The Russian Far East in the context of the connection of the Eurasian Economic Union with the Chinese project "One Belt and One Road”: prospects and risks

The article analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of coordinating of the Eurasian economic Union and the Chinese project "One belt and one road" for the development of the Far East. The attention is focused on the complementarity of the two integration projects and their overall geoeconomic strategy for long-term development. The coordination of the Eurasian economic Union and the Chinese project "One belt and one road" was signed in 2015 in Moscow between the political leaders of Russia and China. It is an ambitious project in the field of development and deepening of economic cooperation in the Eurasian space. The Chinese factor is inevitable for the economic development of the Far East due to the proximity of borders and mutual influence. The most significant results that the Far East can get from the coordination of the Eurasian economic Union and the Chinese project "One belt and one road" are investments and improved transport and logistics infrastructure. The possible risks of the coordination of the Eurasian economic Union and the Chinese project "One belt and one road" are a hypothetical threat of Chinese expansion and the introduction of Chinese "soft power" in the Far East. The threat of expansion can be traced in the Chinese political theory of legalism. But China's leader's political views are more in line with Confucius's political and philosophical legacy. The implementation of the "soft power" resource in China's foreign policy strategy is already noticeable in the Far East. The best response of Russia to possible threats and challenges from China should be the active and consistent protection of national interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Cooperation between Russia and China in the context of coordinating of the Eurasian economic Union and the Chinese project "One belt and one road" will bring significant benefits to the Far East and will become the main factor holding back from sliding to unfriendly competition between Russian and Chinese integration projects.