In-Depth Implications of the China-Russia Joint Statement

By Philip Yang

United Daily News, February 13, 2022

 

Under American diplomatic boycott, President Vladimir Putin of Russia attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China and Russia signed nearly 20 documents on cooperation. After the Putin-Xi meeting, both sides issued a presumably historical document, the China-Russia Joint Statement on the International Relations Entering a New Era and the Global Sustainable Development (Sino-Russian Joint Statement).

 

The Sino-Russian Joint Statement expounds the four parts of China and Russia's views on democracy, development, security, and order, with a wide range and profound content. The first part pointed out that democracy should reflect the interests and will of all the people, and should not be used as a tool to put pressure on other countries. 

 

Second, the two sides believed that peace, development and cooperation lie at the core of the modern international system and would strengthen the global macro-policy coordination within multilateral mechanisms, including the United Nations.

 

In the third part on security, the two sides reiterated that they firmly supported each other's core interests and opposed external forces interfering in the internal affairs of the two countries (it was mentioned that they opposed Taiwan independence and North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s, NATO’s, continued eastward expansion). The joint statement also accused the United States of aggravating geopolitical competition, fueling antagonism and confrontation, and undermining the international security order. 

 

The fourth part states that the two sides are committed to maintaining "a world order based on international law" and promoting world multi-polarization and democratization of international relations.

 

The Sino-Russian joint statement contains historic implications in three aspects: first, the Sino-Russian bilateral comprehensive cooperative relationship; second, the new triangular relationship between China and Russia against the United States; and third, the American hegemonic system against the sovereign state system.

 

First of all, China and Russia signed nearly 20 documents on cooperation covering the fields of economy, trade, investment, energy, and sports. Chinese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Yucheng described the relationship between the two countries as "not capped above, and constantly climbing to new heights". Especially in terms of energy, Chinese and Russian companies signed a natural gas supply and marketing agreement with an annual gas supply of 38 billion cubic meters for a period of 30 years; companies from the two countries also signed an agreement to supply 100 million tons of crude oil to China via Kazakhstan over the next 10 years. It seems that the situation in Ukraine allows China to gain some points first to ensure energy stability.

 

Second, the joint statement also represents the two countries working together to counter the U.S. order strategically. One is a military power and the other is the world's second largest economy. The combination of China and Russia has created a huge impetus for global geopolitical changes. During the talks, the two heads of state also stated that any attempt to harm the interests of China and Russia and divide China-Russia relations is doomed to failure. However, many Western media commented that the joint statement stands for the formal establishment of the "New Axis" alliance, in a bid to reshape world order and replace the United States.

 

To be fair, the Sino-Russian alliance was actually brought about by the United States. The United States is engaged in a trade war, a technology war, an Indo-Pacific strategy, a quadrilateral security dialogue (Quad), a US-UK-Australia security alliance (AUKUS), and an "Indo-Pacific economic framework" (IPEF) that will be proposed against China. In Europe, the United States promoted NATO’s five eastward expansions after the Cold War. The Biden administration also encouraged Ukraine to apply for NATO participation, large-scale military exercises in Ukraine, and plans to deploy strategic weapons in Eastern Europe. These are also key factors in the current Ukraine crisis. As a result, the dual strategic squeeze of the United States has prompted an alliance between China and Russia.

 

Third, I personally believe the most important key point is the implication and influence at the level of international system. The profound implication of the joint statement is to demonstrate the basic values and interests of the sovereign state system against the U.S. hegemonic system. The sovereign state system is more and more eroded and destroyed by the unilateral hegemonic order led by the United States. China, Russia and the sovereign state system began to fight back, leading to international realism confronting American style ideology.

 

The so-called sovereign state system refers to the fact that the current international society is essentially composed of sovereign states. The basic principles include sovereign equality of states, the principle of non-intervention, development cooperation, free trade, and non-use of force. The UN system is the arena of international policy and global governance. The norms of international law are constructed by multilateral treaties.

 

The content of the Sino-Russian joint statement is more like China and Russia, on behalf of the values ​​and interests of the sovereign state system, saying no to the United States. The document showed quite a few "small circle" rules and actions formulated by the United States unilaterally or with Western bloc, indicating that these contradicted the common principles and interests of the international community.

 

The Shanghai Communiqué 50 years ago prompted the United States to align with China against Russia, and now the Sino-Russian Joint Statement signifies another change in the triangular relationship between China, the United States and Russia. The new China-Russia alliance, combined with other major regional countries, has begun to compete with the United States and Western bloc. But not only is the relationship between major powers changing, the joint statement also predicts that the sovereign state system will return to the fore. The main show is about to begin, and Taiwan's repertoire is also in it.

 

The author is executive director of the Taipei Forum Foundation. He formerly served as deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council, Republic of China (Taiwan).

 

From: https://udn.com/news/story/7339/6094124

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