The current Sino-Russian alignment, while fragile, presents a united front against Western interests in the short term.
Both regimes, lacking strong ideological legitimacy, may resort to aggressive nationalism and territorial expansion (e.g., Ukraine, Taiwan) to maintain power.
Russia's historical playbook of destabilizing its neighbors remains a potent threat to regional stability.
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The fundamental power imbalance and historical mistrust between Russia and China create long-term fissures that Western policy could potentially exploit.
As Russia weakens itself in Ukraine, it becomes increasingly dependent on China, creating a 'Chinese yoke' that Russia will eventually resent and resist.