Uneasy allies

Why the relationship between Russia and China is so important to the world.

- JEREMY REES

CHINA & RUSSIA: Four Centuries of Conflict & Concord, by Philip Snow (Yale University Press, $60 hb)

Despite all the global changes of the past 30 years, there has been one constant: the relationship between Russia and China. In 1992, they declared themselves "friends". In 1994, the relationship was upgraded to a "constructive partnership"; two years later, it was "a strategic partnership" and by 2016, it had become a "comprehensive strategic partnership". They are now the Leaders of the Opposition to the US-led world order.

Historian Philip Snow's China & Russia: Four Centuries of Conflict & Concord lands as the Moscow and Beijing partnership has weathered the shock of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It is a timely, entertaining and thorough account.

Snow charts the first tentative diplomatic missions - as the Muscovy State learnt of the Chinese in the 17th century and Russian settlers fanned out across Siberia - through to today's entente.

First contacts were not promising: neither side understood the other's protocols or language. They resorted to Latin to communicate through Jesuit priests who had made it to Beijing.

Over time, the two empires rubbed against each other, but Snow points out that in four centuries, Russia and China have never fought a major war.