Asia – Johnson's Russia List

Johnson's Russia List

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Why Russia’s alliance with China is improbable, but not impossible” – Fondation pour la recherche stratégique/ Simon Saradzhyan

September 22, 2020 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog, Military, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

File Photo of Beijing Temple, adapted from image at lbl.gov

“Abstract: [A]re Russia and China already in a de facto military alliance (against the U.S.), or may they soon enter one? … [This article] reviews … academic literature on alignments … and alliances … infers criteria … [and] sets out to … [assess that] relationship …. Introduction[:] The [Russia-China] relationship … is getting stronger …. Xi Jinping[] and … Putin[] […]

Leave a comment Asia, China, Far East, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Newswatch, Putin, Russia, Russian News, Slider, U.S.-Russian Relations, Xi Jinping

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Weary Russia Tries to Avoid Entanglement in U.S.-China Spat” – Wall Street Journal/ Yaroslav Trofimov, Thomas Grove

June 22, 2020 JRL Russia List China, Coronavirus, Covid-19 Pandemic, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

File Photo of Beijing Temple, adapted from image at lbl.gov

“As its dependence on Beijing grows, virus-hit Russia seeks to walk its own line.” “… With [Covid-19] … escalating the conflict between Washington and Beijing, Moscow faces a tough challenge: how to preserve its Chinese economic lifeline without getting dragged into the … looming clash. … In a way, it is a reversal of the dynamic that powered China-Russia relations […]

Leave a comment Asia, China, Coronavirus, Covid-19, Donald Trump, Far East, JRL NewsBlog, Russia, Russian News, Slider, U.S.-Russian Relations

JRL NEWSWATCH: “The United States Should Not Align With Russia Against China; Authoritarians make bad allies-and Washington already has the stable and democratic friends it needs” – Foreign Policy/ Matthew Kroenig

May 20, 2020 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Asia Map

“… The growing Russian and Chinese strategic relationship is worrying. The two autocratic powers have cooperated on major energy deals, including a blockbuster $55 billion arrangement to pipe Siberian natural gas into China. … and Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping … [having] high-level summits … Xi … declared Putin ‘his best friend and colleague.’ Perhaps most troubling … have […]

Leave a comment Asia, China, Far East, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Newswatch, Russia, Russian News, Slider, U.S.-Russian Relations

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin wants new connection between Arctic coast and Indian Ocean; The construction of a railway line to Sabetta is what is needed, the president argues” – The Barents Observer/ Atle Staalesen

October 8, 2019 JRL Russia List Arctic, Central Asia, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Transportation

Asia Map

“… ‘The idea is to connect the ports on the Northern Sea Route with the ports of the Pacific and Indian Oceans by means of transport arterials through Eastern Siberia, the heartlands of Eurasia,’ … [Putin said to Valdai] conference participants. … [such as] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, King of Jordan Abdullah II, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Filipinian leader […]

Leave a comment Arctic, Asia, Central Asia, Economy, Indian Ocean, JRL NewsBlog, Newswatch, Putin, Railroads, Russia, Russian News, Russian Railways, Siberia, Slider, Transport

JRL NEWSWATCH: “India, Russia Seek to Skirt U.S. Sanctions Threat to Arms Deals” – Bloomberg/ Nc Bipindra, Evgenia Pismennaya

July 15, 2019 JRL Russia List Arms Trade, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, India, JRL NewsBlog, Sanctions, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

“India and Russia have agreed on a new payment method through their national currencies for multi-billion-dollar defense deals … [seeking] to avoid risks created by the U.S. threat of sanctions and banking restrictions. … [and to] enable India to pay the first installment … for two warships … Russia is building for its navy …. Defense contracts will be settled […]

Leave a comment Arms Trade, Asia, India, JRL NewsBlog, Newswatch, Russia, Russian News, Slider

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia’s Sovcomflot Says Arctic Sailings Will Become Routine; CEO of the state-owned shipping giant says melting polar ice will draw more ship operators to Siberian waters” – Wall Street Journal/Costas Paris

June 6, 2019 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog

Map of Arctic Highlighting Permafrost, adapted from image at nasa.gov

“‘The Northern Sea Route shipments are growing …’ [Russian state-owned shipping Sovcomflot] Chief Executive Sergey Frank said … ‘It’s a question of time before all kinds of ships routinely cross it.’ Arctic routes are drawing greater attention as the global climate warms and polar ice recedes, potentially opening new paths between Asia and Europe. The mostly frozen NSR seaway … […]

Leave a comment Arctic, Asia, China, Economy, Energy, EU, Europe, Far East, Gas, JRL NewsBlog, Newswatch, Oil, Shipping, Trade, Transportation

RUSSIALINK: “Russia sees major integration capacity in China’s One Belt One Road project – Putin” – Interfax

May 15, 2019 JRL Russia List Central Asia, China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC

Map of China and Environs, adapted from image at cdc.gov

SOCHI. May 13 (Interfax) – The relations between Russia and China are developing successfully, while Moscow views China’s One Belt – One Road initiative as fruitful and substantive, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. “At the beginning of talks I would like to convey the best wishes to my friend [Chinese President Xi Jinping] for warmness, with which we have been […]

Leave a comment Asia, Belt and Road, Central Asia, China, Eurasia, Far East, One Belt, Putin, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Trade

RUSSIALINK TRANSCRIPT: “[Putin] News conference following working visit to China” – KremlinRu

April 29, 2019 JRL Russia List China, CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

Asia Map

(Kremlin.ru – April 27, 2019 – en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/60396) Vladimir Putin spoke to journalists following the Roundtable discussions at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon. There will be no opening remarks. I am ready to answer your questions. Question: Good afternoon. The Belt and Road is a very ambitious project – to the […]

Leave a comment Asia, Belt and Road, Central Asia, China, Economy, Eurasia, Far East, Government, Politics, Putin, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Trade, Transcripts, Transport

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin lauds China infrastructure initiative, warming ties” – AP

April 26, 2019 JRL Russia List China, CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC

Map of China and Environs, adapted from image at cdc.gov

“… Putin praised China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative … underscoring warming ties between the neighboring powers. Putin’s comments … to a forum in Beijing appeared to downplay the potential for tensions between China and Russia. … [and] reflect Beijing and Moscow’s shared resistance to U.S. global influence. The Belt and Road is rapidly expanding China’s economic footprint in Central […]

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RUSSIALINK: “Putin: One Belt, One Road initiative lays down int’l relations principles that are relevant today” – Interfax

April 26, 2019 JRL Russia List China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC

Asia Map

BEIJING. April 26 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for the invitation to take part in the One Belt, One Road forum, adding he sees that this initiative keeps developing. “It has proven to be immensely timely and successful. It is taking on a global nature and is starting to lay down the principles […]

Leave a comment Asia, Belt and Road, China, Economy, Eurasia, Far East, Infrastructure, Slider, Trade, Transport, Transportation

Putin, Dozens Of Other Leaders Gather In China For ‘Belt And Road’ Summit

April 25, 2019 JRL Russia List Central Asia, China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Far East, Siberia, APEC

Asia Map

(Article text ©2019 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – April 25, 2019 – article text also appeared at rferl.org/a/dozens-of-world-leaders-arrive-in-china-for-belt-and-road-forum/29902631.html) Leaders from dozens of countries have begun arriving in Beijing to attend the April 25-27 Belt and Road Forum. China’s $1 trillion Belt and Road initiative seeks to create new rail, road, port, and energy infrastructure that links […]

Leave a comment Asia, Belt and Road, China, Economy, EU, Eurasia, Europe, Far East, Russia, Russian News, Trade

Hearing on “An Emerging China-Russia Axis? Implications for the United States in an Era of Strategic Competition” – U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

March 22, 2019 JRL Russia List Central Asia, China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

U.S. Capitol in Bright Sunlight

March 21, 2019 The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission: Hearing on “An Emerging China-Russia Axis? Implications for the United States in an Era of Strategic Competition” [Text with video and links to testimony: uscc.gov/Hearings/emerging-china-russia-axis-implications-united-states-era-strategic-competition] Agenda Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 419 9:30 AM – 9:35 AM: Opening Remarks: Chairman Bartholomew and Commissioner Kamphausen 9:35 AM – 11:05 AM: Panel […]

Leave a comment Asia, Central Asia, China, Congress, Far East, Russia, Russian News, Senate, U.S.-Russian Relations

JRL NEWSWATCH: “China, Russia Stand to Gain From Kazakhstan’s Political Transition; New president aims to maintain nation’s security ties to Moscow, economic links to Beijing” – Wall Street Journal/ Ann M. Simmons, Thomas Grove

March 21, 2019 JRL Russia List Central Asia, China, JRL NewsBlog, Kazakhstan, Military

Map of CIS Central Asia and Environs

“A smooth political transition after the unexpected resignation of Kazakhstan’s longtime leader serves the interests of neighboring Russia and China …. [S]ince the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has shouldered the region’s military burden, while China has provided the impulse for economic growth, a system Kazakhstan has embraced …. On Tuesday, Nursultan Nazarbayev, a 78-year-old autocrat who has ruled […]

Leave a comment Asia, Central Asia, China, CSTO, JRL NewsBlog, Kazakhstan, Military, Newswatch, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Russia, Russian News, Slider

JRL NEWSWATCH: “The New Cold War’s Warm Friends; Why Chinese and Russian detente may be here to stay” – Foreign Policy Magazine/ Chris Miller

March 4, 2019 JRL Russia List Central Asia, China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Asia Map

“… Fifty years later, the situation has reversed. China and Russia have settled … border disputes and … become fast friends. Their main area of agreement: opposition to the United States …. The last era of partnership between China and the Soviet Union lasted scarcely a decade before descending toward war …. [T]oday’s Russia-China entente may prove more durable. … […]

Leave a comment Asia, Central Asia, China, Far East, JRL NewsBlog, Military, Newswatch, Russia, Russian News, Slider, U.S.-Russian Relations

JRL NEWSWATCH: “China and Russia’s awkward romance” – Washington Post/Jonathan Hillman

November 16, 2018 JRL Russia List Central Asia, China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Asia Map

“… China still towers above Russia in economic and demographic terms. With a long history of invasions, Russia’s paranoia about foreign powers approaching its borders will not vanish overnight. … Russian policymakers must be persuaded to take China’s economic power as seriously as the West’s military power. China’s grand ambitions run through Russia and its neighbors, but its investments and […]

Leave a comment Asia, Central Asia, China, Economy, Far East, Military, Russia, Russian News, Silk Road, Slider, Trade, U.S.-Russian Relations

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia draws closer to Southeast Asia with arms and energy trade; Putin to attend regional summit to build on economic and political cooperation” – Nikkei Asian Review (Japan)/JUN SUZUKI, TOMOYO OGAWA

November 15, 2018 JRL Russia List Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog

“… Putin will for the first time attend the East Asia Summit, to be held in Singapore …. Putin aims to boost arms and energy trade with the region … [and is] seeking new partners to help offset the pressure of Western sanctions over its annexation of Crimea. … Putin will … attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders’ […]

Leave a comment ASEAN, Asia, Economy, Far East, JRL NewsBlog, Newswatch, Putin, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Trade

JRL NEWSWATCH: “Trump’s plans to scrap a nuclear pact with Russia could heighten tensions in Asia” – CNBC/Nyshka Chandran

November 2, 2018 JRL Russia List Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog, Nuclear Proliferation, Nuclear, Missile Defense, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

File Photo of Nuclear Weapon, B61 Gravity Bomb

“If the U.S. exits the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia, Washington will be free to develop and install weapons on its military bases around Asia. That’s unlikely to sit well with China, who may look to compete with the U.S. Any reaction from China to U.S. provocation, however, could spill over into India and Pakistan.” “Washington’s plans to withdraw […]

Leave a comment Asia, China, Donald Trump, Far East, India, INF Treaty, JRL NewsBlog, Newswatch, Nuclear, Nuclear Proliferation, Russia, Russian News, South Asia, Treaties, U.S.-Russian Relations

RUSSIALINK: “Majority of Russians Favor China, Dislike U.S. – Poll” – Moscow Times

October 16, 2018 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Asia Map

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – October 16, 2018) A new survey shows an overwhelming asymmetry in the Russian public’s attitudes toward China and the United States as Moscow’s ties with Washington continue suffering post-Cold War lows. U.S.-Russia relations are at historic lows amid claims of a Kremlin-backed campaign of election interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Two out of […]

Leave a comment Asia, China, Far East, Levada Center, Politics, Polls, Russia, Russian News, Slider, U.S.-Russian Relations

Vostok-2018: Russia and China Signal Growing Military Cooperation

September 21, 2018 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Military

Asia Map

(Russia Matters – russiamatters.org – Michael Kofman – September 10, 2018) Michael Kofman is a senior research scientist with the CNA Corporation and a global fellow at the Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center. [russiamatters.org/analysis/vostok-2018-russia-and-china-signal-growing-military-cooperation] Russia’s minister of defense, Sergei Shoigu, has promised that this month’s Vostok-2018 strategic maneuvers will be the country’s largest military exercise since 1981, citing participation […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia-China trade turnover up 25.7% in January-August 2018” – bne Intellinews

September 18, 2018 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog

Asia Map

“… The two countries set a target to hit $100bn of trade turnover a few years ago …. if trade continues to expand at the same pace as over the first eight months of this year trade turnover should top $100bn by the end of this year. … The EU remains Russia’s biggest trading partner with a turnover of €231bn […]

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RUSSIALINK TRANSCRIPT: “Eastern Economic Forum plenary session; Vladimir Putin took part in the Eastern Economic Forum. The President spoke at a plenary session of the Forum” – KremlinRu

September 12, 2018 JRL Russia List Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea

Asia Map

(Kremlin.ru – September 12, 2018 – en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/58537) Speech at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, Mr President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr President of Mongolia, prime ministers of Japan and South Korea, ladies and gentlemen, friends, I would like to welcome you all to the 4th Eastern Economic Forum. It […]

Leave a comment Asia, China, Economy, Far East, Japan, Mongolia, Putin, Russia, Russian News, Slider, South Korea, Transcripts

NEWSLINK: “China – Not Russia – Elected Trump; China’s economic attack on America caused U.S. voters to turn to Trump” – The National Interest/James Walker

August 28, 2018 JRL Russia List Newslinks, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Asia Map

“… attention should be sharply focused instead on the role of China in electing Trump. It is that concern that should inform American action today. China’s long-standing predatory trading policies have eaten America’s lunch, impacting most severely those who carry lunch buckets to work in America’s heartland. …”

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NEWSLINK: “Henry Kissinger Pushed Trump to Work With Russia to Box In China; The former secretary of state pushed one president to use China to isolate the Soviet Union. These days, he’s counseling almost the reverse-and officials are listening” – Daily Beast/ASAWIN SUEBSAENG, ANDREW DESIDERIO, SAM STEIN, BETHANY ALLEN-EBRAHIMIAN

July 27, 2018 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Newslinks, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Asia Map

“Henry Kissinger suggested to President Donald Trump that the United States should work with Russia to contain a rising China. The former secretary of state – who famously engineered the tactic of establishing diplomatic relations with China in order to isolate the Soviet Union – pitched almost the inverse of that idea to Trump during a series of private meetings […]

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RUSSIALINK TRANSCRIPT: “[Putin] Interview with China Media Group; Ahead of his visit to People’s Republic of China, the President of Russia answered questions from President of China Media Group Shen Haixiong.” – KremlinRu

June 6, 2018 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC

Asia Map

(Kremlin.ru – June 5, 2018 – en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/57684) President of China Media Group Shen Haixiong: Mr President, thank you very much for accepting China Media Group’s request for this interview. On May 7, you were inaugurated as President of Russia. We broadcasted the ceremony online. I watched the entire broadcast, about 45 minutes, and was deeply moved. Please tell me how […]

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JRL NEWSWATCH: “Kennan Cable No. 33: A Russian Pivot to Asia? Russian Trade with Asia from 2006 to 2016 [Excerpt]” – Kennan Institute/Michael Corbin

May 21, 2018 JRL Russia List China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog

Asia Map

(Kennan Institute – wilsoncenter.org/program/kennan-institute – Michael Corbin – May 18, 2018) Michael Corbin has nearly twenty years of experience in the international financial services and trade arena, the majority with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Finance and Insurance Industries. On August 22, 2012, the Russian Federation officially joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) after almost 18 years of […]

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RUSSIALINK: “China plans to double trade with Russia to $200 billion by 2020” – Interfax

May 15, 2018 JRL Russia List China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC

Asia Map

BEIJING. May 15 (Interfax) – China plans to double its trade with Russia to $200 billion by 2020, Deputy Director of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce’s Central Asia and Eastern Europe Department Liu Xuesun told Russian reporters in Beijing. “The trade turnover between China and Russia is due to reach $100 billion this year, which is quite an achievement,” Liu […]

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NEWSLINK: “Eurasia torn between war and peace; Iran’s top trading partner is China, while Tehran and Moscow have been improving ties as the three countries move closer to cementing a solid alliance” – Asia Times/Pepe Escobar

May 1, 2018 JRL Russia List China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Israel, Newslinks

Asia Map

“… China is Iran’s top trading partner – especially because of its energy imports. Iran for its part is a major food importer. Russia aims to cover this front. Chinese companies are developing massive oil fields in Yadavaran and North Azadegan. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) took a significant 30% stake in a project to develop South Pars – the largest […]

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NEWSWATCH: “Putin and Xi Are Dreaming of a Polar Silk Road; The Northern Sea Route might not be the next Suez Canal, but it’s at the heart of Moscow and Beijing’s play for the high north.” – Foreign Policy Magazine/Keith Johnson, Reid Standish

March 9, 2018 JRL Russia List Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

Arctic Map

“The unprecedented melt of Arctic sea ice is … rejuvenating hopes of a shipping shortcut …. It shouldn’t be. China is dreamy-eyed about the prospects of shipping goods from Asia to Europe across the top of Russia … dominating its brand-new Arctic strategy. … Russia is convinced that the melting Arctic will open up a new economic frontier rich in […]

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NEWSLINK: “Silk Road fever grips the Russian Far East and boosts economy; China’s Belt and Road Initiative heralds a new era with mega infrastructure projects dotting the landscape” – Asia Times

December 13, 2017 JRL Russia List Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Newslinks

Asia Map

“… [a] new state-of-the-art $1.5 billion Bystrinsky plant … [l]ocated about 400 kilometers from the Chinese border by rail and tucked inside the Trans-Baikal region of Siberian … is now finally open for business. This mining and processing complex … contains up to 343 million tonnes of ore reserves … a joint venture between Russian and Chinese companies. …”

Leave a comment Asia, Business, China, Economy, Far East, Minerals, Newslinks, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Trade

RUSSIALINK TRANSCRIPT: “APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting wrapped up in Vietnam; [Putin meeting with Russian and foreign journalists]” – KremlinRu

November 13, 2017 JRL Russia List Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Map of Asia-Pacific Highlighting APEC Member States

(kremlin.ru – Nov. 11, 2017) The 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting ended in Danang. On the second day of the Meeting, the APEC leaders reviewed the prospects for the global economy with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde. During the business breakfast, a discussion was held on establishing an Asia-Pacific free trade zone and a possible expansion […]

Leave a comment APEC, Asia, Donald Trump, Economy, Far East, Foreign Policy, Government, Pacific Rim, Politics, Putin, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Trade, Transcripts, U.S.-Russian Relations

Russia Expands Grip on Wheat Exports as Asia Set to Buy More

August 31, 2017 JRL Russia List Agriculture, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, India

File Photo of Wheat Field in Kenya, adapted from image at usda.gov

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Manisha Jha, Anatoly Medetsky – August 31, 2017) Russia, the world’s biggest wheat exporter, is about to grab even more customers in the fast-growing economies of Asia — a region that normally gets most of its imported grain from somewhere else. A farm industry that emerged from the former Soviet Union to become a wheat-trade powerhouse […]

Leave a comment Agriculture, Asia, Business, China, Economy, Far East, Farming, Farms, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Wheat

NEWSWATCH: “Russian economy boss: sanctions no longer bite” – AP

August 29, 2017 JRL Russia List Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog, Russia & the West, Sanctions, Ukraine, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Truck at Russian Border Crossing

“… Maxim Oreshkin … [said that] the Russian economy is on track to grow at least 2 percent this year. That would be a first after 2014, when the economy sank into recession driven by sinking oil prices and sanctions over Russian actions in Ukraine. … he said, ‘we see more willingness on the Asian side to work with us.’ He wouldn’t […]

Leave a comment Asia, Crisis, Economy, EU, Europe, Far East, GDP, Government, Maxim Oreshkin, Politics, Recession, Russia and the West, Sanctions, Slider, Trade, U.S.-Russian Relations, Ukraine

NEWSWATCH: “Russia to spend $2.5 bln on Trans-Siberian, Baikal-Amur railroads. Investment is first stage in expanding railroad capacity to increase exports from Far East Russia.” – Asia Times

August 29, 2017 JRL Russia List Budget, Central Asia, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Regions, Cities, Municipalities, Transportation

Russia Map

“Russian [sic] has approved US$2.5 billion to expand and modernize the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur railways as part of a larger rail project to boost economic growth and exports from the country’s Far East region that borders the Pacific Ocean. … Putin has given the green light for the government to allocate money from the National Welfare Fund for this stage of […]

Leave a comment Asia, Budget, Central Asia, Economy, Far East, Government, Infrastructure, JRL NewsBlog, Newswatch, Politics, Putin, Railroads, Regions, Cities, Municipalities, Russia, Russian News, Russian Railways, Siberia, Slider, Transit, Transportation

Russia setting priorities of its EAEU presidency – Medvedev

August 14, 2017 JRL Russia List CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade

Dmitri Medvedev file photo

ASTANA. Aug 14 (Interfax) – The Russian presidency of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in 2018 will focus on trade barriers, interaction with international partners, labor standards, and support for exports, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council’s meeting in Astana on Monday. “Russia will be presiding in the Eurasian Union next year. We are setting […]

Leave a comment Asia, Central Asia, CIS, Customs Union, Economy, Eurasian Union, Far East, Foreign Policy, Former Soviet Union, Medvedev, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Trade

CSTO Rift Grows Between Moscow And Astana

August 8, 2017 JRL Russia List Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Military

Map of CIS Central Asia and Environs

(Article ©2017 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Samuel Ramani – Aug. 6, 2017 – also appeared at rferl.org/a/qishloq-ovozi-csto-kazakhstan-russia-nazarbaev/28661553.html) Samuel Ramani is a DPhil candidate in International Relations at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, specializing in post-1991 Russian foreign policy. He is also a journalist who contributes regularly to The Washington Post, the Huffington Post, and Diplomat […]

Leave a comment Asia, Central Asia, CSTO, Duma, Kazakhstan, Military, Russia, Russian News, Syria, Vladimir Shamanov

NEWSWATCH: “New Challenge to U.S. Power: Chinese Exceptionalism; Once-reticent citizens now see their country as ascendant-and America in decline” – Wall Street Journal/ Te-Ping Chen, Josh Chin

July 27, 2017 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Asia Map

… Chinese exceptionalism is on the rise. … challeng[ing] a decades-old tenet of U.S. foreign policy … that argued exposure to the West would lead Chinese to embrace Western values. … President Xi’s signature slogan, the ‘China Dream,’ appeals to Chinese who aspire to a middle-class lifestyle and cheer China’s return to international prominence. … China’s government exercises near-absolute authority over education, […]

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NEWSLINK: “Russia’s Evolving Grand Eurasia Strategy: Will It Work?” – Carnegie Moscow Center/ Dmitri Trenin

July 21, 2017 JRL Russia List Central Asia, China, CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Europe, EU, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Newslinks

Asia Map

“With a shift in strategy, 2014 was a pivotal year for Russia’s foreign policy. It was then that Moscow began moving away from its traditional focus on Europe and the Atlantic, with secondary attention to the former Soviet borderlands. The Ukraine crisis served as the coup de grâce for the two concepts that had guided Russian foreign policy since the […]

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TRANSCRIPT: [Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping] Press statements following Russian-Chinese talks

July 5, 2017 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC

Asia Map

(Kremlin.ru – July 4, 2017) Vladimir Putin and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping made statements for the press following Russian-Chinese talks. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President Xi Jinping, ladies and gentlemen, The official visit to Russia by President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping is certainly the central event of this year […]

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The Key to North Korea Is Russia; Unfortunately, the idea of a grand bargain with Russia is less popular in Washington than ever before.

May 23, 2017 JRL Russia List North Korea, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

North Korea Map and Flag, adapted from .gov image

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Leonid Bershidsky – May 18, 2017) Leonid Bershidsky is a Bloomberg View columnist. He was the founding editor of the Russian business daily Vedomosti and founded the opinion website Slon.ru. The idea of a grand bargain between the U.S. and Russia is less popular in Washington than ever before. And yet one of the biggest foreign […]

Leave a comment Asia, Far East, North Korea, Nuclear Proliferation, Russia, Russian News, Slider, U.S.-Russian Relations

TRANSCRIPT: [Putin] Replies to journalists’ questions (transcript continued)

May 16, 2017 JRL Russia List China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

(Kremlin.ru – May 15, 2017) Vladimir Putin answered media questions following a working visit to the People’s Republic of China. Question: Mr President, an international cyberattack was reported on May 12. It hit targets in 150 countries, including agencies, banks and companies in Russia. How much has this attack harmed Russia and the world in general? What can be done […]

Leave a comment Asia, Central Asia, China, Economy, Far East, Government, Politics, Putin, Russia, Russian News, Silk Road, Trade, Transcripts

RUSSIALINK: “A CHINESE SILK NOOSE” – Valdai Club/ Georgy Toloraya

May 16, 2017 JRL Russia List China, CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Newslinks

Asia Map

“… In response to the Chinese initiative, Russia advanced an even more ambitious project of a Greater Eurasian Partnership … incorporate[ing] the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and even the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). … However, Russia lacks the resources and integration ties with the numerous countries of the Euro-Pacific space for implementing this ambitious […]

Leave a comment ASEAN, Asia, Central Asia, China, CIS, Customs Union, Economy, Eurasian Union, Far East, Newslinks, Pacific Rim, Putin, Russia, Russian News, Silk Road, Trade, Trans-Pacific Partnership, U.S.-Russian Relations

TRANSCRIPT: [Putin at] Belt and Road international forum

May 15, 2017 JRL Russia List China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

Asia Map

(Kremlin.ru – May 14, 2017) Vladimir Putin spoke at the opening of the Belt and Road international forum in Beijing. The event is dedicated to China’s projects – the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Russian President has arrived in China on a two-day visit. The forum that is taking place in the Chinese capital […]

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Russia Still Migrant Magnet Even as Wages Stay Below China’s

April 19, 2017 JRL Russia List Central Asia, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Population Disaster, Demographics

Russian Migrant Workers file photo

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Olga Tanas – April 19, 2017) The vast pool of labor across Russia’s porous borders is relieving strains in the labor market, helping drain the economy of inflationary pressure as it accelerates after almost two years of recession. A steady flow of arrivals has continued even as shrinking wages and Russia’s worst currency crisis since 1998 […]

Leave a comment Asia, Central Asia, China, Demographics, Economy, Immigration, Income, Labor, Migrants, Population, Poverty, Russia, Russian News, Wages, Workers

TRANSCRIPT: [Putin] Interview to Mir broadcasting company

April 12, 2017 JRL Russia List Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

Map of CIS Central Asia and Environs

(Kremlin.ru – April 12, 2017) Vladimir Putin gave an interview to Mir television and radio broadcasting company on the eve of his visit to Kyrgyzstan. The interview took place on April 11. President of Interstate Television and Radio Company Mir Radik Batyrshin: The Collective Security Treaty Organisation celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The benefits for Russia’s allies are clear. […]

Leave a comment Asia, Caucasus, Central Asia, Crime, CSTO, Government, Kyrgyzstan, Military, Politics, Putin, Transcripts

Re: The Gathering Storm

February 10, 2017 JRL Russia List China, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, History, Soviet Union, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Eurasia Map

Subject: The Gathering Storm Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2017 From: David Law <davidmurraylaw@gmail.com> The Gathering Storm By David Law Senior Associate, Security Governance Group; former Head of NATO Policy Planning and Speechwriting Unit With Donald Trump now sworn in as the American President and Commander-in-Chief, here are some thoughts on where the world may be headed. In 1948, Winston Churchill […]

Leave a comment Asia, China, Donald Trump, Far East, Foreign Policy, Government, Military, Original Contribution, Politics, Russia, Russia and the West, Russian News, U.S.-Russian Relations

NEWSWATCH: “China Goes Food Shopping-to Russia; ‘Everything that can be consumed by a human being in China is something they’re interested in,’ Russian official says” – Wall Street Journal/AMIE FERRIS-ROTMAN/Liyan Qi

January 17, 2017 JRL Russia List Agriculture, China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, JRL NewsBlog

Asia Map

China bought more than $1 billion in food products from Russia last year, replacing Turkey as the top importer of Russian foodstuffs. … central to Russia’s economic and political pivot toward Asia, as the Russian economy continues to suffer under Western sanctions and the low price of oil, and U.S.-Russian relations deteriorate …. Russia and China … describe current relations […]

Leave a comment Agriculture, Asia, China, Crisis, Economy, Far East, Food, JRL NewsBlog, Newswatch, Recession, Russia, Russian News, Sanctions, Slider, Trade

Russia Is Finally Making Headway In Its Pivot East

November 23, 2016 JRL Russia List China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade

Asia Map

(Oilprice.com – Colin Chilcoat – November 22, 2016) Russia’s long planned pivot east found itself unexpectedly wrong-footed in early 2014, following the Crimean referendum and subsequent western rebuke. The global collapse of oil prices – and that of the ruble – later that same year further eroded Russia’s leverage in Asia. Fast forward to the present and we’ve seen substantially […]

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TRANSCRIPT: [Putin] Replies to media questions following APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

November 21, 2016 JRL Russia List Britain, UK, United Kingdom, Europe, EU, Far East, Siberia, APEC, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Map of Asia-Pacific Highlighting APEC Member States

(Kremlin.ru – November 21, 2016) Vladimir Putin answered media questions following the working sessions of the economic leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon. Or good evening. Or good night already in Moscow. Let us get straight to your questions, without any introductory remarks. Please. Question: There was fear on the meeting’s sidelines […]

Leave a comment APEC, Asia, EU, Far East, Putin, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Transcripts, Trump, U.S.-Russian Relations

Will the Russia-Japan “tug-of-peace” yield any results?

November 21, 2016 JRL Russia List Far East, Siberia, APEC, Japan

Japan Map

The upcoming Russia-Japan summit might mark the beginning of an actual compromise on the Southern Kuril Island territorial dispute, but this can only be the first of many steps, writes a Russian Japan expert. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – NIKOLAY MURASHKIN, SPECIAL TO RBTH – November 21, 2016) The writer is a doctoral candidate, at the faculty of […]

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Russia’s Strategic Calculus: Threat Perceptions and Military Doctrine

November 14, 2016 JRL Russia List China, Europe, EU, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Military, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Mercator Projection Satellite Image of Earth

(PONARS Policy Memo – PONARS Eurasia – ponarseurasia.org – Dmitry Gorenburg – November 11, 2016) Dmitry Gorenburg is Senior Research Scientist at CNA Corporation and Associate at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. Russian foreign policy is driven by the political elites’ search for a new basis for national self-esteem after the collapse of the […]

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