The New Nation - Internet Edition

After the fall of the erstwhile Soviet Union, U.S.A emerged as the sole superpower of the world. With depleted economic and military power, Russia was not in a position to challenge the newly acquired supremacy of America. Like any other prudent and ambitious superpower, America took the advantage of imbalance of power in the international arena and made elaborate plan to make foray into the news areas of interest and consolidate the existing strongholds to expand its sphere of influence. It focused on East European nations and the former Soviet Republics. Though much smaller and weaker in size and power, Russia was still a significant country having the power to alter the balance of power in the region. Knowing this fact, America moved quickly to forge deep economic and military relations with the former WARSAW pact nations and Soviet Republics. Another objective of America's quick move to forge strategic level relations with the former Soviet satellite nations was to de-nuclearise them and utilize the enormous energy reserve of the central Asian nations.

Russia, in the mean time, was trying to cope with the new situation emerged due to adopting capitalism and democracy as the system of government. But the strategic thinkers of the country were aware of the American strategic game plan near the Russian border and East Europe. They soon advanced to China for help. China, on the other hand, with over 1 billion people was finding avenues to elevate itself to the level of a superpower. So, the Chinese leaders viewed the Russian offer for deeper military and economic relations favourably. The two countries signed various economic and military agreements in the meantime. Russia found a willing partner, which was also looking for gaining power to offset the American influence in East Europe, and particularly in central Asia, Korean peninsula, and China Sea. The cooperation between the two giants commenced in a majestic fashion to counter, according to them, American hegemony.

China needed new and more modern training and technology to upgrade various units of its military. Observing closely the gulf war, China realized the need for a smaller, faster and more flexible military to win a regional war. So, they sought to replace the old military thinking with a new and more sophisticated one. They proceeded to buy modern jet fighters from the Russian air force to replace its ageing fleets of F-7s and A-5s.

With a view to modernize the air force they procured SU-27, SU-30, and ordered for SU-34 ground attack bombers from Russia. It won't be irrelevant to mention that Russia needed these big-ticket orders to sustain its own military industry. So, the agreements were signed pretty quickly. China got these planes along with production facilities. The Russian experts trained the Chinese technicians and pilots to operate these highly sophisticated jet fighters.

China and Russia expanded their cooperation in naval sector too. Chinese dilapidated Luhu and Jiangwei class frigates were completely unsuitable for a navy that aspired to be a blue water navy within a few decades. So, they ordered for highly advanced nuclear missile guided Sovremenny class destroyers. They bought a few units to bolster its navy. The area of naval cooperation was further expanded to modernize Chinese antiquated submarine fleets.

China procured quite a few Kilo class diesel electric submarines armed with lethal torpedoes. They also proceeded to upgrade the existing Song and Ming class submarines with borrowed French electronic equipments and combat management systems.

Due to geo-strategic reasons, China could hardly overlook the need of the ground forces. They advanced to the Russians for modern technologies to produce better APCs(Armoured Personnel Carriers), Tanks, MBRLs (Multi barrel Rocket Launchers), IFVs(Infantry Fighting Vehicles), and air defense systems. Russia proved to be a willing partner up to this point and did not hesitate to sell military hardware as per Chinese demand.

But historically, the relationship between China and Russia saw many ups and downs. The erstwhile Soviet Union forcefully occupied millions of kilometers of land from China in the past. They fought a bitter division level war in 1969 over disputed land along the Sino-Soviet borders. Though they have signed border agreements in 1991 and 2004 to resolve the land disputes amicably, a sizeable portion of the border is still not properly demarcated. Keeping in view of this fact, the Russians are not interested to see a China powerful enough to alter the balance of power in the region. The recent anti satellite missile test by China rang an alarm bell in Russia too. America was pretty vocal against such missile test, Russia, on the other hand, doubted the intention of the Chinese military modernization.

The Russian strategic planners want a submissive partner in the strategic game against America that they will be able to use as a pawn to counter America. China, on the other hand, wants to emerge as an independent superpower to grab its share in the international political arena.

A clear conflict of interest has surfaced that may impede the ongoing military cooperation between the two giant neighbours. Besides, Russia also has to take into account the concerns of America. In the recent time, the American policymakers have adopted an aggressive strategic policy to calm down Russia, which is selling arms to anti-American nations to expand its sphere of influence and make healthy profit to sustain and modernize its defense industry. It can be noted that the Bush administration has taken a bold strategic initiative to install missile defense systems in some European and central Asian countries.

The Russian military experts view this move as detrimental to the nation's security and an element with potential to alter the balance of power in the world.

Due to the above reasons, we have seen reluctance in the Russia government to provide more modern military hardware to China. One more thing that needs attention is that, China is aggressively pursuing its own plan to build a modern self-reliant defense industry that requires technology from a trusted source. It just doesn't want to be a mere purchaser of high tech military weapons any more. It wants unprecedented level of access to Russian most modern military technology. But how far the Russians will be willing to entertain Chinese wishes will remain to be seen.