China won't emulate the 'Crimea pattern' in territorial issues(2)

Secondly, from the perspective of their current economic positions, China and Russia differ in dependence on the rest of the world.

As the second largest economy in the world and a major participant in, beneficiary and builder of globalization, China relies on two engines, export and investment, to beef up economic growth. China's external dependence prompts it to cooperate with other nations in a peaceful way.

China's economy is fundamentally different from Russia's, the world's sixth largest, which mainly relies on energy and arms exports. Half of Russian national income comes from the export of energy. The top three trade partners for Russia are China, the EU and Ukraine while China's are the EU, the US and ASEAN. With less economic reliance on the West, Russia can challenge the West, some of whose members though, must seek Russia's energy and diplomatic clout.

Finally, China and Russia differ on expectations for the future.

Though Russians also yearn for bright prospects, the Chinese are more optimistic about their future according to various opinion polls. And affected by the mentality of changing oneself and influencing the world, the Chinese people firmly view the Chinese dream as consistent with the dream of other peoples. The Chinese will not ruin the country's opportunities for strategic development with reckless ventures.

China has signed border agreements with almost all 14 countries it shares a land border with, the exceptions being India and Bhutan. Of course, maritime territory, rather a modern concept, has emerged as a major bone of contention with China's Asian neighbors.

M. Taylor Fravel, an expert on Chinese strategy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has pointed out that China, which embraces political compromise over the use force, tends to solve border disputes through negotiations.

The Chinese people have learned from their experience in modern times that peace, development, cooperation and win-win progress are the most significant values in getting along with the rest of the world.

China does not need to emulate Russia and is in no way obliged to follow Russia in confronting the West.

By Wang Yiwei, Director of Center for EU Studies & Senior Research Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China