Russia-China Relations: Relevance for India

The relations between Russia and China – one of the largest states in terms of area and population – have always impacted on the course of global and regional geopolitics. No wonder, the course of Sino-Soviet relations has always evoked keen interest in the major capitals of the world. From the Indian perspectives, the study of Sino-Russian relations and their implications for India is of considerable importance. India, Russia and China are the three largest countries of the Eurasian continent. Moscow-Beijing relationship at any given point of time – whether cooperative or antagonistic – has always tended to have profound implications for Indian policy towards both. The narrative of Russia-China relations in the present book focuses on the contemporary post-Soviet period. Beset by numerous domestic problems and external challenges, the new Russia has sought to follow a ‘balanced’ policy towards the West as well as the East in a bid to create a conductive environment for the economic and military revival of the country. Indeed, both Moscow and Beijing have sought to improve their bilateral ties in the post-Cold War period without constraining their freedom in the pursuit of flexible, multi-vector policies. The central thrust as well as intricacies and nuances of Russia-China discourse are viewed in this volume against the canvas of regional and world geopolitics. The relevance for India is analysed and interwoven in the narrative.