The strategic drivers of space cooperation between Russia and China and its impact on international relations

This paper analyzes the strategic drivers of aerospace cooperation between Russia and China and examines its implications for international politics. Cooperation between Russia and China began with Soviet technology transfers in the 1950s but it was limited by conflicts and mutual distrust during the Cold War. Even though cooperation resumed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it largely remained symbolic level. However, following Western sanctions in 2014 and the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, it changed a shift toward more strategic cooperation. The two countries have expanded collaboration in lunar and Mars exploration, the development of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), the integration of the GLONASS and BeiDou satellite navigation systems, and military-security coordination, positioning themselves in response to the U.S.-led Artemis framework and space dominance. This paper argues that such cooperation reflects the intensifying geopolitical competition of space combining technology, security, and industry, and is becoming significant variable in global space governance and the restructuring of the international balance of power.