On the sidelines of the Beijing Olympics, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met for the 38th time, issuing a joint statement that may well become a major milestone in bilateral ties. The lone CEE President in attendance upon this momentous occasion was Polish President Andrzej Duda, who know finds his nation dealing with an influx of refugees and a potential security crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Worse yet for the Polish leader, China was apparently cognizant of Russia's designs upon its neighboring nation even as Duda attended the games.

As the status of Sino-Russian ties remains somewhat uncertain and the potential for military aid by China to Russia now becomes a serious threat, Alicja Bachulska joins the podcast to offer the Polish perspective on the apparent "new era" in international relations that both Beijing and Moscow appear emboldened to pursue, a crucial viewpoint given this is making a significant impact quite close to Poland's borders and, as Bachulska points out, in the information space on home soil.

This month's guest:

Alicja Bachulska, China analyst at the Asia Research Centre, War Studies University in Warsaw and MapInfluenCE China analyst.

Show Notes:

Voice for CHOICE #15: The Polish Perspective on Sino-Russian Relations with Alicja Bachulska

China Observers