Ten reasons China and Russia differ on international rules
Wang Yiwei says the two nations have a close strategic partnership but contrasting outlooks
The second Multipolarity Forum was held in Moscow last month, attended by representatives from 130 countries. During a dinner at the forum, a top Russian official asked the Chinese representative why China was able to rise within the Western rules, but Russia could only achieve its goals by overturning those rules. This highlights Russia’s grievances about why it cannot integrate into Europe even though its leaders see themselves as part of Europe.
How did China do it? By manipulating the rules? Of course not. Beijing has been playing by the rules. Since joining the World Trade Organization, China has developed quickly.
However, it has advanced not just because it has benefited from the rules of globalisation and other norms. The Chinese people’s diligence and wisdom, the nation’s vast size, and the advantages of its system of socialism with Chinese characteristics have all played a role.
It is necessary to compare the Western concept of a “rules-based international order” with the outlook of emerging nations. During a panel discussion at the 60th Munich Security Conference in February, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was asked about his country buying oil from Russia and then exporting it to Europe in spite of Western sanctions on Moscow.
“Is that a problem?” he replied. “Why should that be a problem? If I am smart enough to have multiple options, you should be admiring me.”
This provides some insight into how differently Brics countries and the West view the rules. However, there are also differences among the Brics nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Exploring those differences is important to understand the rules-based international order, the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, and how cooperation happens within multilateral groups like Brics and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Specifically, there are differences between China and Russia with regard to their views of international rules.
First, China seeks harmony and common good, while Russia pursues differences, a view rooted in Eurasianism. Russia has tried to integrate into Europe but has failed to be accepted. As a representative of Eastern civilisation, China is obviously different from Europe. China’s history is replete with exchanges of knowledge between civilisations, which point to how it has focused on harmony.
Second, China is a “tai chi” culture, where the emphasis is on pushing an opponent without using force. Russia is a “bear” culture. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2024 re-election campaign adverts, for example, feature footage of bears overlaid with Putin’s speeches about “not giving up the taiga”, an indication that Russia will safeguard its home and not back down when fighting enemies.
Third, China leverages the rules of the world order and strives to internalise them through its actions and ideas. Russia, by contrast, is a product of externalisation, having expanded to what it is today with influence from the Mongol empire.
Fourth, China and Russia differ not only on international law and norms but also behave differently on the world stage. China stresses inclusiveness whereas Russia’s relationship with the West has always been more confrontational.
Fifth, since ancient times, China has emphasised the importance of mutual relationships and the whole world. Russia, on the other hand, is focused inwards.
Sixth, China has a comparatively restrained national character passed on from its early days as an agricultural civilisation. Russians have inherited the tendency to move to seek expansion from their nomadic ancestors.
Seventh, when it comes to engaging with other countries, Chinese culture stresses the importance of upholding justice in the face of wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Russia’s approach is often about beating others at their own game.
Eighth, China observes global rules itself rather than just asking others to follow them. In China, there is a common saying that nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. Russia asks others to follow the international rules and considers itself exempt from such rules.
Ninth, China takes a forward-looking view and detests imperialist thinking. Russia tends to look backwards, focusing on reclaiming its lost territory and retaining its imperialist mindset.
When Germany was reunited, the West did everything it could to give Moscow the impression that Nato would not expand to include countries east of Germany. Yet, Russians believe the West tricked the Soviet Union and broke its promises by adding more members.
Finally, China seeks to improve the international order while Russia wishes to challenge the West. One religious leader who attended the forum told me Russia’s top bishop, the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, has had a huge influence on Putin’s plans to reshape the world order. Under these plans, Russia would first join hands with China to destroy Nato. Then, Russia would revive the Eastern Orthodox
Church and, together with the Islamic world, become the great liberator.
Highlighting these differences is not intended to portray China-Russia relations in a negative light. Rather, they should be borne in mind when examining the bilateral relationship and the two countries’ positions in the global system.
China leverages the rules of the world order and strives to internalise them through its actions and ideas