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Russia and China’s Enduring Alliance

February 22, 2017
Jacob Stokes

This is a summary of an article originally published by Foreign Affairs with the subheading: "A Reverse 'Nixon Strategy' Won’t Work for Trump." 

The author writes that the China-Russia relationship, defined by a “desire to see an end to U.S. primacy,” has been warming since the final years of the Cold War. Although a rift in the relationship turned China towards the U.S. in the 1970s, Russia’s relationship with China today remains strong even though there are factors that could break the partnership. The U.S. ability to exploit existing disputes is limited. For Russia to turn against China, Moscow may seek anything from lifted sanctions to the abolition of NATO. Even if turning Moscow away from Beijing was successful, “Russia would still have little capability to thwart China’s bad behavior in places that matter.” The author advises the Trump administration to cooperate with Russia and China where it is possible. This includes creating “a trilateral understanding on contentious issues affecting strategic stability,” and continuing to maintain support among U.S. allies in Europe and Asia.  

Read the full article at Foreign Affairs. 

Author

Jacob Stokes

Jacob Stokes is an adjunct fellow in the Strategy and Statecraft Program at the Center for a New American Security.