Posted on 06/28/2024 5:32:28 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it lost access to many world markets, including much of Europe. Countries like Germany, which for years had relied on Russian gas and oil, now turned sharply away and sought to rid themselves of any vestiges of Russian dependence. (Source)
Into the breach stepped China. Always thirsty for new supplies of gas and oil, China quickly notified Russia that it was interested in receiving Russian gas and in developing a pipeline from Siberia for that gas. (Source). Recently, however, that lifeline looks more like a noose, at least for Russia. Beijing is taking a very aggressive stance on what is to be known as the “Power of Siberia 2” pipeline, which was planned to transport a maximum annual capacity of 50,000,000 m³ of natural gas from Russia to China. (Source)
China now is demanding that it pay only Russia's heavily subsidized domestic price for the natural gas, and China will not commit to buying a substantial quantity of such gas every year. (Source) Meanwhile, Russia's state-owned oil company, Gazprom, is hemorrhaging cash. Last year, it reported a loss of $6.9 billion, its first annual loss in 20 years. (Source) Perhaps in a sign of the difficulties regarding the negotiations, Gazprom's CEO, Alexei Miller, who had been a fixture in previous Sino-Russian talks, did not accompany Russian President Vladimir Putin on a trip to Beijing in May. (Source)
The fact that China is taking such an aggressive stance in the negotiations with Russia highlights the changing power dynamics between the two countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Numerous western European countries have reduced or terminated their gas and oil dependency on Russia, the Nordstream II Pipeline has been destroyed, and much of the economic relationship between Russia and the west has dissolved altogether. Without that western economic outlet, China assumed greater significance to Russia’s economic interests.
China, however, rarely allows an opportunity to extract a price to pass by. It is playing economic hardball with Russia, and Russia has little ammunition with which to fight back. Regardless of how this negotiation turns out, the Sino-Russian relationship is changing. Vladimir Putin now knows that, notwithstanding any prior claim that with China he has a "friendship without limits". (Source) Simply put, China will not inconvenience itself to help its northern neighbor. Simultaneously, Russia's economic isolation is only deepening, and Vladimir Putin may be running out of time to reverse it.
LOL! This is it for Putin, for sure this time.
It cannot be helping Putin in Russia. If Putin had known beforehand how the invasion of Ukraine would have turned out, he never would have done it. If Trump had been president, he never would have done it.
“If Putin had known beforehand how the invasion of Ukraine would have turned out, he never would have done it.”
Actually he would have done it sooner as it has effectively ended the Western monopoly on wealth, along with a few other things:
1. Russia now allies with China and North Korea
2. Russia closer to Iran
3. Russian economy now larger than Germany and Japan (PPP)
4. Europe’s economy destroyed
5. Petrodollar gone
6. Europe virtually empty of weapons
7. US badly depleted
8. South Korea depleted of artillery
9. Delays in keeping allies armed (starting with Israel and Taiwan)
10. US “wonder-weapons” defeated on the battlefield
11. Russia’s military greatly expanded, permanently
12. Russia’s military initially shown weak...it was never a threat to Europe
13. Nuclear power plants put in danger by West
14. Energy prices in Europe through the roof
15. More of Ukraine being lost by the day
16. Russian military visits Cuba
17. Russian high-level nuclear alert
18. Russia now battle-hardened (tougher for Redditors to fight them)
19. Russia’s military advancement is far faster than that of the West (combat experience has that effect).
20. Russia may bring in troops from North Korea to fight for them
Thought they were best buddies a few days ago.
Thought they were best buddies a few days ago.
Just like Stalin thought Hitler was his “best buddy”.
China is in huge economic trouble itself. It’s not in a position to float Russia, period.
You’re delusional.
“You’re delusional.”
What claims of mine do you disagree with?
Hey Bob
I think Russia is feeling more like Joe Biden today.
I have been saying China is the big winner in the Russia/Ukraine war for years. This is an example of how they are taking advantage of the war.
“I think Russia is feeling more like Joe Biden today.”
Hard to see why.
Chicoms, like DJT have them by the short hairs.
“Simply put, China will not inconvenience itself to help its northern neighbor. Simultaneously, Russia’s economic isolation is only deepening, and Vladimir Putin may be running out of time to reverse it.”
China looks out for China. Pooty has been played!
“Chicoms, like DJT have them by the short hairs.”
Russia doesn’t think that as far as I can tell, and in any case, Russia has a lot of nukes and is far ahead in missile defense, so a retaliation strike won’t be all that effective.
Good list. Don’t let the Zeepers discourage you.
“Good list. Don’t let the Zeepers discourage you.”
Thanks, and they don’t, since everything is provable. I think some of the people responding don’t listen/read alternative news outlets, such as from India and many other countries. It’s all there, even if it’s being SPIKED, and censored (in some cases), in the West.
For example, ANYONE can go to The New Atlas and find out the real state of the US military - and if they watch him carefully, they’ll find out that EVERY ONE of Brian’s sources is from the West (media, government reports, etc.).
https://www.youtube.com/@TheNewAtlas
The Chinese are like the Romulans. Crafty and dangerous.
The game is not worth the candle.
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