Power Transitions and Strategic Rivalries: Chinese Russian Dynamics in the Indo-Pacific
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56830/IJHMPS06202501Keywords:
Indo-Pacific, Power Transition Theory, China-Russia Relations, Strategic Cooperation, Regional securityAbstract
It investigates how the Indo-Pacific region has escalated tensions between China and Russia from the perspective of Power Transition Theory by analyzing how a rising power confronts a hegemon. Using the focus on China's rise and the emergence of new U.S. strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific, the study explains casting light on the changes of SinoRussian relations, which to the home on the alliance pattern, balancing behavior and the mutual threat perception. Utilizing a qualitative methodological approach, the research draws on case studies, policy documents, official speeches, and expert interviews to assess the nature and extent of Sino-Russian coordination. It explores whether their partnership constitutes a deliberate balancing coalition aimed at contesting U.S. dominance or a fragile alignment born out of geopolitical expedience. Special attention is paid to regional flashpoints such as the South China Sea, Central Asia, and joint naval operations to illustrate the practical implications of their cooperation. The findings indicate that although rhetorical convergence and selective coordination are evident, deep-seated mistrust and divergent strategic ambitions inhibit the formation of a unified strategic front. Taken as a whole, what Power Transition Theory has offered is a useful framework for apprehending changing geopolitical architecture of the Indo-Pacific that stubbornly combines strategic competition with good neighborly cooperation.
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