Sino-Russian Relations

Russia and China have had many different types of relationships over the years. They are two of the largest states in population and land mass. These two states also share large borders. The two states have problematic pasts with the United States and both have a somewhat precarious relations with the U.S. currently. Russia and China’s cooperation together is beneficial to both states, although having an alliance together can pose a risk to the current status quo of international relations in Asia and the world. China and Russia will continue to work together to both achieve a major power status in Asia.

From a realist’s point of view on the matter, China and Russia cooperate only for their own personal gains that will suit them. Often times their short times of amiability is halted by an altercation or disagreement between the two states. This is shown throughout the history of their contacts.

China and Russia first began their relationship in the seventeenth century between the Romanov Empire and the Qing Dynasty when they signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk, on September 6, 1689 (Harkins, 2010). China and Russia have had several skirmishes along the borders but have maintained a somewhat peaceful relationship along the borders. They have a sensitive views on each other and are rivals in many ways because of their past together. The Russians have often felt superior to the Chinese which dates back to tsarist Russia and the Qing Dynasty. During China’s “Century of Humiliation,” there were many unequal treaties done between the two states. Many of these treaties took land from China and big treaty that did this was the Treaty of Peking in 1860 (Harkins, 2010). This treaty gave Russia Primorye and access to the Pacific Ocean. In 186...

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