Second Note to “Finding Jesus”

Can money split the Sino-Russian alliance and in turn supersede realpolitik? Annual trade between China and Russia is valued at around 245 billion dollars, whereas annual trade between America and China is valued at around 660 billion dollars. The issue, however, is one of trust. China may not trust America any longer as a result of what happened in Venezuela. Arguably, if TikTok wasn’t enough to undermine trust, then Venezuela might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Almost 70 percent of Venezuela’s energy goes to China, whereas about 25 percent goes to America. Thus, when America seeks to steal Venezuela away from China the way it is doing now, it only reinforces the logic and thought system of realpolitik, and in turn, economic interdependence theory and the idea that American money can somehow split the Sino-Russian alliance and enable NATO to defeat Russia in Europe stands on shaky grounds.