Putler's visit to China began.
But this visit is not about greatness, but about another humiliation for the Russians. For political support from Beijing, dual-use technologies, the purchase of Russian energy resources and economic cover after sanctions, Moscow is gradually paying with the status of a junior partner.
At China's request, Gazprom is forced to discuss the conditions under which China wants to receive gas from the Power of Siberia 2 project almost at domestic Russian tariffs.
We are talking about $50 per 1 thousand m³. For comparison, even the current projected price of Russian gas for China is approximately $224–236 per 1 thousand m³.
If we consider the capacity of Power of Siberia 2 to be 50 billion m³ per year, then the difference between $230 and $50 is approximately $180 per 1 thousand m³.
That's about $9 billion in potentially lost revenue each year.
And this is against the backdrop of a budget crisis among Muscovites.
And this is just one contract. Now you have to add oil discounts, loss of the European market, war costs, sanctions, logistics, industrial subsidies and the degradation of the technology sector.
From a strategic perspective, such a model not only weakens Russia, but creates long-term dependence, which gradually turns the country into a raw materials appendage of China.
Beijing thinks in terms of decades. Chinese elites well remember the history of the territories that were ceded to the Russian Empire in the 19th century after the so-called unequal treaties. In the Chinese information and academic space, this topic returns periodically. Especially in relation to outer Manchuria and the areas around Vladivostok.
Officially, China does not make territorial claims against Russia. Bye.
But at the same time, Beijing is consistently increasing its economic, demographic and infrastructural influence in the border regions.
History shows that great powers rarely forget territories they consider “lost.” Especially when a neighbor is weakening economically, exhausted by war and increasingly dependent on external support.
You have to pay for everything. I hope to see this within the lifetime of our generation.
We'll watch.
Source:
Victor Taran / Facebook
The blog reflects solely the opinion of the author. The editors are not responsible for the content and accuracy of the materials in this section.
