In the cafeteria before going to workBoss Unsweetened Black CoffeeWhile watching the news and sipping a can of coffee, I came across a topic that caught my attention.
The news is that Russia has waived the short-term visa requirement for Chinese citizens. This means that Chinese citizens can now enter Russia for tourism or business purposes without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
At first glance, it might seem like a policy simply aimed at promoting tourism. However, a closer look at the background reveals a slightly different picture.
I was thinking that perhaps the relationship between Russia and China itself is quietly changing.
background
The trigger was the war in Ukraine.
The economic sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia have caused Russia to lose significant economic ties with the West.
Instead, the country with which we deepened our relationship was China.
Trade has surged, and ties between the two countries have become considerably stronger in recent years. In fact, trade between China and Russia has expanded significantly compared to 2021.
The same trend is observed in the area of tourism.
The visa exemption has led to an increase in travelers from China to Russia, and the number of flights has also increased significantly compared to pre-COVID levels.
Main theme
However, can this relationship truly be called "equal friendship"?
There's a slightly interesting change there.
Originally, in Sino-Russian relations, the structure was such that Russia was superior and China was subordinate for a long time.
However, after the war in Ukraine, that balance began to shift.
Nowadays, it's actually Russia that appears to be more dependent on China.
Such criticisms have also been raised.
In other words, the situation is that "Russia needs a partner."
Specific facts
Energy is a symbolic example.
As Europe began to avoid Russian energy,
China has gained access to relatively inexpensive Russian natural gas.
Russia is now China's largest supplier of natural gas.
Furthermore, China is gradually strengthening its assertions on border issues, including changing the way its maps are labeled.
Nevertheless, Russia has not strongly protested.
Looking at this situation, I get the feeling that the balance of power between the two countries has changed from what it used to be.
Summary
Relations between countries may change more slowly than news headlines suggest.
These changes can sometimes be seen even in small policies, such as tourist visas.
As I read the morning news and sip my coffee, I get the feeling that the balance of power in the world is slowly shifting.
While thinking about all that, I was about to head off to work for the day.
