N.W.

Perhaps, some level of balance is required between east and west, and that balance has very much been "tipped" towards the west in recent years.

I wouldn't say that China is forced to side with Russia. I would rather say they choose to do so. They have enough Asian buddies to fill their resource coffers if they need to.

I rather see an ideological resemblance as well as having similar political interests.

China and Russia need each other to fight Western oppression.

Britain alone has 8 land bases all over the world.

And America pretty much own the Seas.