Russia-China tandem – the alliance and the geostrategic competition

Discussions on energy security and geostrategic new construction resulting from this remains a topical issue on the agenda of all stakeholders. Developments in the first decade of this century have called Eurasia the focal point of future geopolitical strategy.

Among major global players that dispute (more or less discrete) their capacity to bring this area in its own sphere of influence includes China, Russia and the United States. So in this context, analysts have repeatedly questioned the extent to which traditional and fraternal friendship means a Russian-Chinese strategic partnership to counter U.S. influence in the Far East and as far as a fierce struggle for recognition of regional leadership.
The first level of Russia-China relationship, economic, is the most frequently cited to authorities in Moscow and those in Beijing. Seen through the eyes of the Russian Far East bordering China looks like an eternal and historic threat. Silent siege over one million Chinese illegal immigrants that crossing the Russian border and work as laborers, farmers and traders, and Russian local authorities seem unable to stop the phenomenon. Their fears are hardly heard in Moscow. Or, if they hear, the Kremlin has a different view: China offers economic opportunities. And growth in the last decade also is a result of massive exports to China. [full article]

Published in Cadran Politic Review, nov. 2009 edition

IMF has suspended talks with Romania

Delegation of the International Monetary Fund has suspended talks with Romania. They will reload after the normalization of political situation and investing a new government. Also, the IMF and the European Commission announced that Romania will not receive the next tranche of money in December 2009.

IMF chief delegate, Jeffrey Franks said:  “We made excellent program in talks with authorities in the last 10 days. We believe that we can quickly finalize the analysis of economic evolution in so short a time to release the next trance if the political situation will resolve “.

Elena Flores (European Commission): “Once the political incertitude will overcome and there will be an official budget for 2010 will be able to finalize and release of loan tranches”.

Michael Bloomberg remains Mayor of New York

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg  won reelection Tuesday, giving him the third term he began seeking last year in campaigning for a change to the city’s term-limits law, write Washington Post. But it was a hard-won victory, despite an election-eve poll that showed Bloomberg comfortably ahead of Comptroller William C. Thompson (D).

Relatively low score which won Michael Bloomberg (51% vs. 46%, as obtained Thompson) is due the fact that many of New Yorkers penalized on Bloomberg because forced to amend the election law, so can run for a third time. Bloomberg, founder of a media empire and also the richest man in New York with a fortune estimated at 17.5 billion dollars, has invested 100 million dollars of own money into the campaign in recent months (over 1 million dollars a day). This means that each vote cost him $ 147.27, while his rival – $ 13.12. Of the 8,300,000 inhabitants of New York (and 4.2 million voting), only 1.1 million have exercised that right.

But, equally, Michael Bloomberg is considered artisan megalopolis transformation from violent and chaotic city in one of the cleanest, safest and most effective (in terms of administrative) U.S. cities. Businessman for 67 years managed to solve the deficit by $ 6 billion, succeeding even in those eight years in office to bring a surplus of $ 3 billion in the municipal budget.

Bloomberg first won office in a hard-fought 2001 election over public advocate Mark Green. He sailed to reelection in 2005 over former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer. New Yorkers also elected a comptroller to replace Thompson, and dozens of other officials. John C. Liu won the Comptroller race, becoming the first Asian American to hold citywide office.

Vice-President US, Joe Biden – “We believe that a better relationship with Russia is the benefit of all”

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was on tour in Poland, Czech Republic and Romania, between 20-24 October 2009.
Regarding the visits to Poland and the Czech Republic, analysts Stratfor states defining its relations with the United States, where Obama administration’s decision to abandon the missile shield project promoted by ex-president George W. Bush.

Today, Vice President Biden met with Romanian President Traian Basescu, with dismissed premier Emil Boc and with Opposition leaders.  Also, he gave a public speech in the Hall of the University Library of Romania. In his speech in Bucharest, Joe Biden sent several important messages for the European partners and NATO allies.  Biden sent the European partners that “the U.S. is still a player in the region and an ally in security”. But according to political analysts, beyond these messages, Biden’s tour remains one of consolation.

But let’s see what the main ideas and the context in which they were uttered.

Visit of Vice – U.S. President in Bucharest takes place one day before the  start of presidential election campaign. Thus the joint statement after meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu can detect two aspects: administration in Washington has not had a top partner in the person of the current president, but is open to dialogue, irrespective of who will win the Presidential elections. Also, the fact that the speech for European partners was elected Bucharest,  stresses stronger bilateral relationship between Romania and the United States. Moreover, can talk  about  strategic location that America gives to Romania on his interests and in the design of the NATO Alliance in the Eastern European area.

On the public diplomacy, Joe Biden tried in his discourse from the University Library, to ensure that countries in the East European region that, despite a change of Obama discourse, Washington has not changed security objectives. But while he insisted that: “We believe that a better relationship with Russia is benefit of all. Pragmatic relationship, too”. Meanwhile, he said the reconfiguration of the missile shield is not a favor done to Russia, but a more efficient way to meet new security challenges. Biden reiterated the importance of Article 5 and firmly reject the imposition of spheres of influence between global powers. “Nothing without you, nothing more than your desire” were sure NATO partners of U.S.

In the same context: “Any missile defense system in Europe should be collective,”  said on Thursday the spokesman of Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Nesterenko, quoted by RIA Novosti. He also stressed that “Russia wants to start with Washington a careful assessment of the new U.S. missile shield in Europe”, adding that Moscow does not consider that U.S. plans to place SM-3 missiles in Poland are already established.
Nesterenko’s statement comes after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk  said Wednesday – when U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visit to Warsaw – that Poland is ready to participate in the new U.S. missile shield, as this is especially possible location in 2011 in Poland of  U.S. SM-3 missile.

The same important: Beyond public diplomacy in a speech in Bucharest, the representative of the White House for the first time spoke about the Romanian-American partnership in concrete Constanta-Trieste pipeline project. That while the premiers Putin, Berlusconi and Erdogan discussed again about  South Stream.

Chinese government will provide Romania a grant of 500,000 euros

China is continuing its offensive on the Eastern European front. Thus, after the huge financial loan to Moldova Republic,  the Chinese government will provide Romania a grant of 500,000 euros for projects in the field of agriculture and small and medium enterprises, under an agreement signed Tuesday by representatives of the two countries.

According to a press release, Emil Boc interim Prime Minister of Romania met with Vice President of the Republic of China, Xi Jinping. With this occasion were signed bilateral cooperation agreements in agriculture and Small and medium enterprises sector, and an agreement on economic and technical basis of which Romania will receive non-reimbursable assistance from China worth a total of 5 million yuan, the equivalent of 500,000 euros.
Xi Jinping visits to Romania in the context of 60 years anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Note that next week, China will publish the first estimates for the macroeconomic third quarter of this year. According to an AFP analysis, economists expected an advance of 9.5% rate that would mark a new approach towards the big Asian rival, Japan.