Comments by "Kalimdor199" (@Kalimdor199Menegroth) on "Unpacking the China-Russia alliance" video.

To never have friends. Not allies. He isn't making any speculations though. Such analysis were done in the past. There is a reason why in the past decade Russia and China did not formalize a proper alliance and kept some distance and the arguments brought by Shirvan are pretty convincing. It is just a matter of time until China will overtake Russia in terms of military capabilities and technology. What remains to be seen is how long that will take. Russia faces major economic, financial and demographic issues which on the long term, will affect its military-industrial capacity. So yeah, even someone that is just vaguely interested in the subject can see that Russia, if it decides to make a formal alliance with China, will eventually be the junior partner. That is unacceptable for them, as they see themselves as a major superpower on par with the USA and wish to regain that status. Not admit that they are the junior partner of a country other than the US.
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@navegantezen5983 Russia has more natural resources than China because of its vast territory. However China has the economic power to procure natural resources from other areas, particularly Africa. The point here is that neither side wants to be the junior partner in the alliance. At present, Russia has the upper hand because of its more powerful military capacity. But that won't last for long, as China is catching up real quick, increasing military expenditures and the modernization of the army is planned to be done by 2030. China might be in need of more resources, but Russia is in even more needed to sell them. Once Russia loses the military competition, it will be only a matter of time until China pressures Russia for concessions. That is the reason why Russia is not planning to completely shut the door in the West's face. They know full well that as things are progressing, they will have to balance their relations with China and the West to maintain their grip in the region and not become a secondary power.
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It can, but that would require a big overhaul of the Russian society and the way in interacts with the West. Russia knows that China is not a reliable partner and it knows that it is just a matter of time until China will supersede them as a military power. Time and money are on China's side, among other things. That explains why Russia, although currently has cold relations with the West, still leave the door open to the West. Because it knows that if China decides to impose their authority and dominance on them, they have no choice but to make concessions and reconcile with the West. They are in a tough spot currently and that is why they are seeking for leverage. They are trying to gain as much leverage so that they can be a good negotiating position, rather than negotiate on your knees, from a losing position. Whether this will work out... who knows? If China grows too much and goes too far in provoking the West, the West might be inclined to bury the hatchet with Russia to counter China.
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Subversion and propaganda. People are not just stupid, they are very stupid. Especially Westerners, they are very gullible people. Only those who experienced a totalitarian regime are more skeptical when it comes to China. And Russia at that. You need a 1st or at least 2nd hand experience to such regimes so that you won't fall for their charade.
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