Five Ways Russia Could Help China's Military Become Even Deadlier

The National Interest ^ | August 2, 2014 | Robert Farley

[wetphoenix]

The continued deterioration of relations between Russia and NATO may not yet have resulted in a new Cold War, but it’s undoubtedly produce an environment in which Russia has independent reasons to try to hurt the United States.

While the arms trade between China and Russia exploded after the fall of the Soviet Union, shipments of major systems slowed in the early part of last decade. Part of the reason was demand; China felt that it no longer needed to pay top dollar for Russian systems that it could build itself. Another reason, however, involved Russian intellectual property concerns stemming from Chinese copying, and potential export, of Russian military systems. This made Russia reluctant to export its most sophisticated weapons.

But now we find ourselves in a situation where Moscow has become willing to take risks in order to give Washington a headache. One way in which Russia can do this is overcoming any internal obstacles to the export of sophisticated weapons to China.

Although the Russian defense industry has decayed since the end of the Cold War, it still retains a great deal of expertise and human capital, which China (a growing military power) could use to good effect. What kind of systems might this involve? Here are five areas in which Russia-China collaboration could prove useful to Beijing, and problematic for America.

Jet Engines

Engine construction has been one of the biggest roadblocks in the Chinese aviation industry over the past decade. Problems with power and reliability afflict not only legacy systems (such as the J-10, J-11, and J-15), but also China’s new stealth fighter prototypes, the J-20 and the J-31.

[elhombrelibre]

This wouldn’t surprise me a bit. Putin’s eager to secure tyranny in Russia and abroad.

[ansel12]

So if the free world submits, Russia won’t hurt us, in that case Obama is the perfect surrender monkey to suit them.

[ansel12]

Evidently Russia is still evil and allied with Red China, the threat reveals that nothing has changed as far as good and evil and the Russian soul.

[elhombrelibre]

I think individually Russians are not evil. They do have culturally and collectively a sort of bovine willingness to follow authoritarian leaders (Tsars and Commissars) in a way that makes one wonder how it is that they cannot understand that the rule of law is the fundamental to achieving a higher level of civil and civilized society. I oppose Obama for many of the same reasons I oppose Putin. Both of these men want unchecked power. Putin is further along in his quest. Some Putinistas don't think that his possession of unchecked power is a bad thing since they perceive him as some type of conservative.

Also, notice that if NATO doesn't approve of Putin reestablishing a militaristic Russian empire by dominating his peaceful and poor neighbors, there will be people who say it's the US and Europe's fault that he had to partner with the communist Chinese. Those who make these arguments are like those who say nothing is Obama's fault. The Republicans won't let Obama have all of his legislative goals ("emigration reform" for example), so Obama apologist argue it's not Obama's fault that he threatens to rule by fiat. Likewise, we have apologists for Putin who are making a similar argument. If you oppose Putin's criminal behavior, he cannot help but become even more of a gangster statesman. It's all sophistry. Limited government and the rule of law are conservative values that we should keep in mind.

[wetphoenix]

~Evidently Russia is still evil and allied with Red China, the threat reveals that nothing has changed as far as good and evil and the Russian soul.~

You are a hopeless idealist ansel. Foreign policy may not be conducted with terms like that in mind.

[mac_truck]

Every time I read an article about another way Russia can make the United States less secure, I have to ask the question ‘was it worth it’ for the United States to meddle in the affairs of Ukraine.

Suppose for a minute the United States rejected the overthrow of Yanukovitch by the Maidan radicals and forced them to honor the February 21st agreement. Not only would Crimea still be in Ukraine’s hands, but the country would be well on its way to a peaceful transition of power.

[SampleMan]

Downward glide slopes are stable, but that doesn’t mean the destination is good.

[Vaduz]

6. support Obam&Co.

[mac_truck]

Downward glide slopes are stable, but that doesn’t mean the destination is good.

Would you mind translating that into plain English yoda?

[ansel12]

So a man in the Russian military is telling me that I am a hopeless idealist in the face of Russian aggression, in a thread that he posted telling Americans that resistance is futile, and will only be treated with more harshly.

~Evidently Russia is still evil and allied with Red China, the threat reveals that nothing has changed as far as good and evil and the Russian soul.~

[wetphoenix]

You better focus on persons and groups who are eating your lunch right now.

None of them are Russians by the way.

Not to mention both parties in US did much more to empower Red China in the last 40 years than Russia ever could.

[McGruff]

The Chinese leaders are just sitting back watching the US and Russia beat each other up with glee. Then they can squash whoever comes out on top.

[ansel12]

Why had I better focus on any single thing, or in any order that a Russian instructs me to, we need to deal with Russia before they become the threat to all human existence that they were just 20+ years ago, remember that your wicked nation still has nuclear weapons and as we can see from this thread, is still threatening us and still allied with the second most murderous nation, Red China, which is also on the move.

It looks like you guys suffered a set back from us defeating your empire, but that now you are determined to start enslaving again.

[ansel12]

Whoops, I called Red China the second bloodiest nation on earth, that would be Russia, their teammate as a threat to the world, China, is number one.

[wetphoenix]

Would you grab a rifle and come here, ansel? BTW, as a Russian, I am really disappointed with a recent rapprochement towards China by my government. I think China is an enemy. BTW, I am not considering America a threat, at least not militarily.

[ansel12]

Would you grab a rifle and come here, ansel?

It is strange to be asked that on freerepublic, by a Russian soldier, on a thread that he just posted, threatening America if they oppose Russian aggression.

I'm past my time of personally carrying a rifle and defending the world from Russians, but yeah, I would love to be able to join my old buddies in NATO and do it again.

As one generation of freedom warriors age, a new generation of American and Europeans have to replace them, to defend the free world from Russia.

[mac_truck]

You’re living in a time warp.

Our sons & daughters are better served going to fight for freedom on the US border than on Russia’s.

[ansel12]

LOL, the front page news of Russian aggression and threat and more countries looking into joining NATO for protection from invasion, is not a “time warp”, it is the news.

History isn’t over just because Russia miscalculated and lost ground 20 years ago.

You better start paying attention to China’s new attack military and blue water Navy, especially as this threatening thread reminds you that Russia and China are in cahoots against the free world.

History ins’t over.

[SampleMan]

Not only would Crimea still be in Ukraine’s hands, but the country would be well on its way to a peaceful transition of power.

All in the peaceful embrace of Russia, no doubt. Of what value is it to Ukraine to keep Crimea the same color on the map, if they don't hold onto their own sovereignty?