context: Trump and Putin met in Helsinki on 17 July 2018, prompting domestic criticism and international speculation. Chinese analysts view Trump’s overtures to Russia with scepticism, tending to believe that Cold War sentiments still dominate America’s Russia policy.
America ‘playing Russia to control China’ is utter nonsense, writes Wang Haiyun 王海运 China Institute of International Strategy senior consultant. Trump commissioned longtime diplomat Henry Kissinger to visit Russia last year, followed by subsequent trips to China, revealing Trump’s desire to use Russia to control China, asserts Wang.
However, there is reason to believe that China–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership is the best it has been and will not be easily broken, Wang writes. China–Russia strategic cooperation is not only due to geographic proximity, but also shared interests in security and economic strategy.
The Trump–Putin summit became the subject of intense scrutiny from the US media. While both sides may indicate interest in various areas of cooperation, they are unable to touch on core interests including Crimea and economic sanctions. Remaining issues between the US and Russia are structural, says Wang, based on fundamental opposition on issues including visions for international order, development and national values. There are also differences in core interests, particularly regarding
- NATO's eastward expansion and strengthening of military deployment in Central and Eastern Europe
- Ukraine's crisis
- sanctions against Russia