Sun Xingjie: historical logic and strategic positioning of Sino -Russian relations

Source: Hong Kong Ming Pao.com

Author: Sun Xingjie

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russia and attracted international attention.During the visit, Chinese leaders had many new pairs of Sino -Russian relations, especially when meeting with Russian President Putin, "Sino -Russian relations have developed to this day, with deep historical logic ... consolidate and develop Sino -Russian relations, develop well, and develop well.It is the strategic choice of China based on its own fundamental interests and world development trend. "

From the two keywords of "historical logic" and "strategic positioning", it can be seen that the connotation, structure and issues of Sino -Russian relations have changed.The changes in Sino -Russian relations are both the result of changes in the world structure and part of it.

Friendship between the two countries is a strategic choice after the storm

The historical logic of China -Russia relations is that the two sides are the largest neighbors, and the good -neighborhood friendship is a strategic choice made after the historical storm.From different historical periods, Sino -Russian relations will have different observations.In the signed article, Putin believes that the two countries are connected by hundreds of years of neighborhood and cooperation tradition.Such a judgment may not be resonated, but after the end of the Cold War, it is an indisputable fact that Sino -Russian relations continue to be better.When the history of historical experience between China and Russia, when the Sino -Soviet relations were normalized in the 1980s, Deng Xiaoping had a clear summary and conclusion.

As far as historical periods are concerned, from the 17th century, the Russian Empire expanded to the Far East. It lasted for hundreds of years. China -Russia relations were not equivalent. Russia has achieved huge benefits from China in various ways.For more than 30 years since the end of the Cold War, Sino -Russian relations have achieved historic transformation. In 2001, the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation and the Federation of Hydompered and friendly cooperation cooperation.This is the experience and consensus of Sino -Russian relations in relatively long history.

"Not Alliance, No Fight, and No Third Party" contains the ups and downs of Sino -Russian relations, and it is also an attempt to surpass the traditional national relations model in the land country.In the past 40 years, the relationship between the two countries has remained stable as a whole.obligation.After the outbreak of the Russia -Ukraine conflict, the United States and some European countries have doubts about China.After more than a year, the United States, NATO, and Ukraine also confirmed that there were no weapons provided by China on the Battlefield of Ukraine.

"Not Alliance" is a historical experience and principles of Sino -Russian relations. It is further emphasized in the joint statement of the two sides: Sino -Russian relations are not similar to the military political alliance during the Cold War, but transcending the national relationship model.This transcendence includes at least the relationship between the Sino -Soviet Union during the Cold War, as well as the relationship between the United States and its military allies."Not Alliance" not only means that the two sides do not have the obligations of the alliance, but also means that the development of the relationship between the two parties will not cause the groupization and camp of international order.

The relationship between the two sides "not confront" transcending the relationship between the majority of the traditional land

From the geographical reality of China -Russia relations, the two countries are the largest neighbors.From the perspective of international relations, it is not easy to establish a stable relationship for large powers on the land.As the largest on -site neighbor, China -Russia relations can achieve "non -confrontation", and establish a model of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win -win cooperation, which means that China and Russia have formed a huge peaceful district at the eastern end of Eurasia., With the establishment of a stable security order with Central Asia.

In this regard, Sino -Russian relations have surpassed bilateral categories, which is of great significance for regional order and world peace.Looking back at history, in the past two or three hundred years, the east half of Eurasia has been in continuous fission and reorganization. The 19th century was the two empires of Britain and Russia expanded from land and ocean respectively to form a "big game" in Central Asia.In the first 20 years of the 21st century, the United States fought 20 years in Afghanistan, and the shock wave of Russia and Ukraine's conflict also extended to Central Asia and the Far East.Therefore, the stable and reliable Sino -Russian relations are indeed the "mainstay" of the eastern end of Eurasia.At the time of turbulent changes in the international structure, China and Russia's strategic stability and mutual trust are essential.

The historical logic of Sino -Russian relations is that the world has not changed in a century. Consolidating and developing Sino -Russian relations is the "strategic choice" made by China based on its own fundamental history and world development.Relations between the two countries are "not targeting third parties", but Sino -Russian relations must contribute to the progress of world peace and human civilization.The joint statement pointed out that the two sides reiterated that they need to comprehensively implement their strategies and advance with the times to improve the international security structure and give them stronger toughness.One of the core pillars of this architecture should be to aggregate and abide by the principles and regulations of peaceful coexistence at the current historical stage, and minimize the conflict between the country and the country.

The permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has special responsibilities to maintain the peace and stability of the world, and should avoid conflict to the greatest extent.Therefore, although international order is in a historic change, the basic criteria based on the United Nations -based international system, the international order based on international law, and the principle of the UN Charter's purpose and principles are still Sino -Russian relations.The basis of development.

The meeting of China -Russia's heads of state has attracted much attention, and one of the backgrounds is the Russian conflict.Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang also believes that "this visit is special, the background is complex, the meaning is rich, and the results are rich" are "far -reaching events in global geopolitics."

Remind Russia to resolve conflicts with dialogue negotiations

Since the outbreak of the Russian and Ukraine conflict, China's role has attracted much attention.The United States and some countries have always doubted whether China knows Russia's actions and whether it will "assist" Russia.But for more than a year, China has gradually established the role of "persuasion and talk".The part of the Ukrainian issue in the joint statement of the China -Russia head of state, the beginning of the article "The two sides believe that the purpose and principles of the United Nations Charter must be observed, and international law must be respected."It is consistent.In other words, the purpose and principles of the United Nations Charter and International Law are the basis for China to persuade and talk about talks.

persuasion and talk, we must maintain communication and contact with all parties.Before this visit, China -Ukraine said that Ukraine expressed the importance of attaching importance to China -Ukraine's friendship and hoping to maintain communication with China. During the meeting of the Chinese and Russian heads of state, Ukraine President Zelei Sky said at a press conference that he had proposed to China to become a partner to a partner to China.Call for dialogue with China.

On the issue of Ukraine, the in -depth exchanges between China and Russia exchanged opinions, especially pointed out that "historically, conflicts need to be resolved through dialogue and negotiations." This is a summary of historical experience, and it is also a reminder to Russia.In fact, Russian scholars are also studying how the Russian -Ukraine conflict ended and what impact it will have on Russia.The Crimean War and the Russo -Russia War in history ended with peace talks, which had a huge impact on Russia and neighboring countries.

Historical logic, never go away.This is the case for the development of Sino -Russian relations or the diplomacy of China to promote great powers.Sober, prudent, and wisdom are probably the meaning of "historical logic".

The author is a professor at the School of International Relations of Sun Yat -sen University