Abstract

The energy industry is the lifeblood of Russia's economy. After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War, the West imposed a series of sanctions on Russia's energy industry, covering market, capital, technology and equipment, etc. Countries are also engaged in intense political games focusing on energy. In general, the game around energy under the Russia-Ukraine crisis fully reflects the gradual decline of the U.S. "one super" hegemony, while the traditional middle powers (such as Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, etc.) are gaining more and more power and influence in the international political arena. The focus of China’s diplomacy should go beyond the U.S. and make full use of the window of political games to strengthen bilateral relations with the middle powers, so as to gain more geopolitical space for China. First, find ways to draw in the European Union and divide Europe and the United States; second, strengthen deep energy cooperation with OPEC (especially Saudi Arabia and Iran) and linkages in other areas; finally, while maintaining and deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, resolutely avoid forming excessive bundles of interests with Russia, avoiding the formation of a dichotomy between the China-Russia and Western bloc, and breaking the U.S. attempt to polarize the international order.