STRENGTHENING SINO-RUSSIAN RELATIONS

AN ANALYSIS OF THE INTENTIONS IN THE JOINT STATEMENT OF FEBRUARY 2022

Abstract

The article examines the February 2022 joint statement between China and Russia, aiming to understand the specific concerns of these two states in their communication to the global public. The analysis—grounded in the realism of International Relations and supported by tools such as Voyant Tools and ATLAS.ti—reveals that both countries, driven by the international context, particularly the war in Ukraine, have already demonstrated a process of rapprochement at multiple levels. Both China and Russia, in the context of an alleged decline of the United States, have strengthened their relations in strategic regional and global areas. This rapprochement is reflected in mutual support on issues of sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, as well as other essential interests. This growing alliance suggests a significant strategic alignment, with the intention of counterbalancing Western influence and reaffirming their positions in the international system.