ISSN: 1307-3419 ==================== International Journal                   of  RUSSIAN STUDIES ==================== ISSUE NO.5 (2010/1)

THE SUBORDINATED POSITION OF NATIONALISM IN THE BUILDING OF SINO-RUSSIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

 LI LIFAN*

 Summary 

China and Russia have built a new strategic partnership in the 21^st Century, But arguments for a ‘China threat’ have not ceased at all in the Russian Far East. The author points out that over-stimulated nationalism is a small factor in building long term confidence between China and Russia; the essence of the China-Russia strategic partnership is by no means antagonistic and should not be led by narrow-minded nationalism, which in turn serves to guarantee the long term stability of future Sino-Russian relations.

   Key words:  Nationalism, Sino-Russian relations, new star accidence 
 
 

     Although China and Russia have built a new strategic partnership for the 21^st Century, arguments on the ‘China threat’ have not been silenced at all in the Far East of Russia. As matter of fact, arguments on the “China threat” do not generate from the growth of China’s strength that has posed a threat to the security of Russia, they generate from some Russians citizens’ unwillingness to accept a neighbor stronger than their motherland; in other words, they think China’s rise has damaged the image of great Russia. They would rather let the fact be exaggerated in order to inspire Russian nationalist sentiment and save it from decaying. 

The General conception of building the Sino-Russia Strategic Partnership 

    The success of the current Sino-Russian partnership arises from a decision by leaders on both sides to accentuate areas of common interest and build on them. The two sides have largely settled, avoided, or waived potential friction. This approach has led to a somewhat lopsided relationship, with defense relations dwarfing other forms of economic interaction and with interaction between the two countries’ leadership being far more robust than contact between the two societies at large. Nevertheless, it has worked in establishing and expanding this partnership¹. Sources of friction will be easier to address as a result of the current strategy and the subsequent strengthening of bilateral ties.

     Former President Putin outlined the unprecedented development of ties between the two countries saying Russia and China had resolved their major political difficulties which included border issues. Mutual trust between the two countries had risen to a completely new level when he was in Bejing last year. The active development of Russia-China relations had shown that being pragmatic and having constructive talks was more effective than holding grudges against each other and being endlessly entangled in historical disputes. Both countries had actively cooperated in the international arena, had worked closely with each other in regional and global affairs and were partners in dealing with terrorism and other existing threats, he said. He added that bilateral trade and economic ties were vigorous and investment and cooperation in several high tech areas was strong. Russia believed there were sound prospects for Sino-Russian relations in all respects to develop further and continued efforts would be made to ensure that bilateral ties went forward steadily, and Russia was willing to solve any existing problems in a patient way². 

   Sino-Russian relations also involve a series of problems with more complex facts in some triangular relationships, like Sino-Russia-Japan, Sino-Russia-India, Sino-Russia-Central Asia, Sino-Russia-North Korea, Sino-Russia-Europe and so on. China and Russia are working together to promote multilateralism and friendly interaction. The two countries are against the narrow principle of ‘national interests in supreme’ and opposite anyone who uses another to restrain and contain to the other side. China and Russia have a strategic partnership in political relations, sharing many common interests together. Therefore, both sides are williing to cultivate those relationships. On the other hand, the economic relationship between China and Russia seems to sink into silence with weak outcomes because they not only share interests, but are also in keen competition with each other. A slight mistake can affect the overall situation, even political relations.

  Concerning China's future, some government academicians, like Prof Alexsander Ginoviev, are typical conservatives who have more concerns about the “China threat”, and indulge in the old dream of a powerful Russia, take a hostile attitude on the rising China, and use their abilities to distort the Chinese socialist construction. They falsely reported that the future success of Chinese socialism was a nightmare for Russia³. Many of these attitutes were widely propagated by Russian Former premiers Nimtchov and Morozov from the Russian Duma⁴.

    Then, what about those pro-Western professors and scholars upholding liberalism? They are looking upon Chinese Communism with extreme hatred, and desperately trying to maintain their  so-called ‘free and democratic values’ which are used by them to estrange Russia from China, but keep Russia close to the West. They abuse the media to spread rumors like ‘illegal immigrants from China to Russia’ and ‘China will become the most dangerous threat now and in the next 5 to 10 years⁵’ and so on to create misunderstanding between China and Russia.

    Professor Victor Lalin ,a leading scholar from the Russian Acadmemy of Science, has pointed out that some Western scholars and the pro-western media are also promoting anti-China actions in Russia. These encourage dangerous Russian chauvinism that not only impacts to people’s lives, but also inflame the media to cover up and boast, using vulgar false and independence information to serve their own interests and those of the powerful and influential groups.

   Some Russian politicians propagated the idea that the Chinese government is implementing an expansionist strategy towards Russia, but strategically added that they were bearers of extreme nationalism. Recently it has been said that their behavior presents the new model among the Russian elites. However, they also point out that it is 'the great Russian chauvinism' that does mischief⁶, the word of Great Russian chauvinism is very harsh and severe, but very fair for ordinary Russians.

   The national interests of China and Russia dictate that only friendship from generation to generation will benefit both in the future. This is the highest interest and the most important discourse between these two countries. Although there are differences in the history, culture and national conditions between them, both sides should have long-term political foresight, Then, we believe that bilateral relations will always maintain a good momentum of development. 

The over-stimulated Nationalism between China and Russia: A case of Study on the New Star accident in Vladivostok 

      The breaking news that a Chinese vessel, the freighter the “New Star” had been fired upon nearly 500 times and at least eight people had died, touched our Chinese hearts on February 22, 2009. The Russian Coast Guard sank the ship on February 15th, after it left the Russian Pacific port of Nakhodka without permission. The New Star had arrived in Nakhodka nearly three weeks earlier, with a cargo of rice. But the firm that purchased the rice complained that the cargo was of low quality, and demanded a lower price. The Russian buyer went to local officials, and got the government to forbid the New Star from leaving until the matter was settled. Caught in the middle of this dispute between the Chinese rice broker and the Russian buyer, the Hong Kong owner of the New Star ordered the captain to leave port anyway. When the Russian Coast Guard was notified, they sent a patrol ship out to bring the New Star back. The Russian patrol boat caught up with the New Star, about 80 kilometers from Nakhodka, and ordered the Chinese ship to return to port. The Chinese ship refused, and eventually the Russians opened fire with a 30mm auto-cannon. After several hours, 515 30mm shells were fired into the hull of the New Star, causing it to take on water and begin to sink. While getting off the New Star, eight of the crew died when one of the two life rafts flipped over in rough seas. The other eight members of the crew were picked up by a Russian Coast Guard ship.

    After the ‘New Star’ freighter was destroyed by Russian artillery, all kinds of radical reactions were floated online. ‘The Navy should react! The third world war is coming! Russians killed many unarmed Chinese civilians in Vladivostok, Russian border guards are too hateful, and the Chinese young generation should show their masculinity, and warn others.’ Making such reactions, the mood could be understood by those hot-blooded patriots with so-called Chinese nationalism if they were not incited by a hostile western force. But they must know the truth, and not simply act on impulse or spread extremist speech, and disrupt China's diplomacy. 
 

Nationalism is followed up with Diplomacy 

  The destruction of the "New Star" is a case-study of international events. The fuse for the dispute was non-governmental trade as a part of Sino-Russian relations. The objective facts gathered from the mass media can be summarize as ‘a small dispute between Russia's trading partners; the recipient of China's merchant shipping found a dubious fault, seized Chinese goods and requested a decision on the Chinese goods by the Russian court. The Chinese vessel was disgusted with these deveopments, left the Russian port without authorization, resulting in the Russians opening fire on the ship.’  

    There were some question points in this case: First, the Russian side did this intentionally. They seized Chinese goods, demanded the prosecution of the court. But why did the captain of the Chinese vessel not contest this action in court?

     Second, Why did the Chinese vessel not seek help from the Ministry of Commerce or the Russian Consulate to coordinate and assist them if they faced such a trade dispute?

    Third, the Chinese side had no problem in the fulfillment of the contract or the goods on the ship. If there was no problem, why were they afraid of the court and despite the Russian regulation, left without notice? The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the border guards firing on the Chinese vessel is a lawful use of force, and there is nothing improper in this explanation.

   It is not worth responding indignantly to this kind of trade dispute, and making the relations between China and Russia tense. In fact, such civil disputes can be resolved peacefully by diplomatic channels to obtain economic compensation, and by international customary rule even if the vessel were destroyed, and the seaman were missing⁷. How could one resort to arms so easily?  

         Long term confidence in the Sino-Russia strategic partnership 

   Of course, the Russians went too far in firing on the Chinese vessel and their actions concerning the missing crew members without having actively engaged in humanitarian relief is also contrary to social justice and international justice. But nowadays, in such a complicated and volatile international situation a flexible strategy should be also put into action, everything needs to be done in moderation, and one should look forward to seeing a good ending. In general ,all should be done to stabilize the overall situation of Sino-Russian relations⁸.

    Recalling the Cold War and disintegration of the USSR, the international political stage was one where each was struggling with each other. In reality, China and Russia are strategic partners who rely on each other. Based on this strategy, we cannot afford to lose or we will be hard-pressed by surrounding strategic containment.

    The establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is one way of building a strategic relationship based on a positive efforts only. In fact, the SCO is working actively because of the stability of the neighboring policy, to strengthen our relationship in dealing with hostile western forces and building more confidence on both sides.

    Therefore, relying on the stability of Sino-Russian strategic relations China has more interest in building this strategic partnership⁹. It is also a barrier safeguarding China's strategic security in surrounding countries.

    Nowadays, Chinese is enduring hard pressure from surrounding regions and struggling with the grim situation differently. In the global arena and neighboring regions the United States will send more troops to Afghanistan to fight increasing terrorism. The same pressure also comes from Japan, as well as the Philippines concerning a dispute over islands. This kind of dispute can lead to more serious conflicts over contending sovereignty; it is an attempt to contain China by a western super-power. China’s northern borderlands do not lose their strategic value if Russia’s support is removed.

   These hot-blooded and narrow-minded radical nationalists would undermine the Sino-Russian strategic partnership. Meanwhile, impacted Sino-Russian relations are stabilizing and developing healthily. Based on these factors, it is the time to put any conflict to an end. It seems that we should not destroy good Sino-Russian relations over such a small thing, incidents like the ’New Star’ are only a simple case without any radical repercussions.

   The essence of the China-Russia strategic partnership is by no means antagonistic and should not be directed by narrow-minded nationalism, which in turn serves to guarantee the long term stability of future Sino-Russian relations.

2010, International Journal of RUSSIAN STUDIES