Introduction. Relationship between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China play the key role in the international relations in the 21st century. Nowadays these relations are gradually evolving. Therefore, the task is to research the preconditions for transforming the relations between Russia and China into a military-political alliance. The reason for the investigation was the speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2019 in Sochi, who referred to the relationship between Russia and China as an alliance.
Materials and methods. The research base includes statements declared by Russian and Chinese officials, materials of Valdai Discussion Club, scientific articles by Russian and Chinese authors, and opinions of Western political scientists presented in publicly available sources. There have been used methods of analyzing official documents and current international events, reviewing, and comparing related studies, and predicting possible future developments.
Results of the study. Studying and comparing points of view, which are presented by Chinese and Russian scientists, gave an integral version of the development of the bilateral relationship between China and Russia. Moreover, it revealed the circumstances and forces leading to the formation of the alliance. According to the results of the study, changes to Russian foreign policy position are possible, specifically it may identify and eliminate the obstacles in the formation of relations with China on the Russian side.
Discussion. This article’s research question about the possibility of the military-political alliance between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation in the light of intensified struggle for spheres of influence and the establishment of a new world order has been answered affirmatively. Besides, the probability of forming such an alliance in the context of struggling three world’s leading powers (Russia—USA—China) seems most likely. At the same time, the article describes time frames, strategic motivation and tactical issues affecting the mechanisms of format implementation. Moreover, the article identifies the obstacles of establishing a military-political alliance and analyzes the ways to eliminate it. It is pointed out that the opinion expressed in the study is not in a mainstream one because realization and implementation are connected with serious difficulties in the internal and external situations in which political decisions are made. Since the main trigger of forging the alliance is marked, the article is of practical interest for researchers in the field.
Conclusion. The main factor that impacts on the possible development of the strategic partnership into an alliance is increasing opponent’s pressure on a global level. The article concludes that the transformation of the relations into an alliance is in the national interests of the two countries. In case Washington’s policy of containment is intensified, the military-political alliance between Moscow and Beijing is likely to happen.
Key words: China, Russia, the US, alliance, world order, national interests.
10.56429/2414-4894-2021-38-4-82-93