The war in Ukraine is reflected in superpower relations as bloc thinking from the point of view of Russia and the United States. China, on the other hand, is closely monitoring Ukraine because of Taiwan, say ‘s correspondents.
‘s China, Russia and US correspondents discussed in ‘s morning how the war in Ukraine is reflected in superpower relations.
– In the United States, the war in Ukraine is seen as a Western Bloc war against Russia and authoritarian regimes. This has brought superpower relations back to the surface, says ‘s US correspondent Iida Tikka.
China, on the other hand, looks at the war from its own interests, says the China correspondent Mika Hentunen.
– China has clear interests in being the best in the world in all areas. China is clearly against the West, especially against the United States, Hentunen estimates.
He sees that China is taking advantage of the war in Ukraine to pursue its own interests.
– It’s as if things are running in the background, and it’s not clear what the relationship between China and Russia is. Although China is Russia’s strategic partner, they still keep their distance and, for example, do not directly support arms trade with Russia. China takes care not to associate them too much with Russia.
Hentunen emphasizes that even though the war in Ukraine is a distant matter for China, China is closely monitoring Ukraine because of Taiwan.
– Ukraine has been followed more and more all the time because of Taiwan. It has been surprising to China how strongly Western countries came to support Ukraine. That is why it is mirrored in this so-called Taiwan problem, says Hentunen.
Tikka and Hentunen see a significant difference in the attitude of the United States and China: While the United States, under the leadership of Biden, emphasizes bloc thinking, relying on its allies, China, on the other hand, relies on individual relationships.
– For China, the surrounding areas are the most important. They are number one for China. At the same time, it lays the groundwork for Asia’s leadership, says Hentunen.
Russia’s great power thinking is based on sovereignty
Russia, on the other hand, builds the idea of a great power through sovereignty. Russia thinks that superpower status includes the right to “make its own decisions”, says ‘s Russia correspondent Heikki Heiskanen.
– This war is also such that Russia made its own decisions, which other countries are unable to influence, says Heiskanen.
As in the United States, Russia also thinks that the war is being waged against a larger coalition. Although there is a war going on in Ukraine, Putin has justified the war against the West, says Heiskanen.
– Citizens are given the impression that the war will last a long time, because it is fought against the collective West.
What will happen to Russian superpower thinking if Russia does not win the war?
Heiskanen estimates that it will be difficult for Russia to give up this way of thinking. That’s what the war in Ukraine is all about: Russia sees that a great power position includes continuous influence in the former territories of the empire, says Heiskanen.
– It will certainly be painful to adapt to the situation if Russia clearly loses the war. Then difficult processes will probably start.
Watch the entire broadcast on Areena.