Russian articles on Russia’s “turn to the East” are full of confidence, concentrate on the big picture, and constantly repeat assumptions hardened over the previous half-year. Rather than reflect on Russia’s isolation, they insist that the West is isolated in the international community. Instead of identifying difficulties in the acceptance of Russia into East Asia, they emphasize failures in US pressure tactics to win support in Asia for sanctions. China appears in the most favorable light. The US allies Japan and South Korea draw notice more for defying efforts by Washington and being determined to sustain promising ties to Russia rather than for criticizing or applying sanctions against Russia. Every indication is that Russia’s success in the East is commensurate compensation for losses suffered as a result of sanctions by the West.

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