A Wary Embrace
What the China–Russia relationship means for the world.
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With Western countries consumed by domestic problems, will it be China and Russia that now define the rules of global politics?
In a disorderly world, each has become increasingly assertive, and their partnership has emerged from relative obscurity to acquire a new prominence. Yet appearances are deceptive. Beijing and Moscow have shown no capacity to cooperate on grand strategy or establish new international norms. This is no authoritarian alliance, but a partnership of strategic convenience – pragmatic, calculating and constrained.
A Wary Embrace is available to purchase from all good bookstores ($9.99) and online. An e-book version ($6.99) is also available. The Lowy Institute's Bligh Street headquarters has a limited number of copies available for purchase at our reception.
Contents
Prologue - xi
PART I: The Asymmetrical Partnership - 1
Wrestling with history - 3
The balance sheet: Achievements and misfires -17
PART II: Russia, China, and the World - 47
Russia and the world - 49
China and the world - 63
Convergence and divergence - 75
PART III: Myths, Realities, and Implications - 95
Making sense of a complex relationship - 97
PART IV: Outlook - 115
China–Russia relations in the age of Trump - 117
Endnotes - 141
Acknowledgements - 183
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