China's Policy in the Black Sea Region: between Global and Regional Interests

45
DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2025-69-4-70-82
EDN: AWYJQP
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), 76, Vernadskogo Prosp., Moscow, 119454, Russian Federation.
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), 76, Vernadskogo Prosp., Moscow, 119454, Russian Federation.
 

Received 02.09.2024. Revised 17.12.2024. Accepted 29.01.2025.

Abstract. The article focuses on China’s policy in the Black Sea region. In particular, it shows how it is implemented under the influence of factors reorganizing the global system of international relations, as well as regional interests associated with the promotion of, first of all, the economic positions of the PRC. It is also important that the formation of Beijing’s Black Sea policy is influenced by interaction with Russia, which is a key player in the region. Thus, an examination of China’s policy in the Black Sea region allows us to establish how Beijing’s policy is implemented in regions with Russian interests, how it reacts to changes in the situation associated with Moscow’s actions, and how Russian-Chinese relations are changing. The authors show that, despite doubts about whether Russia and China will be able to find a common language in the event of a clash of their interests in various regions of the world, specific examples indicate the willingness of the two countries to take into account each other’s positions. The authors conclude that, despite a certain divergence in the strategies of China and Russia in certain areas, the logic of common global interests prevails in their relations, and this allows the countries to coordinate their actions and avoid decisions that are fraught with damage to their cooperation. The authors of the article pay special attention to the processes in the Black Sea region caused by the aggravation of the “Ukrainian crisis” in 2014 and 2022. The article was written using a wide range of sources and literature in Chinese. The thesis about the priority of the global perspective for China over the regional perspective, proven by the specific example of China’s policy in the Black Sea, can be considered a certain contribution to the academic discussion about the nature of current Chinese foreign policy.

Keywords: Russia, China, Black Sea region, global security, regional security


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For citation:
Zuenko I., Safranchuk I. China's Policy in the Black Sea Region: between Global and Regional Interests. World Eсonomy and International Relations, 2025, vol. 69, no. 4, pp. 70-82. https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2025-69-4-70-82 EDN: AWYJQP



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