from Hacker News

China-Russia trade has surged as countries grow closer

by sereja on 3/7/22, 5:47 PM with 106 comments

  • by cbg0 on 3/7/22, 6:34 PM

    China has placed themselves in a very good position as they are now pretty much the only ones that can sell technology to Russia, and, because of Russia's pariah status, I think that some of those contracts for energy that were put in place during the Olympics will be renegotiated in China's favor, as Russia has put themselves in a position where they can be squeezed by the remaining states that are willing to do business with them.

  • by mnau on 3/7/22, 6:57 PM

    Fun fact, China has greater gdp per capita than Russia(nominal, Russia is still ahead in in ppp).

    Russia gdp per capita for 2020 was $10,127 China gdp per capita for 2020 was $10,500

    Their descend into mineral rich vassal state of china seems inevitable. I wonder how much effect the economic transformation/collapse in the 90s had. They lost the status, economy, respect/fear, rule of law. Military and resources is about the only thing left. And military doesn’t look too great.

    Anyway, lesson for the future: don’t rely on “invisible hand” and optimism to transform economy. China did it correctly, Russia didn’t.

  • by 1MachineElf on 3/7/22, 8:17 PM

    Many comments here are speculating on future China exploitation of Russia as a result of this situation.

    On Twitter there has been a discussion about several high-profile Russian government and private individuals who may each have a motive to assassinate Putin. Unfortunately I couldn't find the link to it, but as an example, here are a couple recent incidents[0][1] showing a divide between Putin and the FSB.

    I wonder if risk of this China-Russia relation will contribute to any such motivations, and if so, to what degree.

    [0] https://youtu.be/o9A-u8EoWcI

    [1] https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-russia-double-agent-...

    EDIT: Poignant comment from the YouTube video showing an exchange between the FSB head and Putin: "Sergei is giving off the vibes that Putin is the only one who knows where his wife and kids are"

  • by djohnston on 3/7/22, 8:01 PM

    China is going to take all the resources Russia can offer and benefit form it, Russia has just cemented itself as a second rate state on par with those in Africa that China is currently plundering. Congratulations Putin, you played yourself.

  • by neonate on 3/7/22, 7:01 PM

  • by ngcc_hk on 3/7/22, 7:52 PM

    Someone has pointed out that in Qing dynasty china has about 12m sq Km not only 9.7m sq Km, mostly lost to Russia through unfair treaties (possibly except the first one). Good luck when Russia is a junior partner.

  • by type0 on 3/8/22, 12:18 AM

    Most Russians are still under illusion that these sanctions will end as soon as the "special operation" ends.

  • by api on 3/7/22, 6:29 PM

    As I've said elsewhere: Russia has chosen a path to becoming a Chinese vassal state. They're going to be China's Saudi Arabia more or less.

  • by cryptonector on 3/7/22, 8:34 PM

    We just might have to accept that Ukraine can't join NATO, or even the EU.