An excerpt of the Full Text is available HERE.
PREAMBLE
There was much an animated discussion - and many a disagreement - over last week's commentary by Feng Yujun (冯玉军) that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was unjustifiable, motivated by imperial greed and that being too friendly with Moscow on this issue would be a strategic mistake for China.
Interestingly, that outlier Feng’s piece on anti-Americanism in Russia is currently the most popular article on the aggregator of scholarly articles Aisixiang, may be noted, too.
Anyway, on today's piece is a commentary by a former PLA Air Force colonel, Wang Xiangsui (王湘穗), arguing the exact opposite and advocating ever closer ties with Moscow.
Wang’s belief is that Sino-Russian ties should not (and are unlikely to) change course any time soon, barring a major upset. Interests, not values, continue to remain paramount.
China’s realist geostrategy in international affairs still dominates.
The full text is archived and accessible HERE, whereas a summary is reproduced below:
SUMMARY
Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine is to a large extent a fight both against US hegemonism and for multipolarity. Moscow was “forced” to act.
The war’s biggest losers are Europe and Ukraine. The former now teeters on the edge of collapse and the latter has been roped in so tightly by the West that its very independence as a state is now at stake.
On the surface, the biggest winner of this conflict appears to be the US, which has not only made a fortune off Europe’s back, but has also severely hampered the continent’s quest for strategic autonomy. However, Washington has also showed the world that it can no longer be relied upon.
Europe has in fact mistaken a friend for a foe and a foe for a friend. Russia, not the US, has the potential to help strengthen European security and economic power.
Europe must stop adding fuel to the fire, must stop supporting American hegemony and must join the struggle for a multipolar world order.
Although Moscow has so far paid a hefty price for its actions, it may well end up being “the real, long-term winner of this conflict” as well as emerging as a key pole in tomorrow’s new world order.
Even if Trump were to be re-elected and the Ukraine war to stop, hostility towards Russia among US citizens is so strong that a warming of US-Russia ties remains highly unlikely.
Beijing’s relationship with Moscow needs to remain at the centre of China’s diplomatic strategy. Beijing should support Russia’s fight against hegemony and help it promote the multipolarisation of the world.
A new agreement should be signed with Moscow that is in line with both countries’ long-term strategies and elevates Sino-Russian ties to new heights.
10. In a world governed by the law of the jungle, China and Russia must become the US’s “unbeatable opponents”. Only then will they gain the West’s respect.
FULL TEXT is downloadable HERE.
The Author
Name: Wang Xiangsui (王湘穗)
Year of birth: 1954 (age: 69/70)
Position: Director of the Center for Strategic Research, Beihang University
Formerly: Joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1970 and rose to become a senior PLA Air Force colonel
Research focus: Military strategy
Education: N/A
Other: Co-author of the widely-cited book Unrestricted Warfare (1999)The full English text on
CHINA AND RUSSIA HAVE TO BECOME UNBEATABLE OPPONENTS OF AMERICA BEFORE THEY CAN BE ITS MOST RESPECTED FRIENDS (EXCERPTS)
Wang Xiangsui (王湘穗)
Source: Guancha.cn, 26 February 2024 is retrievable HERE.
