Putin Calls On China

Vladimir Putin’s official visit to Beijing, which began today, may be a pretty contentious one behind closed doors. As they discuss a long-awaited energy deal, which has been stalled over pricing for more ten years and is being negotiated concurrently with the visit, soon-to-be (again) President Putin and outgoing Chinese President Hu Jintao will have the two countries' growing competition for high-tech weapons and influence in Central Asia on their minds -– as illustrated last by Russia’s accusations that a Chinese spy had attempted to buy plans for its S-300 missile system, and Putin’s announcement of plans to form a Central Asian version of the European Union.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot