ABSTRACT
Bobo Lo gathered all the doubts together in his seminal book The Axis of Convenience, the title alone encapsulated the tensions inherent in the relationship between Moscow and Beijing, implying the absence of a genuine breakthrough. The two narratives, the optimistic vision of strategic partnership and the sceptical account summarised by the 'axis of convenience' have organised academia's understanding of post-Cold War Russia-China relations. This chapter gives an overview of key developments between Moscow and Beijing since 2008, and engages in depth with the two approaches to Russia-China relations: the strategic partnership and the axis of convenience. It explores an alternative interpretation, along the lines of a peaceful power transition by adequate assessment of the post-global-crisis developments. In the face of changes taking place in the Russia-China relationship following the global economic crisis, their liaison came to be interpreted in terms of China gaining the upper hand in dealings with Russia.
