comment: >
context: To me it doesn’t seem like it would be in Chinas geopolitical interests to be close with Russia. They are a dying country  and economy that is an international pariah. Maybe they can get natural resources on the cheap. >
  
  
  Maybe they can get natural resources on the cheap.
  
  Bingo.  This is the only tangible strategic value Russia provides to China. >
  
  I think there are strong, “The jig is up,” vibes as well. These countries have well-documented anti-West ideologies, and the way that the West was willing to divorce itself from Russian oil was likely a shock to China. With globalism revealed as no longer tenable, hardening their dictatorial postures may seem more advantageous than feigning civil friendship with nonaligned countries. >
  
  The cold wars ended with demise of Soviet Union.  Round 2 is Autocracy versus Democracy.