China and Russia in the New World Disorder
Superficially, Russia and China may give the impression that they are pursuing the same path in proclaiming that they are “back” on the world stage. But this boast means different things for each country, although the Middle East’s deepening problems may ultimately force them to calculate not in terms of their “nuisance value” vis-a-vis the West, but in terms of their ability to make a positive contribution to global stbility.
Can Kosovo achieve independence without the tacit consent of Russia, and can there be a humanitarian and political solution to the tragedy in Darfur without the active goodwill of China? The two crises have nothing in common, but their resolution will depend in large part on whether these two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council use their veto power.