The Far Eastern Dimension of the Russian Pivot to the East. Will China close Russia's sanctions gaps?

Abstract

In the context of Western sanctions pressure on Russia, the role and importance of the Russian Far East is growing significantly. Siberia and the Far East are becoming the Russia's main strategic windows to East Asia, primarily to China. The historical background of the formation of Russian transboundary corridors is associated with the definition of borders in the 17th - 20th centuries with China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan. For 400 years, Russia has reached its Far Eastern borders. Currently, with the reduction of political and economic relations with Japan and South Korea, there is an increase in trade, hydrocarbon cooperation, and investment with China. The Chinese dimension becomes the main one in Russia's pivot to the East. The key element of this pivot is the modernization of the transport and logistics structure of the Far East, the construction of new seaports, railways and border crossings. The combination of administrative and liberal market approaches makes it possible to bring Russian-Chinese cooperation to a new higher level. China cannot become the main savior of Russia in the ongoing sanctions war. The development of our own import substitution is the main way to fight against Western sanctions. But China can significantly minimize and soften the Western sanctions blow. Taking a neutral position in the Ukrainian events, China is strengthening the Russian-Chinese base of strategic partnership, fully supporting Russia in matters of global and regional security. High political relations influence on the China's economic support for Russia.