Why are Russia getting worse with China
Ruthless statistics show that the Russians over the past few years have become worse off about China. According to a recent sociological survey, since 2015 the number of those who consider China to be Russia’s friendly state has fallen from 75% to 62%. At the same time, up to 16% from 9% the number of those Russians who are convinced that China is not friendly to our country has increased. The number of those who considered relations between Beijing and Moscow deteriorated over the past year increased to 25%.
Recall that earlier this indicator was only 15%. The number with optimism regarding the interaction between the two countries is now 45%, while in 2015 there were 56%. What can be associated with such negative changes?
There have been different periods in the history of relations between Russia and China. During the time of the Empire, Russian troops participated in the suppression of the so-called “boxing uprising”, in the fifties of the last century the USSR helped to restore the Middle Kingdom, and the slogan “Russian with Chinese - brothers forever” was popular in our country. And in 1969, the Russian and Chinese military fought against each other on Damansky Island.
It is believed that at present, Beijing has no territorial claims against Russia, and the border between the countries has been determined, although everyone knows that our Far East in the very recent past was "bogdykhanov lands." At present, China has been proclaimed a strategic partner of the Russian Federation, oil and gas projects are being implemented, and a wide-body long-range aircraft is being jointly developed, which will compete with Boeing and Airbus. Moscow and Beijing cooperate in the BRICS format and, as a rule, take a common position on political issues at the UN.
Nevertheless, statistics indicate a deterioration in the attitude of Russians towards their Asian neighbor. There may be several reasons for this. Political scientist Mikhail Vinogradov reduces everything to the banal envy that Russian residents may experience to rapidly developing in terms of economics To China. 68% of Russians are confident in the greater success of the PRC against 70% three years earlier. However, thanks to official propaganda, Russian citizens are convinced that the Kremlin is more significant in the world policythan Beijing:
Also, patriotic Russians are unhappy that China has not recognized the fact of the reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia. People do not notice the positive effect of the “U-turn to the East” announced in 2014. With the European Union, against which Russia introduced counter-sanctions, trade will remain at 200 billion euros per year. And with friendly China - only 84 billion. At the same time, taxpayers are only frightened by the ever-increasing costs of building widely publicized gas pipelines in the Middle Kingdom. Also popular among the masses is the postulate about the gradual absorption of Russia by Chinese expansion into Siberia and the Far East.
It is curious that just in the Russian east, our compatriots generally relate to China better:
Experts correctly point to the root of the problem of perception by the Russians of China in the extreme mythologization of the issue. Few Russian citizens have been to the Far East, especially in China itself. The fact is that over the past few years, the number of Chinese in our country has not increased, but, on the contrary, decreased. The reason is the depreciation of the ruble, which made work and business in Russia unprofitable, as well as in the growth of wages in China itself. In the Russian Far East, the problem now is not Chinese, but illegal labor migrants from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Even with the naked eye it is noticeable how much the number of migrant workers from Central Asia has increased. Moreover, unlike the Chinese, Muslims who are in an illegal situation can represent a breeding ground for extremist religious movements. As for the insignificant volume of Chinese investments in the Russian economy, the problem is its excessive bureaucratization and corruption.
The cooperation between Russia and China has great growth potential, but it should be carried out taking into account mutual interests and security guarantees.
Recall that earlier this indicator was only 15%. The number with optimism regarding the interaction between the two countries is now 45%, while in 2015 there were 56%. What can be associated with such negative changes?
There have been different periods in the history of relations between Russia and China. During the time of the Empire, Russian troops participated in the suppression of the so-called “boxing uprising”, in the fifties of the last century the USSR helped to restore the Middle Kingdom, and the slogan “Russian with Chinese - brothers forever” was popular in our country. And in 1969, the Russian and Chinese military fought against each other on Damansky Island.
It is believed that at present, Beijing has no territorial claims against Russia, and the border between the countries has been determined, although everyone knows that our Far East in the very recent past was "bogdykhanov lands." At present, China has been proclaimed a strategic partner of the Russian Federation, oil and gas projects are being implemented, and a wide-body long-range aircraft is being jointly developed, which will compete with Boeing and Airbus. Moscow and Beijing cooperate in the BRICS format and, as a rule, take a common position on political issues at the UN.
Nevertheless, statistics indicate a deterioration in the attitude of Russians towards their Asian neighbor. There may be several reasons for this. Political scientist Mikhail Vinogradov reduces everything to the banal envy that Russian residents may experience to rapidly developing in terms of economics To China. 68% of Russians are confident in the greater success of the PRC against 70% three years earlier. However, thanks to official propaganda, Russian citizens are convinced that the Kremlin is more significant in the world policythan Beijing:
Along with the idea of the complementary nature of the Chinese economy, there is an idea that China is secondary as an active force in world politics - in comparison with Russia
Also, patriotic Russians are unhappy that China has not recognized the fact of the reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia. People do not notice the positive effect of the “U-turn to the East” announced in 2014. With the European Union, against which Russia introduced counter-sanctions, trade will remain at 200 billion euros per year. And with friendly China - only 84 billion. At the same time, taxpayers are only frightened by the ever-increasing costs of building widely publicized gas pipelines in the Middle Kingdom. Also popular among the masses is the postulate about the gradual absorption of Russia by Chinese expansion into Siberia and the Far East.
It is curious that just in the Russian east, our compatriots generally relate to China better:
Residents of the Far East are well aware that China, in fact, feeds them. And China is far from Central Russia, here in the assessment of this country people are guided mainly by the press, where there is very little information on China
Experts correctly point to the root of the problem of perception by the Russians of China in the extreme mythologization of the issue. Few Russian citizens have been to the Far East, especially in China itself. The fact is that over the past few years, the number of Chinese in our country has not increased, but, on the contrary, decreased. The reason is the depreciation of the ruble, which made work and business in Russia unprofitable, as well as in the growth of wages in China itself. In the Russian Far East, the problem now is not Chinese, but illegal labor migrants from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Even with the naked eye it is noticeable how much the number of migrant workers from Central Asia has increased. Moreover, unlike the Chinese, Muslims who are in an illegal situation can represent a breeding ground for extremist religious movements. As for the insignificant volume of Chinese investments in the Russian economy, the problem is its excessive bureaucratization and corruption.
The cooperation between Russia and China has great growth potential, but it should be carried out taking into account mutual interests and security guarantees.
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