Changes

As the 21st century began, Russia had no acknowledged sphere of influence in [[Europe]], though its European neighbors (other than the newly established state of [[Ukraine]]) remained careful not to provoke it. But, as the newly globalized American sphere of influence (represented in Europe by NATO) neared its borders, Moscow became obsessed with strategic denial of neighboring countries to dominant America influence. Meanwhile, longstanding objections by China to continuing U.S. support of [[Taiwan]] (the Chinese island province to which the US-supported losing side in the Chinese civil war had retreated) intensified. China sought to remove Taiwan from the U.S. sphere of influence in [[Asia]] and to deny it status as an independent polity. Despite having no claims of its own, the United States challenged China's territorial claims in the East China Sea and [[South China Sea]].

As the 21st century began, Russia had no acknowledged sphere of influence in [[Europe]], though its European neighbors (other than the newly established state of [[Ukraine]]) remained careful not to provoke it. But, as the newly globalized American sphere of influence (represented in Europe by NATO) neared its borders, Moscow became obsessed with strategic denial of neighboring countries to dominant America influence. Meanwhile, longstanding objections by China to continuing U.S. support of [[Taiwan]] (the Chinese island province to which the US-supported losing side in the Chinese civil war had retreated) intensified. China sought to remove Taiwan from the U.S. sphere of influence in [[Asia]] and to deny it status as an independent polity. Despite having no claims of its own, the United States challenged China's territorial claims in the East China Sea and [[South China Sea]].

[[Washington, D.C.|Washington's]] labeling of both Russia and China as [[ideological]] and [[geopolitical]] adversaries and its treatment of them as such gave their partnership a common focus and helped to consolidate it. [[Escalating]] U.S. pressure pushed these two formerly estranged [[great power]]s into an increasingly open and comprehensive anti-American [[entente]], committed to coordination of policies and actions directed at reducing the menacing military presence and hostile political influence of the United States on their respective peripheries.

[[Washington, D.C.|Washington's]] labeling of both Russia and China as [[ideological]] and [[geopolitical]] adversaries and its treatment of them as such gave their partnership a common focus and helped to consolidate it. [[Escalating]] U.S. pressure pushed these two formerly estranged [[great power]]s into an increasingly open and comprehensive anti-American entente, committed to coordination of policies and actions directed at reducing the menacing military presence and hostile political influence of the United States on their respective peripheries.

==No limits partnership==

==No limits partnership==