During the 16 months that the Varyag was intercepted in front of the strait, the tugboat had been adrift in the Black Sea, unable to move forward.
The diplomats sent by China are almost “requesting” Turkey to let go.
Twenty years later, when the epidemic raged, Turkey once again used its geographical advantage to "get stuck" and refused the transit of Chinese rescue planes, resulting in delays in the delivery of valuable anti-epidemic materials.
Once upon a time, this country repeatedly blocked China's road at critical moments, asking sky-high prices, and turning its face faster than turning books.
Now, they are in trouble, suddenly change their attitude, and they are eager to "strengthen cooperation" with us.
Is their attitude change out of sincerity or another speculation? Can the wounds left by history really heal so quickly?
In 2000, the Varyag aircraft carrier purchased by my country from Ukraine traveled to the Bosphorus Strait, but was refused passage by Turkey for "security reasons."
The hull is huge, powerless, and it is difficult to navigate. These reasons have been repeatedly used as a shield by the Turkish side, but the real problem is the "traffic conditions" they offer-$1 billion in guarantee.
This is not a normal diplomatic consultation, but a complete blackmail.
Although China's foreign exchange reserves were US$200 billion at that time, the sky-high price of US$1 billion was almost equivalent to 5% of China's foreign exchange.
Turkey knows that China is in a hurry, so it takes it to the end.
Not only that, they also put forward more than 20 harsh conditions, each of which is like sprinkling salt on China's wounds.
FinallyIn order for the aircraft carrier to return to China smoothly, China had to make concessions, not only in a diplomatically low posture, but also with market opening, tourism agreements, military cooperation and $3.6 billion in economic aid to package a release permit.
Twenty years later, when the global epidemic broke out, China urgently sent a plane carrying 36 tons of epidemic prevention materials to Cyprus.
Masks, respirators, and other emergency equipment are all urgently needed life-saving supplies.
Once again, however, Turkey has shot.
The flight was originally planned to cross its airspace, but Turkey suddenly refused to let go, on the grounds that it is still the crown prince – “incorrect procedures.”
The reality is that they don't care about the formalities, they care about the control.
The plane flew around Moscow for fuel and passed through Bulgaria with a delay of several hours.
Time is life, and these delays may mean the end of several lives.
The Cyprus government strongly protested, and many voices in the world accused Turkey of "taking advantage of its geographical advantages to engage in political extortion". But they still go their own way.
These incidents are not isolated.
In 2013, Turkey announced the purchase of the "Hongqi-9" air defense missile system worth $3.4 billion from China. In the contract, China not only promised to transfer technology, but also promised partial localization of production.
It was a difficult opportunity for cooperation.
But just two years later, Turkey abruptly cancelled the contract.
The reason is that they took the Chinese offer to negotiate with the United States and Russia, and ultimately bought nothing, instead claiming to "self-develop".
China invested a lot of manpower and material resources in this deal, but the result was both empty.
These three things are connected in series to draw a complete clue:From blocking aircraft carriers in the Taiwan Strait, to rejecting aircraft in the air, to capricious arms sales, their actions are not accidental, but a pattern and a strategy-to seize the other party's vital points and then start the price.
But the time has gone by 2025 and everything seems to have taken a turn.
In the past two years, Turkey's economy has been in trouble and the situation has turned sharply.
In 2024, its inflation rate surged to 70% at one pointThe depreciation of the currency has intensified, and capital has fled wildly. In 2025, although inflation has fallen to 24%, the fiscal deficit and debt pressure will still weigh on Turkey.
Although its foreign exchange reserves are still $174.4 billion, domestic savings have long been negative, and market confidence is extremely insufficient.
It is in this context that Turkey’s attitude towards China has taken a “180-degree turn.”
In February 2025, the Turkish ambassador to China held a media exchange meeting in Beijing to talk about the "urgency" of strengthening cooperation with China.
In August of the same year, Turkey has repeatedly publicly expressed its desire to deepen relations with China and even expressed its desire to join the BRICS countries and the SCO, eager to break the West's siege.
Their appeal is very direct:It is hoped that Chinese enterprises can increase investment in Turkey, especially in the fields of manufacturing, energy and infrastructure; It is hoped that China will open the market for its agricultural products imports and ease the trade deficit; I hope to attract more Chinese tourists and increase the income of the service industry.
In 2024, China will have 40.97 million tourists, while Turkey will increase its target to 1 million or even 2 million in 2025.
In addition, Turkey is also vigorously promoting "Middle Corridor Plan"We hope to bring Chinese products to the European market through Turkey through the transportation hub of Istanbul Airport."
At present, the airport has 301 daily direct flights, connecting Asia, Europe and Africa, and Turkey has also made clear its willingness to strengthen connections with the Belt and Road.
Turkey also publishes articles on social media, opens shaking, microblogging, red book accounts, launches Chinese guidance services, and tries to show Chinese consumers its "friendly gestures".
But behind all this, Chinese society has not forgotten the “learn” of the past.
For China, cooperation between China and the Middle East is important, but the prerequisite is to take the initiative.
The Varyag's three-year drift, the blockade of routes during the epidemic, and the breach of contract with Hongqi-9 are not episodes that can be easily forgotten.
These events have been profoundly imprinted in the memory of the nationals and have become the real basis for judging whether future cooperation is reliable.
At present, China has the voice over international affairs and is no longer a role to be played.
If Turkey really wants to achieve a win-win situation, it must demonstrate true sincerity and continued stability, rather than once again using speculative means to "shoot one shot and change the place".
China's confidence comes from its growing comprehensive national strength, its ability to control global supply chains, and its clear strategic vision.
In the face of a partner like Turkey that has once "suffered a loss", the demeanor of a great power does not mean that it can be tolerated again, let alone be played again.
Cooperation can be discussed, but boundaries must be clearly delineated.
China will never forget the helplessness of the Varyag when it was drifting in the Black Sea, nor will it forget the Greek sailor Alex Lima who died, nor will it forget the anti-epidemic plane that took a detour.
If Turkey wants to truly enter China's strategic vision, it must take concrete actions, rather than empty words. "We are willing to strengthen cooperation.”。