China is trying to alienate Russia’s natural allies. This is what Professor of International Relations Rob de Wijk says in Boekestijn en De Wijk from BNR. “The summit that China organized with a number of former Soviet republics was very impressive.”

Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – countries normally considered natural allies of Russia. “And now they are being pulled away from the Russian sphere of influence by China,” says De Wijk. ‘Although those countries are also looking at the European Union.’ But what is happening is really special.

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De Wijk says the invested top could cause a frown in the Kremlin. The reason is that China is showing that friendship with Russia may be less close than initially assumed. “You just don’t, but it happens here.”

no allies

Arend-Jan Boekestijn calls it an impressive event, as it relates to Russia’s sphere of influence. “It was actually no longer possible, so China immediately jumped in,” says Boekestijn. And China really has no allies. They are the superior culture and consider themselves exceptional – even more so than Americans. And so they cheat the Russians.

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Although, according to De Wijk, the Chinese also feared the collapse of the Russian Empire. Something to do with the way Russia is already surrounded by dissidents. “In our part of Europe there is NATO, which invests in defense ministries and new members,” explains De Wijk. “In the north of Russia there is a receding sea ice, which poses a danger, in Japan they have a problem with the Kuril Islands, and in the south the former Soviet republics seem to be a problem.”

“regional security”

According to De Wijk, Russia’s regional security is woven into Russia’s DNA, as is retaliation in terms of military force. “And that’s not possible at the moment, so there will be a backlash,” says De Wijk. “With a very huge investment in their defence, which they can no longer afford.”

And this inefficiency is entirely due to the state of the Russian economy, he believes, which is no greater than the state of the Benelux economy. In addition, the Russians have to deal with a shrinking population. “This is how the Soviet Union collapsed,” he concludes. “And I see the same pattern emerging now. This does not mean that the Russian Federation will collapse tomorrow, but if it does, it will be because of over-investment in defense.”