O dragão e o urso: a convergência estratégica sino-russa (2013-2021)

Abstract

In the 21st century, the foreign policy objectives of China and Russia aligned, constituting a strategic convergence between the two countries, that is, their objectives in the international scenario would only be achieved through cooperation between them. Given this, the present work aims to answer the following question: what are the effects produced by the Sino-Russian strategic convergence in the 21st century? The investigated hypothesis is that the strategic convergence between the countries generated a simultaneous securitization of the western threat led by the United States of America. Using the qualitative methodology, based on the case study with the application of securitization theory, the most recent foreign policy and defense documents demonstrate that the western threat led by the United States is shared, with reservations, by both countries. First, the referent object of security for Moscow, unlike Beijing, is not limited to the state and encompasses the Russian nation. Second, Russia carried out a complete securitization of the Western threat, while China adopted a securitizing discourse, with prospects of completing the process in the future. Finally, it is concluded that the Sino-Russian strategic convergence made the two countries align their foreign policies with securitization purposes, although they are at different stages.