[Correspondent Column] Are China and Russia Kkanbu(?)

China-Russia, a Honeymoon Relationship to Counter Common Enemy US
China Gains Significantly from Pro-Russian Neutral Stance

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] In March 1969, Chinese and Soviet troops clashed over Zhenbao Island (Russian name Damansky) on the Ussuri River. What began as a fistfight between Chinese and Soviet border guards escalated into a battle involving tanks and multiple rocket launchers. Nikita Khrushchev even planned a nuclear attack on China, then led by Mao Zedong, as relations between the two countries reached a critical point. The Ussuri River, where the conflict occurred, is the border between China and the Soviet Union (now Russia), meeting the Heilong River (Amur).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Although the Zhenbao Island battle appeared to be a territorial dispute on the surface, it reflected the complex political situation between the two countries. After Stalin's death, Khrushchev, who took power, wanted to distance himself from Joseph Stalin. Khrushchev aimed to revive the economy to enhance his authority, which required undermining Stalin. He also pursued a conciliatory policy toward the hostile United States, visiting the U.S. and holding talks with President Dwight Eisenhower. To Mao Zedong, who followed Marxist ideology and Leninist governance, Khrushchev was a traitorous socialist. The Zhenbao Island battle was an expression of ideological conflict between the Chinese and Soviet leaders.

Let us turn back time to before the Xinhai Revolution (1911). China (Qing Dynasty), devastated by the First and Second Opium Wars, was prey to imperialist powers. The Soviet Union (Imperial Russia) was also one of these powers. The Russo-Japanese War of 1904 is a representative example. Russia fought Japanese imperialism over the Manchuria region. Had the Russian fleet not been defeated by Japan, the three northeastern provinces of China would have been under Russian control.

On February 4, when the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics was held, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China and held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. After the meeting, the two countries issued a joint statement opposing unilateralism by the U.S. and other Western countries. They also signed a long-term natural gas supply contract worth 10 billion cubic meters annually. As if waiting for the Beijing Winter Olympics to end, Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. It appears Putin visited China after deciding to invade Ukraine.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

What benefits does China gain as Russia's backer? First, China can temporarily escape U.S. pressure. The U.S. will find it difficult to concentrate solely on the Indo-Pacific region. Its military power will inevitably be dispersed. China can buy time and build strength to confront the U.S.

There is no economic loss either. Last year, trade between China and Russia totaled $146.87 billion (181 trillion KRW). Due to sanctions from the U.S. and other Western countries, Russia's dependence on trade with China will increase further. Already, trade between China and Russia in January and February rose 39% year-on-year to $26.43 billion. Depending on the situation, China could even influence the military power Russia.

The expulsion of Russia from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment network is not necessarily bad. China can use its Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) to conduct yuan-denominated payments. This is an opportunity to expand the yuan's 3.2% share in international payments. The U.S. 'secondary boycott' is also not very intimidating from China's perspective. The U.S. and the European Union (EU) will also have to endure pain.

China and the Soviet Union share similar modern histories. Monarchies were overthrown by revolutions. After emperors and tsars were ousted, socialism was established. Both countries failed in socialism and partially adopted democratic institutions. Does this make them allies? Their modern histories reveal their relationship. President Xi pursues a pro-Russian neutral stance for his country's interests, while Putin uses China as a shield to achieve his political goals. With their invasive DNA, China and Russia may growl fiercely at each other again. There are no true comrades in diplomacy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.