Beijing’s rush to embrace renewable energy—and Moscow’s reluctance—is a systemic threat to economic cooperation between the two countries.

Beijing has nothing to offer Moscow in terms of ideology, but will gladly share its ideas for the economy and political control.

China may have the opportunity to turn Russia into its vassal, but it has no compelling reason to do so.

Beijing’s fundamental interests preclude it from joining sanctions against Moscow. For China, Russia remains a unique source of resources and experience that would be costly and painful to acquire independently.

It claws and gnashes well above its weight. It can't kill a lion or an alligator, but it won't run away from them either. The honey badger is Russia in 2017.