Russia Looks East, China Looks West

China and Russia, old Socialist allies from a way back seem to again be getting close. While economic activity in recent times has remained robust, politically they have gone their own ways since the days of Chairman Mao. Now things seem to be changing. China is embroiled in not just one but several border disputes with its neighbors in the East China Sea and South China Sea. Russia has its own problems with Ukraine and the West. In times of need it is good to have a friend, and maybe this is what both Presidents were thinking this week when they met in China. The signing of a 30-year, $400 billion deal for Russia to supply natural gas to China satisfies both countries’ needs: Russia for a new customer other than Europe for its energy, and China to find a steady supply of clean energy to feed the incessant demands of its economy. The gas deal also gives Putin some leverage in Ukraine, as Western sanctions will not have quite the bite if China would take up the slack created by the defection of Western European customers. Russia and China also went to hold naval maneuvers this week. (.http://english.cntv.cn/2014/05/22/VIDE1400728504756848.shtml)

While events on Russia’s western frontier, and China’s eastern frontier get the media attention, the two together form a significant part of the global land mass and economy, and central Asia on which they both border is just waking up. The West and Japan might have to start to re-think some of their strategies. (Please log in and let us know what you think.)