The Development of EU-Russian Relations

The EU＇s strategy for Russia since the end of the cold war has to a large extent failed, and the direct consequences are the currently deadlocked EU-Russia relationship. There are three reasons for this： the EU and Russia＇s respective strength and status relative to each other have been changing since the beginning of this century; the EU＇s strategy towards Russia has been more fragmenting in recently years; and the American factor. The EU-Russia relations could continue to be in poor shape in the years to come, and it is very likely sometimes even further worsening. But the two sides would refrain from extreme measures and prevent their relations from sliding into real cold war.     

欧俄能源合作中的大国博弈

At present,the European Union,the United States and Russia are engaged in some political jousting over energy resourcing between Europe and Russia based on their different interests and geostrategic orientation.The US and Europe share similar geopolitical interests,while Europe and Russia share economic interests in energy cooperation,and this dichotomy will have a major impact on the evolving trilateral relations among the EU,the US and Russia.Therefore,it is necessary to deepen our analysis of the major-power contention in EU-Russia energy cooperation and study its influence and future trend.     

Sino-American-Russian Triangle at the Turn of the Century

On the verge of the new century, the renewed triangular relations between China, the United States and Russia are of significance to the international relations as the world's three big powers have readjusted their ties in recent years.rather long time to come, the state that the United States is strong, Russia re-mains weak, and China is rising will remain unchanged by and large, and so willthe triangle. Readjustments of the Triangle Since the end of the Kosovo war, China, America and Russia, with differentstrategic considerations in mind, have stepped up restoration of mutual relations     

New Trends in the Relationship Between Major Western Countries and Africa

With the deep-going development of globalization and enhanced African unity for self-improvement, the international community is paying more and more attention to the standing of Africa and the role it plays. The United States, Japan, Russia, India and the European Union (EU), are strengthening and upgrading, out of their own needs, their political and economic relations with African countries in a bid to consolidate their strategic interests in the continent.     

U.S.-Russian Relations in the Year of General Elections

While the presidential election already drew to a close in Russia on March 2, 2008, the elections in America have not kicked offfor real yet with presidential candidates still vying with each other in the primaries. On the one hand, Vladimir Putin and the newly-elected Russian president respectively expressed the hope of improving relations with the United States and on the other hand, George W. Bush and major U.S. presidential candidates also revealed the desire of further easing up relations with Russia. With the change of president in Russia and soon in the United States, more and more people are focusing their attention on whether the stagnant bilateral relations between the United States and Russia could really take a turn for the better.     

Ponder over the Changes in Sino-Russian-U. S. Ties

Some changes have indeed taken place in international situation from September 11 to Iraq war. Changes in big power relations in particular have given food for thought. Today Ⅰ would like to focus on the changes in the relations among China, Russia and the United States as well as my consideration of China's diplomacy. When we talk about changes in the relations among the three na     

The EU’s Foreign Policy Under Debt Crisis

Under the impact of the sovereign debt crisis, the European Union pays less attention to its foreign policy and the Common Foreign Policy tends to be "renationalized"; the EU is again embracing "geo-economics" with an enhanced tendency of highlighting economic ties and trade in its external relations; EU countries have greatly cut their defence expenditures, making it more difficult to implement the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in future. The author holds that the prospects of economic growth in the Eurozone countries, European integration under the pressure of structural changes in international relations, and competition and collaboration in a multiple structure of foreign policy establishments are combined to shape the EU’s foreign policy in the coming years.     

Strategic Impact of Brexit

Following Brexit, major changes are expected in the UK, the EU, and the relationship between the two, with far-reaching strategic effects on international politics that may develop truly unexpected aspects.Beyond the near-term challenges, the UK is likely to face new developmental opportunities in the long run. The internal power balance in the EU will undergo major changes, possibly leading to progress in diplomacy and defense but with increased internal suspicions, leading to a series of new contradictions. Regardless of its success, Brexit will long trouble the EU. A troubled UK may come to resent the EU, but it is also possible that a well-developed UK will create a development model that is different from those of the EU member states, setting an example for other members considering revaluating their relationship to the EU. The resulting instability may even change it to a free trade area. The UK is an important country, with global influence. Changes in UK-EU relations will have profound geopolitical consequences, and we can expect great changes in UK-American, European-American, UK-Russian, and European-Russian relations and larger relations between East and West. The competition and cooperation among major countries will gain complexity. Due to its close relationships with the UK and the EU, China will also be extensively and profoundly affected.     

Russia-U.S.Rivalry in the Context of Power Imbalance

Compared to Soviet-U.S.relations of the Cold War era,contemporary Russia-U.S.relations are less decisively influential in shaping the global strategic situation.While evolving,the new relationship between the two sometimes registers dramatic events—Syria and Ukraine,for example—that seem to endanger a proposed ＂reset＂ of their bilateral relations.This reset,first mentioned during the presidencies of Dmitry Medvedev in Russia and the first term of Barack Obama in the U.S.,was not launched.Since the onset of the global financial crisis,the international strategic situation has further readjusted,and big power relations have remained out of equilibrium.Progress toward improved relations witnessed ＂apathy＂ after Vladimir Putin returned to power.Both countries pay less attention to each other in their respective foreign agendas but they are wrestling fiercely in the fields of politics,security and geopolitics in spite of an accelerating imbalance of strategic power.     

Are China and Russia Axis or Partners?

After experiencing many ups and downs in their relationship, China and Russia have forged a strategic partnership since the advent of the 21stcentury.While Russia's relations with the United States and the European Union have hit a rough patch, its ties with China are on an upward trend.Meanwhile, the United States and Europe are closely watching the two big neighbors in case of the event of a creation of an anti-Western "axis."Grounded in an analysis of the unique advantages of China-Russia relations, this paper argues that the two countries have established a high level of political trust and will continue to work in concert on all fronts.It also looks back at how China entered into alliances throughout its history and the lessons it has learned from those experiences.It emphasizes that China does not deem the establishment of exclusive alliances or political blocs as a foreign policy option.     

New Development of China-Russia-India Triangle

Since September 2001 when scholars from China, Russia and India held the first dual track dialogue, new changes have taken place in the trilateral relations among the three countries. On June 2, 2005, the foreign ministers of the three countries held an "informal meeting" in Vladivostok, signifying that the trilateral relations have been lifted to the official level, attracting worldwide attention.     

Prospects for Sino-Russian Relations and China＇s National Interests in the Next Decade

The next 5-10 years will be a pivotal period in which China will implement its ＂ 11 th Five-Year Plan＂ and accelerate its construction of ＂ a moderately prosperous society.＂ It will also be an important period for Russia＇s resurgence. Sino-Russian relations are therefore facing new challenges and will be steadily developing. Under these new circumstances, clearly defining China＇s national interests in Sino-Russian relations will be an important prerequisite of ensuring the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and of safeguarding China＇s peace and security. For the foreseeable future, China＇s national interests in Sino- Russian relations will be the further consolidation of mutual trust between the two countries and increasing Sino-Russian security cooperation so as to maintain peace and security in China ＇s northern border areas. As the two countries are both in a phase of social transformation, they can nevertheless learn from each other throughout this process. China will continue promoting diversity of cultures and the multi-polarization of world. China should also exploit Sino-Russian economic cooperation and try to frame a joint strategy with Russia in order to achieve common development and prosperity. Consequently, the two countries will be able to march forward side by side along the path of economic reforms and structural adjustment.＂ In the 21st Century, China and Russia not only need to maintain a good neighbor relationship and guarantee their joint security, but also build a closer cooperation in their common development.     

Sino-US Relations： Dependence and Fragility

The twenty years after the end of the Cold War have witnessed a transformation of the mode of Sino-US relations from Security Issue-dominated to Complex Interdependence. Today, conflicts of interest between China and the US can be classified and resolved through normal channels, which protects the roots of good Sino-US relations instead of constantly placing them under threat. However, shifts in the relative power of the two countries, and shifting preferences in their interests continue to highlight the fragility of Sino-US relations. China needs to manage this fragile relationship carefully if it is to achieve its aim of a peaceful rise.     

Aid to Africa： Can China and EU Share Their Experience？

With China＇s increased influence in Africa, the Africa issue has become ever more important in China-EU relations. In 2006, the Africa issue for the first time appeared in the joint statement of the China-European Union （EU） summit. Though both sides laid emphasis on their own principles of their Africa policies, they indicated at the same time that they would seek practical cooperation on the effectiveness of aid and the Millennium Development Goals （MDGs）. Despite this, the two sides have not been able to get rid of the differences in concept in their policies on aiding Africa to engage in real cooperation. In 2006, EU began to level accusations against China＇s Africa policy.     

Eight Myths about Sino-U.S. Relations

In recent years,copious amounts have been written on Sino-U.S.relations.However,there has been little in the way of critical examination of the ideas proposed.Commentators are eager to put forward their judgments,but they are lax in testing their veracity and very few people have bothered to critically assess their logic,reasoning processes and the reliability of the facts they put forward.This article attempts to reflect on some of the most popular judgments on Sino-U.S.relations in recent years and to provoke further discussion.     

The Predicament and Prospect of Current Pakistan- U.S. Relations

Since the September 11 incident, the relations between Pakistan and the United States have been all along hinged on the war on terror. Out of its need in the war on terror, the United States has deemed Pakistan ＂a major non-NATO ally＂ and provided it with quite a big amount of aid and their bilateral relations have been closer than in the early stage of the post-Cold War period. In recent years, however, due to the deepening differences on the issue of war on terror, their bilateral relations have sunk into a predicament. The prospect of Pakistan-U.S. relations under the leadership of the new presidents of the two countries is worth our attention.     

Competition

Fu: The above discussions clearly show that the cooled relations between the United States and Russia lie in the basic factor that the political development in Russia has failed to meet American wishes. The catalytic factor of such relations probably could be found in the issues of strategic competition that confirm with “the cold peace. “ Of course, we may discuss whether on earth there is such a competition. If there is,then what are Russia‘s conditions and considerations in the competition? The competitions between America and Russia are different from that between the United States and the Soviet Union in the Cold War years, but they can also be seen in geostrategic competition as well as in the means of strategic competition.……     

China''s India Studies

Over the past 50 years, with the improvement of relationship between India and China, the scope of India studies in China＇s IR research has been broadened and the new areas of studies are being explored. The research agenda of India studies has already extended to the areas like economy, society, culture, security, national strategy and their impact on both bilateral and international relations. In this situation, the focuses of India studies in China＇s IR research can be mainly identified as follows： reviews on India＇s social, political and economic systems; analysis on the national strategy and foreign policy; Sino-Indian relations; India＇s relations with some international organizations. However, even though many fresh progresses have been made in India studies, the India studies in China＇s IR research still lag far behind the study of other important countries like the U.S., UK, Russia and Japan, and more problems and challenges will face in the coming future. The paper believes that a fuller understanding of India probably will not make China and India close friends, but it definitely will help to prevent them from becoming fierce enemies.     

China-EU Economic and Trade Relations in the Post-Crisis Era

Economic and trade relations play a significant role of engine in driving forward the strategic partnership between China ana the European Union （EU）. Although the financial crisis has given rise to global trade contraction and investment stagnation, and Europe also suffers the attacks of sovereign debt crisis, the economic and trade relations between China and Europe have shown considerable resilience thanks to the economic stimulus packages of both sides.     

Sino-EU Security Relations

There are two levels of security relations between China and the EU. The first level is that of China and the EU as a whole. The second level is that between China and member states of the EU respectively. Because the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU is still in an initial phase, defense relations between China and the EU have mainly been at the second level.