The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
The Age of Kleptocracy
English Summary
The analysis of modern global power dynamics reveals significant difficulty in characterizing the foreign policy of key actors, such as Donald Trump, challenging traditional frameworks like liberal internationalism or pure realism. Initial interpretations often relied on the concept of 'great-power competition' to rationalize maneuvers, but recent evidence suggests a shift toward great powers colluding to carve up the world into distinct spheres of influence. This ambiguity signals a move away from predictable, rules-based order toward a more fragmented and unpredictable geopolitical landscape. Policymakers must therefore adjust strategies to account for this non-traditional, great-power competition and the resulting instability in global governance.
中文摘要
對現代全球權力動態的分析顯示，難以準確界定主要行為者（例如唐納德·川普）的外交政策，這挑戰了自由國際主義或純粹現實主義等傳統框架。最初的解讀常依賴「大國競爭」的概念來合理化各方行動，但近期的證據顯示，局勢正轉向大國串聯，意圖將世界劃分為各自的勢力範圍。這種模糊性標誌著全球秩序正從可預測的、基於規則的體系，轉向一個更碎片化、更不可預測的地緣政治格局。因此，政策制定者必須調整策略，以應對這種非傳統的大國競爭及其導致的全球治理不穩定性。
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