In the period from 18 to 20 June 2011, the President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao paid an official visit to Ukraine. This was the second in the last year and a half a personal meeting between the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and the leader of the PRC. The first took place during the visit of the President of Ukraine to China in September 2010.
During the first meeting, the main topic of discussion was the implementation of a project related to the production of operational-tactical missiles. Ukrainian design bureaus "Yuzhny" and "Yuzhmash" have vast experience in the development and construction of ballistic missiles, at the same time, operational-tactical missiles have never been produced by Ukrainian factories. Already in April 2011, the Sapsan missile system was put into production, based on the design developments of Chinese engineers. Here cooperation with China is important for Ukraine, and the fact that the work will continue in the future is not excluded.
The results of both visits were indicated by the following factors: lack of detailed information on the issues that were discussed at the highest political level; excessive declarativeness, statements of intent and lack of specifics; both sides avoided public comment on the prospects for military-technical cooperation, as well as cooperation on security issues.
The development of the Ukrainian-Chinese dialogue, as well as China's foreign policy initiatives in the post-Soviet space, is of particular interest to the Russian Federation, since Moscow views China not only as a promising market for the sale of Russian energy resources, but also as a potential threat to its territorial integrity and sovereignty. In this regard, the declaration on strategic partnership between Ukraine and the PRC, signed on June 20, 2011 in Kiev during Hu Jintao's visit to Ukraine, is important. This declaration, in particular, includes a clause prohibiting a third party from using its territory to carry out activities that violate the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the other party. The consolidation of this provision is a cautious hint to Moscow that Beijing is closely following the economic and political integration processes of Russia with the participation of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
During Hu Jintao's visit, contracts worth about 3.5 billion US dollars were signed for the implementation in Ukraine of a number of infrastructure projects for the proper holding of the EURO 2012 football championship in Ukraine. In particular, the Export-Import Bank of China will invest in the construction of a railway that will connect Boryspil International Airport with Kiev.
There is also information that Ukraine and China have entered into a number of long-term agreements in the field of military-technical cooperation, according to which China will acquire Ukrainian radar systems, air-to-air missiles and amphibious landing craft.
Beijing has already looked for an opportunity to purchase such funds in the Russian Federation. However, the Russian side, already at the stage of negotiations, changed its position in view of China's undisguised desire to develop its own radar systems and missiles that could be used against Russia in a hypothetical conflict with China.
Earlier, the idea was announced that the Chinese prototype of the SU-27 aircraft should be produced with the Ukrainian Motor Sich engine, and this was approved by the air force experts. It is quite possible that these aircraft will be equipped with Ukrainian and partly Russian military equipment, for example, air-to-air missiles. This approach is beneficial for Ukraine, in the near future it will help replace the fleet of air ships. This is perhaps the only project that was talked about out loud even before the signing of the agreement. And it really deserves to be discussed in more detail in the future.
There are also significant problems in cooperation between Ukraine and China. China will not buy huge quantities. The main goal of China is to acquire technologies from Ukraine. And this is a real threat and, as a result, a certain dilemma. In this regard, Ukraine needs to be extremely careful. After all, China is investing heavily in exploration and technology development. With this in mind, the following may happen. Having received at its disposal a certain limited and insignificant volume of products, having carefully studied the technology, China may well begin mass production of these products under its own brand. And later to export these products, as our own, to world markets, thereby outstripping both Russia and Ukraine. And this is a real threat in all areas of the defense industry, starting with aircraft construction, sonar, motor construction, and so on.
The visit of the President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao to Ukraine highlighted a number of important geopolitical trends, in particular, China has significantly intensified in the post-Soviet space, where Russia continues to dominate. The purpose of such activation is to limit Russia's retreat in the Western direction and the Caucasus in the event of a Russian-Chinese conflict with the aim of China's annexation of part of the eastern Russian territories.
The conclusion of contracts between Ukraine and China in the field of military-technical cooperation, the continuation of the implementation of the Ukraine-NATO Action Plan, as well as the recent military exercises in the Black Sea continue to worry Moscow.
It is possible that during the meetings of President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin in Crimea on June 25, 2011, the results of Hu Jintao's visit were discussed, in particular, the military-technical aspect of Ukrainian-Chinese cooperation.
