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The real aim of Putin's turning to Asia-Pacific - China.org.cn
By Wu Fei
The media interpreted Russian President Vladimir Putin' early departure from the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, as seeking more sleep after being left out in the cold by other participants. According to Russian custom, people improve their awareness when being squeezed out. What can be determined here is that the G20 meeting had little meaning for Putin, other than confirming the correctness of his Asia-Pacific strategy.
Not an easy game to play [By Yang Yongliang/China.org.cn]
The focus of the G20 meeting this time was really high on the agenda of Western countries. Their concerns lay in European safety and the impact of Islamic terrorism on them.
Most commentators believe Putin's Asia-Pacific strategy is to unite with China and India to combat the United States. To most Chinese, the United States is still the No.1 power in the world. So, they wonder, is Putin, a strong politician good at international strategy, making a big mistake?
It can be said that Putin's Asia-Pacific strategy is to stabilize commodity shipments from Asia-Pacific region to Russia and as part of an upgrading of Russian industry. In the process of turning to Asia-Pacific, Putin would get rid of those interest groups that are close to European Union (EU) and the United States. And, finally, in his second term of presidency, he could make a glorious turn-around to integrate a rising Russia into Europe entirely.
Ukraine becomes Europe's Pandora's Box
In becoming involved in the Ukraine, the United States has stumbled into a much bigger historical pit. The armed demonstrations that overthrew Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych's regime have led to a contest between Russia and the EU/U.S. alliance for which neither had planned.
Ukraine is the product of numerous historical accidents. There is a Slavic core around Kiev that impressed Lenin. But, at a drinking party during Khrushchev's time, Crimea was put under Ukrainian control and that has come back to haunt everyone.
In the Commonwealth of the Independent States, which belonged to the former Soviet Union, the issues between the Soviet Union and East European countries and those between the Soviet Union and West European countries have returned as destabilizing factors.
Hungary shrank by two-thirds after the World War I, and Poland lost part of its territory, regained it between the wars only to lose it again in World War II. Germany, too, has unresolved territorial issues and the Ukrainian crisis has exacerbated them all.
Within the EU, some significant people urged Ukraine to "accept the reality." They suggested Ukrainians focus on the territory they still hold, instead of fighting a long but probably futile war trying to regain all the territories in the eastern part. What's more, even if they win, they will have to rebuild the cities that have been turned into ruins.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has clearly stated that it was a tragedy Hungary lost so much of its territory after World War I. Some of the land that once belonged to Hungary is now in the Ukraine and some in part of Slovakia, Serbia and Romania. If Ukraine really split up, Poland might even be tempted to try and recover Lvov.
So, what is Putin really up to in all this? Firstly, he wants to increase the use and popularity of the ruble and enhance the competitiveness of Russian products. In order to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), Russia had to lower many tariffs. A mass of European products, including auto parts, poured into Russia. Now, Russian-made cars are rarely seen in the streets. Those running around are all cars from Germany, the U.S. and Japan.
The food industry is also dominated by European products. Even people's savings are mainly deposited in U.S dollars although the ruble deposit rate is above six percent in general, rising to 10 plus percent now. If people could increase their deposit of rubles and usage of ruble increases in trade between Russia and Asia-Pacific, a ruble area in Russia will come into reality.
Secondly, Russia's strategic security area extends to Asia. There were Russian media reports saying that cooperation for the purpose of neighborly relations was welcome. "But if we are doing so in order to change the geopolitical focus to Asia, we are walking towards death."
But, if Russia has to rely on European investment and cater to the United States on energy prices, the vitality and creativity will become a dream haunting Russia's domestic economy for ever.
Only by following Putin's turn to Asia-Pacific can the economic oligarch remain in the queue when Putin turns to Europe a few years later.
Thirdly, overall cooperation with Asia is beneficial for Russia to conduct overall cooperation with European again. Since the Ukraine crisis, the NATO has become more united. NATO members' military forces have begun to drill in the Baltic Sea countries, and NATO people have been sent directly to Ukraine to provide advice.
If Russia goes further into Ukraine to interfere, the safety of Europe will be threatened. However, if Russia only maintains peace in Crimea and expands its power into the two republics on the east side only, Germany at least in the EU can accept it.
Before Putin attended the G20 Summit, a Russian fleet, including the cruiser "Moscow," destroyer "Marshal Shaposhnikiv," a tanker and a tug, appeared in international waters north of Australia. This was a message from Putin to Western countries that Russia has the strength to expand into Asia-Pacific and can achieve the upgrade of its own industrial production in virtue of ties with Asian-Pacific countries.
Turning to Asia-Pacific in this way can make the Russian economy more independent. Russia does not need much from the Western countries. Furthermore, when Russian is ready with its own Asian-Pacific strategy, the cooperation between Russia and Germany will inevitably give Russia more power of speech in Europe.
Putin, a Black Belt Judo master, is returning to Europe in a "curved" path to avoid the spearhead of the United States. France and Germany lay great emphasis on their cooperation with Russia. Europe cannot get into conflicts for re-drawing borders. The United States has much to lose.
The writer is a professor from the School of Journalism & Communication, Jinan University.
The article was translated by Li Bin. Its original version was published in Chinese.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
@senheiser , @vostok , @terranMarine , @Edison Chen , @Chinese-Dragon , @tranquilium , @Nihonjin1051 , @ChineseTiger1986 @AgentOrange
By Wu Fei
The media interpreted Russian President Vladimir Putin' early departure from the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, as seeking more sleep after being left out in the cold by other participants. According to Russian custom, people improve their awareness when being squeezed out. What can be determined here is that the G20 meeting had little meaning for Putin, other than confirming the correctness of his Asia-Pacific strategy.
Not an easy game to play [By Yang Yongliang/China.org.cn]
The focus of the G20 meeting this time was really high on the agenda of Western countries. Their concerns lay in European safety and the impact of Islamic terrorism on them.
Most commentators believe Putin's Asia-Pacific strategy is to unite with China and India to combat the United States. To most Chinese, the United States is still the No.1 power in the world. So, they wonder, is Putin, a strong politician good at international strategy, making a big mistake?
It can be said that Putin's Asia-Pacific strategy is to stabilize commodity shipments from Asia-Pacific region to Russia and as part of an upgrading of Russian industry. In the process of turning to Asia-Pacific, Putin would get rid of those interest groups that are close to European Union (EU) and the United States. And, finally, in his second term of presidency, he could make a glorious turn-around to integrate a rising Russia into Europe entirely.
Ukraine becomes Europe's Pandora's Box
In becoming involved in the Ukraine, the United States has stumbled into a much bigger historical pit. The armed demonstrations that overthrew Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych's regime have led to a contest between Russia and the EU/U.S. alliance for which neither had planned.
Ukraine is the product of numerous historical accidents. There is a Slavic core around Kiev that impressed Lenin. But, at a drinking party during Khrushchev's time, Crimea was put under Ukrainian control and that has come back to haunt everyone.
In the Commonwealth of the Independent States, which belonged to the former Soviet Union, the issues between the Soviet Union and East European countries and those between the Soviet Union and West European countries have returned as destabilizing factors.
Hungary shrank by two-thirds after the World War I, and Poland lost part of its territory, regained it between the wars only to lose it again in World War II. Germany, too, has unresolved territorial issues and the Ukrainian crisis has exacerbated them all.
Within the EU, some significant people urged Ukraine to "accept the reality." They suggested Ukrainians focus on the territory they still hold, instead of fighting a long but probably futile war trying to regain all the territories in the eastern part. What's more, even if they win, they will have to rebuild the cities that have been turned into ruins.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has clearly stated that it was a tragedy Hungary lost so much of its territory after World War I. Some of the land that once belonged to Hungary is now in the Ukraine and some in part of Slovakia, Serbia and Romania. If Ukraine really split up, Poland might even be tempted to try and recover Lvov.
So, what is Putin really up to in all this? Firstly, he wants to increase the use and popularity of the ruble and enhance the competitiveness of Russian products. In order to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), Russia had to lower many tariffs. A mass of European products, including auto parts, poured into Russia. Now, Russian-made cars are rarely seen in the streets. Those running around are all cars from Germany, the U.S. and Japan.
The food industry is also dominated by European products. Even people's savings are mainly deposited in U.S dollars although the ruble deposit rate is above six percent in general, rising to 10 plus percent now. If people could increase their deposit of rubles and usage of ruble increases in trade between Russia and Asia-Pacific, a ruble area in Russia will come into reality.
Secondly, Russia's strategic security area extends to Asia. There were Russian media reports saying that cooperation for the purpose of neighborly relations was welcome. "But if we are doing so in order to change the geopolitical focus to Asia, we are walking towards death."
But, if Russia has to rely on European investment and cater to the United States on energy prices, the vitality and creativity will become a dream haunting Russia's domestic economy for ever.
Only by following Putin's turn to Asia-Pacific can the economic oligarch remain in the queue when Putin turns to Europe a few years later.
Thirdly, overall cooperation with Asia is beneficial for Russia to conduct overall cooperation with European again. Since the Ukraine crisis, the NATO has become more united. NATO members' military forces have begun to drill in the Baltic Sea countries, and NATO people have been sent directly to Ukraine to provide advice.
If Russia goes further into Ukraine to interfere, the safety of Europe will be threatened. However, if Russia only maintains peace in Crimea and expands its power into the two republics on the east side only, Germany at least in the EU can accept it.
Before Putin attended the G20 Summit, a Russian fleet, including the cruiser "Moscow," destroyer "Marshal Shaposhnikiv," a tanker and a tug, appeared in international waters north of Australia. This was a message from Putin to Western countries that Russia has the strength to expand into Asia-Pacific and can achieve the upgrade of its own industrial production in virtue of ties with Asian-Pacific countries.
Turning to Asia-Pacific in this way can make the Russian economy more independent. Russia does not need much from the Western countries. Furthermore, when Russian is ready with its own Asian-Pacific strategy, the cooperation between Russia and Germany will inevitably give Russia more power of speech in Europe.
Putin, a Black Belt Judo master, is returning to Europe in a "curved" path to avoid the spearhead of the United States. France and Germany lay great emphasis on their cooperation with Russia. Europe cannot get into conflicts for re-drawing borders. The United States has much to lose.
The writer is a professor from the School of Journalism & Communication, Jinan University.
The article was translated by Li Bin. Its original version was published in Chinese.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
@senheiser , @vostok , @terranMarine , @Edison Chen , @Chinese-Dragon , @tranquilium , @Nihonjin1051 , @ChineseTiger1986 @AgentOrange
