The Growing Ties of China and Russia: Danger If They’re Joined Against the US

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin just held talks in Beijing. These heads of the state met constantly for two days in Uzbekistan before the Beijing meeting. Putin has stated they’re “taking [their] cooperation forward,” as if they’re going on their honeymoon.

In their meeting, they discussed the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, as well as the issue of North Korea and the situation in Syria. They also signed off on collaborating in more than 30 areas, including energy and infrastructure.

A prominent trend running throughout the entire discussion was their opposition to international organizations that bear the U.S. at their core. Xi stated that for international disputes and regional problems, China “oppose[s] the use of force and threats of using force, the casual introduction of sanctions and threats of sanctions, and a unilateral policy and unilateral actions without consent from the parties concerned.” This is both a clear attempt to restrain Japanese-American interference in their territorial dispute with the Philippines and other countries over regions in the South China Sea, and also constitutes criticism of the economic sanctions put on Russia by Europe and America because of the Ukraine crisis.

Both leaders are profit-minded, meaning that they stand on mutual ground and will declare their support for one another even on territorial problems. With China and Russia clearly trying to take control of the Spratly Islands and the Crimean Peninsula respectively, I cannot help but feel they are threats.

Both countries have also been growing close to Iran, which is markedly anti-American. Putin even declared last November that he would provide Iran with $50 billion. Then this January, Xi visited Tehran and agreed to construct high-speed rails to Iran.

After the end of the Cold War, America was the only remaining superpower, and assumed responsibility as the “world’s policeman.” However, China has rapidly gained economic and military strength. The U.S. is no longer guaranteed a place at the heart of international organizations.

In China and Russia’s joint declaration, there is a passage that reads, “as victors of World War II, [they] will make sure to guard that outcome, and oppose any acts that deny or otherwise distort history.” Most likely, through this historical reference China and Russia are trying to keep Japan’s right wing in check, while also declaring they will not concede on the Kuril Islands territorial dispute.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe intends to keep talking to Putin about the Northern Territories and place his hopes on diplomatic negotiations, but in the face of the reality that is the Sino-Russian alliance, that’s simply a pipe dream. It’s clear that Russia, which has fallen into economic depression due to dwindling prices on resources, is trying to use the territorial dispute as bait to sell natural gas to Japan. Isn’t it time to reconsider our current diplomatic actions toward Russia?

The growing ties between China and Russia, countries which are also involved with anti-American countries such as Iran, have thrown current U.S.-focused international organizations into instability. And if the strength of the U.S., the pillar of support, decreases, there is a worrisome possibility that strife and ethnic conflict will become more frequent.

This coming autumn, the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations will meet in Hangzhou, China, and the China-Japan-Korea trilateral summit will meet in Japan. At that time, the international community must promise to warn against regional hegemony.