Footnote to the post titled “Toward a Pacific Community”

Russia is perhaps the biggest “enigma” or “dilemma” of international affairs, as Kissinger argued, given that Russia can neither be contained nor integrated into the European world order. But if one is to follow through with the containment of Russia, and the alternative to the containment of Russia – namely, the integration of Russia into the European world order – cannot be pursued because of Russia’s belligerence and violence, then the containment of Russia requires a Sino-Russian split. A Sino-Russian split is essential to the containment of Russia. The inducement of a Sino-Russian split is therefore the only way forward, especially if one seeks to contain Russia. But it is easier said than done.