Can the Russia-China alliance challenge the USA?

In recent years, the growing closeness between China and Russia has been the center of attention on the global scene. Both countries are increasing cooperation on the economic, military, and diplomatic fronts. In 2022, the bilateral trade volume reached $190 billion, 30 percent more than in 2021. They often support each other's position in international forums like the UN. This growing alliance between two superpowers, Russia and China, is particularly troubling for the USA and its allies. Why are two major countries increasing ties? And what has been the nature of relationships in the past? Why are the US and its allies worried about this proximity? What are the chances of China and Russia becoming part of a major defense deal?

RUSSIA AND CHINA: Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of land area. Its land area is over 17.2 million square km, which covers 11 percent of the world's landmass. But China is not a small country; its land area is second only to Russia, with an area of more than 9.6 million sq km, or 6.3 percent of the earth 's landmass. Thus, these two countries alone cover 17.3 percent of the earth's land area.

China has over 2 million military personnel, the most in the world. Russia is fifth after China, India, America, and North Korea, with over 900,000. Thus they are counted among the big ones. China is the second largest economy in the world after the USA, while Russia is the eleventh.

Both countries are big in all respects. They are also considered powerful countries globally, and both are nuclear powers. Apart from that, both countries share a border.

Both countries have shared a border for centuries. The history of their relationship dates back to the 17th century, when China was under the Qing Dynasty, and the Russian Empire was also expanding. Their forces often clashed on the border. The first formal treaty was signed in 1689. A large part of Russia's Far East was under Chinese influence. In the coming decades, the grip of the Chen dynasty began to weaken in China. So it was taken advantage of by external powers. After that, China's century of Humiliation (1839-1949) began. At that time China was entangled with other Western powers, Britain, France, and Japan, and civil wars. Russia began to demand the region of Outer Manchuria from China. To avoid a new war, China reluctantly conceded Manchuria in the agreements of 1858 and 1860.

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