Keywords: US-China relations; China-Russia relations; Ukraine war; Taiwan; South China Sea dispute; Chinese foreign-policy principles; China-EU relationsPutin the SupplicantCold War politics returned to life when Xi Jinping hosted Vladimir Putin in Beijing on May 17. Before the war, Russia’s trade with the European Union was double that with China; now it’s less than half. Germany relies heavily on China as an export market, especially for high-end autos and electronics, and many German jobs depend on the China trade. Rivalry, Not PartnershipIf the U.S. had a different China policy, one that emphasizes finding common ground rather than, as at present, devising ways to contain and deter China, some elements of China’s foreign policy might change. On the other hand, U.S. “partnership” with China—i.e., giving priority to finding common ground—may offer opportunities to exploit China’s leverage with Russia.

Source: New York Times June 09, 2024 15:48 UTC