Following the commencement of Vladimir Putin's third presidential term in 2012,he promptly prioritized the"Pivot to the East"policy,taking the development of the Far East as its focal point.The Ukraine crisis in 2014 propelled Russia to intensify its"Pivot to the East"as a primary strategy for diplomatic breakthroughs and economic alleviation.With the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 and subsequent isolation by Western nations,turning towards the East has emerged as a critical strategy for Russia to prevent its economy from being completely marginalized from the global system.This shift also represents a vital avenue for discovering new growth opportunities for the Russian economy.The"Northeast-Far East"regional cooperation stands out as a significant accomplishment of Russia's"Pivot to the East",in alignment with China's"Belt and Road"Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union.The approach to the"Pivot to the East"policy between 2012 and 2022 exhibits marked differences in psychological,economic,and geographical dimensions,rendering the current policy distinct from its inception a decade ago.Psychologically,the crisis in its Western relations has significantly diminished Russia's Eurocentric inclinations.Economically,China's sustained rapid growth has made Russia increasingly dependent on Sino-Russian collaboration during its eastern pivot.Geographically,enhanced"soft and hard"infrastructures have effectively bridged the distance between Russia and East Asia.Compared to 2012,Russia's pivot since 2022 signifies a shift towards a strategic rather than merely tactical adjustment.Russia now engages with China with an unprecedented level of openness,setting the stage for the full-scale advancement of Sino-Russian"Northeast-Far East"regional cooperation in the future.
the Russia-Ukraine ConflictSino-Russian Relationship"Pivot to the East"Sino-Russian"Northeast-Far East"Collaboration