October 02, 2018 "Information Clearing House" -  The United States sanctioned Beijing for purchasing Russian military equipment. Does the administration really believe that China will cancel the deal because of American economic pressure? Yet again Washington has deftly pushed the People’s Republic of China toward Russia, encouraging an unnatural friendship, even alliance.

America is the world’s strongest, most dominant nation. However, its power has become a problem. Hubris conquered Washington. Today the Trump administration appears determined to go to war, military, political, and/or economic, with virtually every other state.

Washington’s arrogance has been long building. During the Cold War the United States was necessarily constrained. Moscow could match U.S. military force, sported numerous allies in Europe and elsewhere, and challenged America ideologically. Although the Soviet Union was weaker than commonly believed—the CIA consistently overestimated the USSR’s economic strength—Moscow could counter the United States when important Soviet interests were involved.

In the 1950s the USSR’s influence was magnified by the People’s Republic of China, which overthrew the U.S.-backed Nationalist regime with Soviet support. Differences between the two communist giants eventually emerged, though there was disagreement in Washington over the degree of estrangement. President Richard Nixon recognized the opportunity to exploit their division, leading to his famed trip to Beijing. President Jimmy Carter shifted American recognition from the Republic of China, based on Taiwan, to the PRC. Commerce between the PRC and America expanded dramatically, creating a solid foundation for future cooperation.

Although Washington and Beijing were never military allies, their relationship appeared more secure and beneficial than that between America and Russia. The latter offered fewer economic gains but remained a significant military power. China and Russia were not particularly close—both had more at stake with America than each other. Europe was drawn closer to Russia because of propinquity, but the continent’s economic ties with the PRC grew steadily.

In recent years, however, the United States and its allies have adopted steadily more confrontational policies toward both nations. The Europeans hit Moscow with sanctions while Australia, Japan, the Philippines and other East Asian states enhanced their military strength and challenged China over its territorial claims. Washington took on both China and Europe. Moreover, Washington essentially acted as ringleader against both Beijing and Moscow, expanding alliances, pressing friendly states to do more militarily and impose tougher sanctions, and otherwise containing both adversaries’ geostrategic ambitions.

There is logic behind this strategy, but Washington does not appear to have considered the impact of pursuing these policies simultaneously. American policymakers are congenitally incapable of setting priorities.

For instance, the Trump administration is threatening to penalize India for purchasing Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles. New Delhi is an important counterweight to China and would not take kindly to such a step. Moreover, the president not only tore up the Iran nuclear deal, but threatened to penalize allied states which did not go along with its drive for something akin to regime change in Iran. This has pushed the Europeans toward both China and Russia, with plans to create an alternative to a U.S.-dominated financial system,

But the most dramatic impact on U.S. policy has been to consistently counteract the Nixon-Mao tectonic shift. No doubt, the dramatic transformation of the PRC, with a significant expansion of its power and reach, made some change in its relationship with the United States inevitable. However, the deterioration of ties with Russia has been far more dramatic. Putin is a bad actor, but Washington appears to have adopted a conscious policy turning Moscow into a replacement enemy for the Soviet Union.

Beijing long has purchased Russian weapons—and gained a reputation for reverse engineering its acquisitions. Still, Moscow likes the revenues collected. The PRC bought Su-35 aircraft last year and S-400 missiles this year, triggering U.S. sanctions. China sharply responded to Washington’s penalties. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stated: “We strongly urge the U.S. to immediately correct its mistakes and revoke the so-called sanctions. Otherwise, it must take all the consequences.”

Still, military sales are but a modest step. The two governments also have conducted joint military exercises. In September Moscow wrapped up its Vostok (“east”) exercise, Russia’s largest post-Cold War military maneuvers, which included 3200 Chinese troops. The maneuvers occurred in a region where the two states fought a brief undeclared border war a half century ago. Although the two governments did not name America, and termed the exercises defensive, "they feel they need to embrace to deal with the increasingly high pressure and containment from the U.S.,” opined Yue Gang, a military analyst formerly in the Chinese military. The maneuvers include an anti-access/area-denial component and seemed directed at Asian contingencies, though they also could be applied to Europe.

The two governments are sending a message. Observed Jeffrey Mankoff of the Center for Strategic and International Studies: “Russia is telling Beijing that China is not the focus of Russian planning in the Far East any more, and signaling to the United States and NATO that if the relationship stays bad, Russia has other options.”