Russia-China relationship in the context of the war in Ukraine: Bonding Over Shared Ideology or Western Sanctions

Authors

  • Marie PEGU Political Science Department at Kamrup College, Gauhati University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-24-44

Keywords:

Russia;, China;, sanctions;, trade;, economy;, politics, Ukraine;, ideology

Abstract

In the face of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia’s trade and economic potentials have been limited and restricted mostly due to the imposition of sanctions. Consequently, a bond between Russia and China has developed, putting aside their former disagreements and disputes. This goes together with the fact that both countries face a shared adversary from the US and the West, which has worked in pulling them closer to each other. Amidst the dynamic environment of worldwide trade, the economic collaboration and strategic alignment between China and Russia stand out as a crucial axis. This article investigates the interdependency and asymmetries of their bilateral partnership and how they have shaped their global trade relation. Furthermore, it also analyzes the historical background of Sino-Russian connections, emphasizing significant milestones and policy changes that have influenced their present economic interconnection. It analyses the problem areas of their relation and whether this bonding will withstand future changes in the global order.

References

AP News. 2024. “What to know about Vladimir Putin’s visit to China.” https://apnews.com/article/russia-china-putin-xi-ukraine-war-ce55db2d2f59930272e93d07c98f2694.

Atwood, K. 2024. “China is giving Russia significant support to expand weapons manufacturing as Ukraine war continues .” CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/12/ politics/china-russia-support-weapons-manufacturing/index.html.

Barrios, Ricardo, and Andrew S. Bowen. 2023. “China-Russia Relations.” Congressional Research Service. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12100.

Bo, Hong. 2023. “Implications of the Ukraine war for China: Can China survive secondary sanctions?” Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies 21 (2): 311-322. https://doi.org/10.1080/14765284.2022.2136933.

Bolt, P.J. 2014. “Sino-Russian Relations in a changing World Order.” Strategic Studies Quaterly 8 (4): 47-69. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26270816.

Chang-Liao, Nien-Chung. 2023. “The limits of strategic partnerships: Implications for China’s role in the Russia-Ukraine war.” Contemporary Security Policy 44 (2): 226-247.https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260.2023.2174702.

Chimits, F., and A. Hmaidi. 2022. “China moves to fill the void left by Russia sanctions-on its own terms.” The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/china-moves-to-fillthe-void-left-by-russia-sanctions-on-its-own-terms/.

China Power. 2022. How Has the China-Russia Relationship Evolved? https://chinapower.csis. org/history-china-russia-relations/.

Dibb, P. 2019. “How China and Russia view the West.” Australian Strategic Policy Institute.http://www.jstor.com/stable/resrep23060.6.

Duben, B.A. 2022. “What Putin’s war in Ukraine means for the future of China-Russia Relations.” LSE Ideas. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep45242.

Eran, Oded, and Zvi Magen. 2022. “Russia and China: On the Same side in Cold war 2.0.”Institute for National Security Studies. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep39801.

Fong, Clara, and Lindsay Maizland. 2024. “China and Russia: Exploring ties between two authoritarian Powers.” Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-russia-relationship-xi-putin-taiwan-ukraine.

Gabuev, A. 2015. “A “soft alliance”?: Russia-China relations after the Ukraine Crisis.”European Council on Foreign Relations. http://www.jstor.com/stable/resrep21546.

Guan, Guihai. 2022. “Thirty years of China-Russia strategic relations: achievements,characteristics and prospects.” China International Strategy Review 4 (21): 38.

Hall, G.O. 2023. Examining US-Russia-China Foreign Relations: Great Power Politics in aPost-Obama era. New York: Routledge.

Kaczmarski, M., and Natasha Kuhrt. 2023. Putin and Xi: Beijing Belt and Road meetinghighlighted Russia’s role as China’s junior partner. https://theconversation.com/putinand-xi-beijing-belt-and-road-meeting-highlighted-russias-role-as-chinas-juniorpartner-

Kluge, J. 2024. “Russia’s economic relations: Moscow’s road to economic dependence.” SWPResearch Paper, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik. https://doi.org/10.18449/2024RP06.

Korolev, A. 2021. “How closely aligned are China and Russia? Measuring strategic cooperationin IR.” International Politics. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-019-00178-8.

__. 2022. China-Russia Strategic Alignment in International Politics. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

Li, Pengfei. 2024. “The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on China-US Relations.” Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences 28: 25-33. https://doi.org/10.54097/vgsefv55.

Lidder, L.S. 2021. “Russia-China relations and future dynamics.” USI Occasional Paper (CS3:New Delhi).

Luce, D.D. 2023. China helps Russia evade sanctions and likely most supplies tech used inUkraine, U.S report says. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/china-helpsrussia- evade-sanctions-tech-used-ukraine-war-rcna96693.

Lukin, A. 2020. “The Russia–China entente and its future.” International Politics 58 (3):363-380. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-020-00251-7.

Morgan, T. Clifton, Navin A. Bapat, and Valentin Krustev. 2009. “The Threat and Imposition of Economic Sanctions, 1971-2000 .” Conflict Management and Peace Science 26 (1): 92–110.

Morgan, T.C., C. Syropoulos, and Y.V. Yotov. 2023. “Economic Sanctions: Evolution, Consequences, and Challenges.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 37 (1): 3-30.doi:10.1257/jep.37.1.3.

Ng, Kelly, and Yi Ma. 2024. How is China supporting Russia after it was sanctioned for Ukraine war? https://www.bbc.com/news/60571253.

Ozawa, M. 2019. “Russia and China: “axis of convenience” or stable strategic partnership”?”

NDC. http://www.jstor.com/stable/resrep19853.

Peters, M.A. 2023. “Russia-China/China-Russia: Sino-Russian relations in the post-Soviet era .” Educational Philosophy and Theory 55 (14): 1664-1671.

Quadri, S.S., H.F. Mashwani, F. Abbas, A. Kamil, H.M.T. Hafeez, and G. Kamil. 2023.“Impact of Russia-Ukraine war on Central Asia and the future Geo-Political Scenario of the World.” PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology 20 (2): 156-165.

Reuters. 2024. Russia and China to sign Power of Siberia-2gas pipeline contract ‘in near future’,says Novak. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-china-sign-powersiberia-2-gas-pipeline-contract-in-near-future-says-2024-05-17/.

Saraswati, D.P., and A. Nasrum. 2023. “China-Russia Relations and the Crimea Crisis: DoesChina Still Insist on the Non-Interference Principle?” JuSS: Jurnal Sosial Soedirman 6 (2): 84-102.

Schott, J.J. 2023. “Economic sanctions against Russia: How effective? How durable?” Policy Brief 23 (3). https://www.piie.com/publications/policy-briefs/economic-sanctionsagainst-russia-how-effective-how-durable.Solomentseva, A. 2014. “The ‘Rise’ of China in the eyes of Russia: A source of Threats or New opportunities?” Connections 14 (1): 3-40. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26326384.

Sutter, R. 2018. “America’s Bleak of Russia-China Relations.” Asia Policy 13 (1): 39-46. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26403229.

Syropoulos, C., G. Felbermayr, A. Kirilakha, E. Yalcin, and Y.V. Yotov. 2022. “The Global Sanctions Data Base— Release 3: COVID-19, Russia, and Multilateral Sanctions.”

Drexel University, School of Economics Working Paper Series. https://www.globalsanctionsdatabase.com/.

Taylor, A.K., and David Shullman. 2021. “The future of Russia-China Relations.” Center for a new American Security. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep28653.5.

Trush, S.M. 2022. “Crisis between Russia and Ukraine: The China Factor.” Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences 92 (7): S595–S600. doi:10.1134/S1019331622130093.

Xia, L. 2018. “Facts & Figures: China-Russia economic ties in fast lane.” Xinhuanet. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/11/c_137460976.htm.

Yakhshilikov, S. 2023. “Unavoidable clashes: Exploring the implications of a China-Russia Alliance on Global GeoPolitics.” Austral: Brazilian Journal of Strategy & International Relations 12 (23): 194-205.

Yang, W. 2024. “China, Russia double down on ties despite complications in trade relations.” VOA. https://www.voanews.com/a/china-russia-double-down-on-tiesdespite-complications-in-trade-relations/7488511.html.

Yoder, B.K. 2022. The United states and Contemporary China-Russia Relations. Switzerland:Palgrave Macmillan.

Zhang, Wenxian, Ilan Alon, and Christoph Lattemann. 2018. China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Changing the rules of globalization. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.

Downloads

Published

2024-10-15

How to Cite

PEGU, M. (2024). Russia-China relationship in the context of the war in Ukraine: Bonding Over Shared Ideology or Western Sanctions. BULLETIN OF "CAROL I" NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY, 13(3), 253–266. https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-24-44

Issue

Section

Articles