Politics

Chinese President Xi Jinping is depicted on a Belgrade billboard expressing appreciation for his country's assistance in combating the novel coronavirus. The text reads "Thanks, brother Xi."
International relations

EU battles to fend off China's 'mask diplomacy' in Balkans

Russia also seeks to expand influence amid slow pandemic aid

9 May 2020
Stream article image
5 May 2020
© Illustration by Hiroko Oshima, Eri Sato
Asia Insight

China-Russia alliance on horizon as nuclear arms treaties crumble

US riles its rivals with missile moves and calls for Beijing to join New START

21 April 2020
India and Russia have a $5 billion deal for Russian S-400 missile systems like this one, but the U.S. could fire back with sanctions.
International relations

Indian arms market heats up as a US-Russia battleground

Billions are at stake and 'nobody has any idea how this is going to play out'

27 March 2020
A street sign for Wall Street is seen outside the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan, New York.
29 February 2020
Russia this week imposed a temporary ban on Chinese nationals entering the country, its most radical step yet to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.
Coronavirus

Coronavirus rocks the China-Russia partnership

As price of oil slides and Beijing mends US trade ties, Moscow frets

22 February 2020
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been in power for 20 years, during which time Russia's intelligence organizations have grown vastly. 
International relations

Japan reveals Russia's 'dark power' in SoftBank spy incident

Surprise move aimed at checking Kremlin's espionage ahead of 2020 Tokyo Olympics

16 February 2020
Russian anti-missile equipment: Moscow plans to deliver the S-400 system to India this year. The U.S. removed Turkey from a military jet program after Ankara bought the S-400.
International relations

Russia pulls India closer with oil and weapons

Both risk deeper divides with US over Arctic project and missile defense deal

7 February 2020
© Illustration by Michael Tsang
Asia Insight

Huawei plays star role in new China-Russia AI partnership

Distrust of US outweighs suspicion of each other -- for now

4 February 2020
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin: The Russian leader announced in September that the EAEU would start talks on a trade deal with India.
International relations

Russia woos India to sign trade pact with Eurasian Economic Union

Moscow hopes to show global heavyweights take its bloc seriously

15 January 2020
Russia and China have become increasingly wary of the U.S. and have stepped up military cooperation.
Comment

Russia all but destined to edge closer to China in 2020

Still on the outs with the US, Putin has no choice but to buddy up to Beijing

11 January 2020
China purchased 24 Russian Su-35 fighter jets in 2015. Moscow considers Beijing's technology theft as just another cost of doing business with its cash-flush southern neighbor.
International relations

Russia up in arms over Chinese theft of military technology

Beijing's rise as a major armaments exporter is a double-edged sword for Moscow

20 December 2019
Central Asia's most populous country has the veneer of a multiparty system but no true opposition.
Politics

Uzbekistan election exposes limits of image-polishing reforms

China's economic influence will inevitably become political, experts say

19 December 2019
Russia sold $6.6 billion in arms to Southeast Asia between 2010 and 2017, making it the largest weapons supplier to the region.
International relations

Russia quietly expands military ties with Laos

Beijing has not objected to Moscow's military role in the region, experts say

14 December 2019
U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks about the Pentagon's defense priorities and policies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. (Photo by Howard Heyman/CFR)
Aerospace & Defense Industries

US defense chief prepares for 'great power competition' with China

Esper calls on allies to unite as Beijing and Moscow 'undermine' international law

14 December 2019
A fan waves the Russian flag at a men's hockey match during the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Athletes were banned from competing under the Russian flag at the event.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Russia banned from 2020 Tokyo Olympics for systematic doping

Ruling also covers 2022 Beijing Games, but athletes can compete as individuals

10 December 2019
An employee checks a gas valve at the Atamanskaya compressor station, part of Gazprom's Power Of Siberia gas pipeline to China.
Energy

Russian gas pipeline to China links Putin with tough customer

Moscow's energy diplomacy faces headwinds as buyer nations push back

8 December 2019
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping by video link on Dec. 2, marking the opening of the pipeline.
Energy

Giant Russia-China gas pipeline cements energy alliance

Gas flows into northern China for first time, providing nation with steady supply

3 December 2019
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vladivostok in September, Moscow and New Delhi adopted a five-year roadmap to boost Russian oil, gas, and coal exports to India.
Energy

India-Russia ties deepen as energy partnerships grow

New Delhi seeks new fuel supplies while Moscow keeps eye on China

29 November 2019
Visitors from Japan arrive at Russian-held Kunashiri Island on Oct. 30: it was the first ever by Japanese tourists to the disputed islands.
Opinion

Japanese tour of disputed islands holds out hope of progress with Russia

Russian-held Southern Kurils could become focus of cross-border free-travel zone

26 November 2019
© Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters
Asia Insight

Belarus buddies up with China as an alternative to Russia

Ukraine conflict spawns a 'peculiar geopolitical competition'

12 November 2019
During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to St. Petersburg in June, Huawei signed a deal with Russia's leading telecom company MTS to develop 5G network in the country.
International relations

Russia and Huawei team up as tech cold war deepens

Moscow looks to gain investment and skills from Chinese giant

28 October 2019
A North Korean fishing boat sank after colliding with a Japanese patrol ship on Oct. 7. (Photo courtesy of Japan's Fisheries Agency)
8 October 2019
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga attend a welcoming ceremony ahead of their September talks in Ulaanbaatar.
International relations

Russia renews interest in Mongolia to counter Chinese influence

Rebuilding ties with former close ally crucial to Moscow's pivot to the east

3 October 2019
Juan Guaido says the crippling U.S. sanctions are "pertinent and necessary." (Photo by Naoyuki Toyama)
Interview

Venezuela's Juan Guaido asks China and Russia to back him

Opposition leader offers 'possibility of rapid recovery' after Maduro departure

1 October 2019