China holds all the cards in Russia’s eastern pivot

The Asian giant sees no reason to rush on energy cooperation

Russia is looking to build on its energy ties with China, a key buyer of its gas. But Beijing’s position of power in the relationship may make the sanctioned producer play a waiting game, especially over the much-discussed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline. That seemed to be the message coming out of the high-level meeting between Beijing and Moscow in March. The Russia-China relationship has a long and complex history, shaped by the lengthy border between the two countries, the complementarity of their economies and the ambitions of both to be seen as key geopolitical actors. Following periods of friendship and tension in the Soviet era, the post-Soviet decades have seen a more complicated relati