Russia Pushes for Deeper China Ties, Pipeline Stalemate
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- Russia wants to intensify its relationship with China and complains that China treats it as a junior partner.
- Francois Godement noted that Russia publicly expressed anxiety about China's behavior, a rare public acknowledgment.
- Alexey Martynov argued that Russia and China are moving toward a structural alliance but at different speeds, with China acting as senior partner while minimizing obligations.
- North Korea is being cultivated by Russia as a close partner, a move China sees as affecting Asian security and its own periphery.
- South China Morning Post reported on May 3 that China may be uneasy about a five‑year defense cooperation plan between North Korea and Russia that could accelerate Pyongyang’s military modernization.
- Russia seeks to expand the bilateral pipeline with China, but China stalls over price and strategic considerations.
Why it matters: Russia’s push for deeper ties puts pressure on China to honor strategic commitments, but Beijing’s reluctance—evident in pipeline delays and cautious support for Russia’s North Korean defense pact—limits Moscow’s leverage and affects the Russian war effort while preserving China’s strategic autonomy.
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