While Kremlin propaganda feeds Russians fairy tales about “great friendship” and “strategic partnership without limits,” Chinese media calmly discusses exactly how those limits will be redrawn. Not someday in the distant future — but when Russia collapses. And according to Chinese authors, preparations should begin now.
Today, absolutely! Back then, it might not’ve been a concern, as Russia was effectively bankrupt and busy trying not to completely collapse. I think it was more about integrating a sizeable russian minority, dealing with significant enironmental pollution, deteriorating infrastructure and soviet-built nuclear reactors being too much of a headache, not to mention stupidly expensive.