Imperialist Master, Comrade in Arms, Foe, Partner, and Now Ally? China’s Changing Views of Russia

Abstract

China no longer sees Russia as a rival. This is not the result of friendly ties, shared values, or growing economic cooperation, but an outcome of the dramatic shift in the balance of power between them. Moreover, China’s contemporary policy toward Russia is not driven by Xi Jinping’s possible fondness for Putin or Russia, but by strategic calculations about what best serves Chinese interests. China’s number one priority today is to balance the United States in the Indo-Pacific naval theatre, and it is thus in Beijing’s interest to keep its strategic rear to Russia safe. This chapter argues that balance of power theories is the best tool to explain China’s growing ties with Russia. History, identity, and ideology are important variables for understanding China’s relationship with Russia. Yet, few, if any, bilateral relationships between two major countries have changed back and forth so dramatically as that of China and Russia. Examining Sino-Russian relations across several time periods, this chapter illustrates that there is no single continuous historical narrative or identity in China on Russia. During the last century, China has seen Russia as an imperialist master, a comrade in arms, a foe, and a partner, and it is now discussing whether it should be an ally.