Over the past decade, Russia-China relations have rapidly accelerated across the political, economic and military realms. The shifts in Asian geopolitics have sparked debate about how to define the nature of this relationship. Interpretations range from viewing it as a quasi-alliance cemented by strong economic ties to more moderate assessments, considering it a non-alliance devoid of full alignment of interests. While it has become a cliché to acknowledge the limitations of a ‘no-limits’ partnership, perceptions of where these limits lie vary. There is also a widespread concern around the world about Russia’s growing overreliance on China, which may ultimately have strategic consequences. Regardless of perspective, the Russia-China relationship undoubtedly remains one of the most important in modern international relations with considerable implications for regional and global developments.
Following the conclusion of the SCO summit in Tianjin and President Vladimir Putin’s four-day visit to China, it is timely to chart the current trajectory of Russia-China partnership. This appears particularly important in light of the geopolitical shifts caused by the recent US diplomatic efforts to put an end to the war in Ukraine and impose additional trade tariffs on Russia’s major economic partners.
The discussion will explore the following questions and beyond:
