“There is no grand conspiracy against the West. What this is, is a classic great power relationship, meaning it's driven by common interests, rather than shared values. By supporting each other, China and Russia gain critical dividends including reinforcing the legitimacy and stability of their respective regimes. Defence cooperation allows Moscow to project Russian influence on the world stage while Beijing is able to gain access to Russia's advanced military technology and operational experience. The relationship also allows Moscow to fill the technological gap left by the withdrawal of Western companies in Russia following sanctions imposed in the aftermath of the annexation of Crimea. And Chinese investment in technology has been absolutely critical to the realization of Russia's Arctic LNG projects.”

by: Bobo Lo