Quote (Black XistenZ @ Nov 1 2023 03:00pm)
Do I really need to spell out why it's not in Russia's long term interest to be economically dependent on China, to be at their mercy?
Russia just spent the better part of two decades hooking Europe on their cheap gas to gain leverage and create dependence, so they themselves obviously see this type of strategic position to be beneficial. Well, they just maneuvered themselves into a similar dependence on China. Objectively, and also going by Russia's very own logic, that's a bad thing.
Several points here:
1. "Russia just spent the better part of two decades hooking Europe on their cheap gas" - it could be argued they sold cheap gas to willing buyers, wherever those buyers were.
2. "to gain leverage and create dependence" - I would argue, to make profit, just like every other exporter. the natural consequence is the creation of dependence. you make it sound like a sinister plot, when I would argue, this is just big busines.
3. "so they themselves obviously see this type of strategic position to be beneficial" - again to the above - selling stuff is beneficial, therefore selling to someone else, is also beneficial
4. "Well, they just maneuvered themselves into a similar dependence on China" and ? I dont understand the point you are alluding to here. China needs Russian resources long term, so Russia will be happy to sell to China and build stronger ties with china over the next few decades...
5. "Objectively, and also going by Russia's very own logic, that's a bad thing." selling stuff is, in this day and age, not a bad thing.
TLDR: I dont understand what danger you are alluding to.