Publication

This commentary suggests if one country stands to benefit from the early 2014 Russia-Ukraine crisis, it is China. It argues the situation in Crimea could damage Moscow’s relations with Washington and Brussels, reducing the ability of these global players to counter China’s rise. It also contends the Western push to isolate Russia following the crisis may see the Kremlin draw closer to Beijing, potentially resulting in beneficial energy deals for China. Following this, the author proposes that this all means that the situation in Ukraine could be a step towards a bipolar world, with a US-led West facing a Sino-Russian axis.