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.
Russian Attitudes Are Shifting as the War’s Effects Come Home
English Summary
Russian public opinion is shifting toward a preference for ending the war, driven primarily by domestic economic and social costs rather than military shocks alone. Evidence suggests that declining living standards, wage stagnation, and tangible disruptions—such as fuel shortages from Ukrainian strikes on refineries—are eroding support more effectively than frontline fighting. This trend highlights a growing divergence between ideologically motivated 'hawks' and pragmatic 'loyalists,' who are increasingly willing to withdraw support when personal costs mount. For policy strategists, the key implication is that Russia’s internal stability hinges on its economic performance; sustained domestic hardship poses a greater threat to regime cohesion than external military pressure.
中文摘要
俄羅斯民意正轉向傾向結束戰爭，其主要驅動力是國內的經濟和社會成本，而非單純的軍事衝擊。證據顯示，生活水平下降、工資停滯以及實際的擾動——例如烏克蘭對煉油廠的襲擊導致的燃料短缺——正在侵蝕支持度，其效果甚至優於前線戰鬥。這一趨勢凸顯了「意識形態驅動的鷹派」與「務實的忠誠派」之間日益擴大的分歧；後者在個人成本累積時，越來越願意撤回支持。對於政策策略制定者而言，關鍵的啟示是：俄羅斯的內部穩定繫於其經濟表現；持續的國內困境對政權凝聚力的威脅，比外部軍事壓力更為巨大。
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