Putin looks to Asia as West threatens to isolate Russia

Reuters ^ | 21 Mar 2014 | Timothy Heritage and Vladimir Soldatkin

[Racehorse]

The underlying message from the head of Russia's biggest oil company, Rosneft, was clear: If Europe and the United States isolate Russia, Moscow will look East for new business, energy deals, military contracts and political alliances.

The Holy Grail for Moscow is a natural gas supply deal with China that is apparently now close after years of negotiations. If it can be signed when Putin visits China in May, he will be able to hold it up to show that global power has shifted eastwards and he does not need the West.

[bert]

China may turn to Russia for cheap labor

[Marguerite]

“Why did the Chinese abstain rather than cast a veto?”

Because one veto is enough.

[Cossak]

Gorby trusted the West and had waken up one morning with all Warsaw pact countries + Baltia gone to NATO

[Cossak]

Russia is China's neighbor of equivalent size for last 300 years and Russia's history demonstrates that China is much better neighbor than West. In last 20 years West made big investments in alternative to Russian sources of hydrocarbon fuel so Russia has no choice but diversify buyers. Besides China is well aware that it is next in the list of West's enemies and has no chances to survive alone.

[Cossak]

No, before WWI. Kharbin town was founded by Russians and big Orthodox church is there from those years. In 1945 Soviet Army defeated Japan Kwantung army and Chinamen remember that. Japans murdered about 20 mln Chinamen, they conducted experiments on bacteriological weapons on China people. There is memorial to Soviet pilots on central square of Changchoon town, old China capital. After WWII Soviet Union made big investments in China industry. Was in Suifenghe town in February, they demonstrated on TV old Soviet films in hotel where I stayed.

[Marguerite]

You’re right, but I was talking about the post-war commercial exchange period.

[caww]

....”Gazprom hopes to sign a long-term deal with China in May”....

My understanding too....and Deal was struck weeks before Crimea as Putin no doubt anticipated the sanctions. China agreed to buy any oil lost from Ukraine in however they plays out....and this at market price.

I think Michele's trip is baloney.....it's to attempt to put China in a holding pattern til Obama gets his world tour done...They knew Putin is meeting with China in May. It's not been a secret.

IMO the Nation leaders are simply accommodating Obama but not exactly paying him much attention overall. Statement made at EC Brussels was stunning..” There are obvious crisis where USA will not be involved”.....they simply no longer see the USA as the leader on the World Stage.

[caww]

FYI.....Interesting and to keep eye on...Pro-Russians In Donestk today Sat. 3/22/14

[Marguerite]

Pro-Russians In Donestk today Sat. 3/22/14

I am not surprised in the least. Donetsk has always been a Russian dominated region. Besides, their economic survival, as well as Lugansk and Kharkov regions, rely on the exchanges and ties with Russia. Ukraina's divide can be seen on any kind of map: poltical, ethnic, language, or religion.

[exit82]

Lots of interesting perspectives in your posts on this thread.

Thanks to both of you.

[Marguerite]

Thank you. Just good for a laugh, old Crimean Cossaks in Sevastopol, celebrating the return to Russia

[Marguerite]

See also this post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3136137/posts?page=94#94

[exit82]

LOL!

That seriously needs to go viral.

[sauropod]

You have me conflated with sauron.

His posts do bring an interesting perspective to the discussion.

I had heard that America is not represented in Revelations. Time to go back and re-read it.

[exit82]

You have me conflated with sauron.

His posts do bring an interesting perspective to the discussion.

Well, I did, didn't I!

Thanks for being a good sport about it. I have to try to be more alert at 6 am!

sauron--please see post #30, which was meant for you.

[dfwgator]

China thinks of the US as a nuisance more than anything.

To them, Russia is a mortal enemy. They may cooperate for awhile. But China keeps their friends close and their enemies even closer.

China is thinking long-term here.

[little jeremiah]

So the question becomes how does Putin and the Muslims fit together?

---

They don’t.