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For those of you who have been predicting that China is the biggest future threat to America (and you know who you are), it may be of interest to know that China has probably secured their resource needs (or at least a significant portion of them) for the next several decades:

China signs big Russian gas deal: Russia is to build two major gas pipelines to energy-hungry China, to deliver gas in the next five years.

(Via BBC News Front Page.)

But wait, there’s more! There’s an argument to be made that China has effectively flipped the balance of power with Russia, transforming them into the subservient minor power:

Analysis: Putin’s China visit shifts power: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to China has transformed the balance of power across Eurasia.

(Via United Press International – Intl. Intelligence.)

From the last article:

“Because of the agreements reached during Putin’s visit, China is receiving a stable energy supply from Russia,” Cohen said.

“The worries of the Russian elite of becoming a natural resource appendage of the West have ironically been realized by themselves, only they have agreed to become an energy appendage of China,” he said.

Will Russia give China the last components it needs to become the next global superpower? Time will tell of course if China’s current trajectory is sustainable, but it looks like they’re well on their way:

Analysis: The Sino-Russian superpower: Vladimir Putin’s trip to Beijing Tuesday for the opening ceremony of the “Year of Russia in China” is a key evolution in the geopolitical economy America …

(Via United Press International – Intl. Intelligence.)

Not that I have a problem with it. I think a Sino-Russian power axis returns a little bit of balance to an international system that was too long without significant competition. Although there is, of course, risk in this, I don’t think it’s unacceptable. China is forging economic ties to the US at least as strong as to Russia, and additionally the US remains a much more attractive economic partner to China as a destination for their industries.

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China, economy, Russia, new overlords