On the eve of a parade in Beijing celebrating 80 years since the end of World War II, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that short-stay entry requirements for Russian citizens would be lifted unilaterally, effective Sept. 15. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally thanked President Xi Jinping for this “friendly act” and pledged that Moscow would respond in kind. What is remarkable about this move is not just that it is a sign of deepening bonds between Beijing and Moscow, but that it underscores how Russia is the junior partner in the relationship. Within 24 hours after the announcement that strict pre-travel protocols had been done away with, the number of seats booked on flights to mainland China doubl
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