Summary

China and Russia are often represented by media and political discourse as two natural allies whose ties are becoming closer with each passing year. Many commentators believe this trend will continue, perhaps even culminating in the two powers forming a “Eurasian Bloc” to challenge the current world order centered on the United States. It is undeniable that Russia and China have many common geopolitical, strategic, and economic interests, which have fueled their close cooperation and will not be disappearing anytime soon. However, the tenure of their friendship over the past decade should not be taken as a given. The multiple reasons for cooperation notwithstanding, there are also factors that threaten to hamstring any future partnership between Moscow and Beijing, possibly to the point of putting bilateral realtions on a more contentious footing.