Posted on 07/01/2005 7:46:08 AM PDT by Destro
Does China pose a territorial threat to Russia?
1/07/2005
MOSCOW, July 1 (RIA Novosti) - The Chinese are already settling in large numbers in Siberia and Russia's Far East, and some experts do not rule out that sooner or later there will be no Russians left in these areas. Izevstia, a respected daily, invited experts and politicians to comment on the issue.
Sergei Darkin, the governor of the Far Eastern region of the Maritime territory: This is an invented problem. China is our neighbor and important strategic partner. The Maritime territory accounts for 10% of Russia's trade with China and we are working proactively to increase it. The sides are taking measures to develop free, visa-free border trade. Indeed, 140 million people live in China's two border provinces, whereas 2 million live in the Maritime territory. However, the situation is completely under control and there is no threat to these areas. About 140,000 Chinese tourists come to us every year and another 10,000 people arrive in search of jobs.
Professor Fyodor Shelov-Kovedyayev of the Higher School of Economics: China undoubtedly represents a serious challenge not only to Russia but also to the whole of Euro-Atlantic civilization. Although China does not declare this, it still believes in the idea of the Celestial Empire, which has a mandate from the heavens to rule the world. When it has become strong enough, this formula will be presented to everyone. China only pretends to be a pragmatic project pursuing Western modernization. There are hundreds of millions of Chinese emigrants doing business across the world and are loyal only to China. Sooner or later China will need control over Russia's resources.
Boris Reznik, a deputy of the State Duma (lower house of parliament) from the Far Eastern Khabarovsk territory: China does not yet pose a direct threat to us, but its creeping expansion is a reality. The Russian Far East is practically unsettled by anyone: before 1995 there were about 7 million residents in 13 Federation subjects. About 1.2 million have left over the past decade. More and more Chinese are coming to these areas. They settle, take over the food and clothes markets, and open restaurants. There are more Chinese traders than Russians. Armed threats are not the only way: if we do not pay more attention to developing the Russian Far East, the Chinese will settle there forever.
Historically, China has a better claim on these Russian regions than to their other claims such as Taiwan and all the islands and huge swaths of water they claim.
Yep, especially when you consider how much the USSR/Russians took from the nationalist government in China in the 1920's.
This is the Chinese communist attitude. They are the emperors of the middle kingdom and we have taken their rightful place from them.
While that might be true for slives of border regions your overall history is incorrect - the historic Chinese claims do not reach way into Siberia - hint - Great Wall of China.
Does it really matter that much? The area could be considered valuable for its natural resources, not as a lebensraum for settlement [due to the climate]. Were it otherwise, it would have been much more densely settled long time ago. Because of the time frame involved in Chinese penetration, by the time it becomes really acute these resources would be either exhausted or on their way to exhaustion, thus lowering the area value dramatically.
Which sucks because so many folks have gotten used to saying the cool sounding "Chicoms" as a descriptor.
"Chinats" does not have the same ring.
I don't call China a communist country anymore. They are still socialist (leftwing) but are tending more to classical fascism with the extreme nationalism and expansionist aims. Don't have a cool moniker for that yet however.
I agree. China has become what political scientists term a "corporatist" nation.
Baghdad Bob has competition.
However, the manchurians that took control of China (and hence, the last government before the nationalist/communist) DO control large part of Siberia. Same goes for other dynasties like Yuan (mongolians).
I'd agree with you that from a pure classical sense, China probably more claims to Xinjiang province (which part of it at least was controlled as early as Han dynasty, 200 BC) than Siberia.
So is the US. The UN is exactly this. Aristotle didn't think of this form of the State. The 4th form.
In light of the recent border settlement, I would guess that this is not likely to be a problem for many years.
Of course Manchurians and Mongols are not Chinese and Russia controls very little of classical Manchuria.
After the Supreme Court ruled that your property can be taken by the state for private business interests I have to agree with you that America has also become a corporatist state.
Let Putin borrow a copy of The Bear and The Dragon. Hey Vlad. I'm only letting you borrow it!
Vlad also sold the Chinese a Typhoon Class submarine. What stupidity!
Can we encourage Russia to accept Mexican immigrants?
Also Russia fears European and American efforts to break Russia apart from the West.
Some Russians may think China is the less dragon like of than the Americans and Europeans. Round Eyes speak with forked tongue.
The Tibetans might argue with you on that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.