China claims Russian territory and Moscow blinks
Tom Rogan
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In its latest diplomatic faux pas, communist China has released a map asserting absurd claims over the territory of numerous nations and a vast swathe of international waters.
Yet China’s 2023 standard map also claims territory belonging to Russia. The map’s new assertion, in contravention of Sino-Russian agreements, is that China retains sovereignty over the entirety of Bolshoi Ussuriysky island. As circled in red on the map below, the island is located on the two nations’s northeastern border. Prior agreements between Moscow and Beijing have divided the island between the two nations.
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Moscow normally offers either imperialist mythology or outraged indignation in relation to such territorial disputes. In this case, however, it has taken an entirely different approach. Asked about the map, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed on Thursday, “The Russian and Chinese sides adhere to the common position that the border issue between our countries has been finally resolved.”
That statement is, of course, utterly refuted by China’s new map. That map, after all, makes a clear assertion over the very same territory that Zakharova says China agrees is part of Russia. The spokeswoman, who normally likes to throw out theatrical insults when she decides Russia has been impugned, added, “Russia and China have repeatedly confirmed the absence of mutual territorial claims … the Joint Border Commission is functioning effectively.”
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This very public yielding to China is patently weak stuff. Indeed, it is antithetical to the narrative Vladimir Putin has carefully established as to how Russia deals with other nations. Putin presents his relationship with Xi Jinping as a “no limits partnership” of equals who have shared interests and face common threats. But the actual reality, as underlined here, is that China views Russia as its deputy, a subordinate partner that essentially can be bought off to support Beijing’s international agenda. Putin might not like this. But as with Zakharova’s response here, Putin views Xi as a critically important partner. He needs Xi. And so he’s willing to bow to him.
Still, Putin will hope that this story doesn’t get the attention of the Russian population. Moscow may be willing to turn a blind eye to Beijing’s loopy claims, but the Russian people might see this as weakness. And Putin is not in an ideal position to appear weak.