Pax Russica and Pax Sinica as competitive and complementary visions of imperial order in Eurasia

Abstract

The article focuses on the process of developing a new Eurasian order
and Russia and China’s contemporary imperial projects in the region. The
author asks a few important questions concerning the foundations of both
states’ perception of Eurasian strategies as well as the level of complementarity
and competitiveness of those projects organising the Eurasian space in
the Sino-centric or Russo-centric perspective. The main thesis contains an
opinion that Russian-Chinese relations at a given stage and in the foreseeable
future will tend to harmonisation and relative complementarity, which
is also observed in an attempt to synchronise the Eurasian Economic Union
with the Chinese idea of reviving the Silk Road joining Europe with Asia.
Neither Moscow nor Beijing will expose the conflict of interests and rivalry
so characteristic of superpowers. The situation results from the fact that both
states have a very good understanding that strategic rivalry at a given stage of
development of their bilateral relations is not advantageous for any of them.
This similar perception of the international situation and the will to limit, and
perhaps in further future eliminate, the USA’s dominance in Eurasia make
an adhesive of Russia and China’s strategic partnership. Chinese and Russian
authorities are aware of the advantage they have in imperial efforts thanks to
complementarity of potentials and coordination of joint as well as individual
activities on the international arena.