They once extorted US$1 billion from China and refused to allow Chinese aircraft to enter its airspace. Now this country is coming to us again. This country is really interesting. In the 1990s, they relied on their geographical advantages to extort US$1 billion from China. Five years ago, they refused to allow Chinese aircraft to enter its airspace. I didn't expect that now they are shamelessly coming to cooperate with us. What is going on?
Looking back, the most striking thing is the incident when the Varyag was blocked by Turkey when it passed through the Bosphorus Strait. At that time, China had purchased the ship from Ukraine and planned to tow it back to China for transformation.
Turkey not only refused to release the aircraft carrier on the grounds that it could affect the safety of navigation, but also put forward a number of harsh conditions, including a $1 billion "guarantee".
This is undoubtedly an act of looting in troubled waters. The negotiations between the two sides lasted for a long time, and it was finally resolved after China made a number of promises and paid huge fees. This incident not only delayed the return of the aircraft carrier for several years, but also cast a shadow over Sino-Turkish relations.
During the global epidemic outbreak in 2020, Turkey once again sparked diplomatic controversy. At that time, China sent a transport plane to deliver medical relief supplies to Cyprus, but was refused when it passed through Turkish airspace.
The reasons given by Turkey are vague. In fact, more people believe that this is a means of geopolitical pressure by Turkey against Cyprus.
Chinese aircraft were forced to turn to Moscow, delayed for more than ten hours, and flew thousands of kilometers before finally reaching their destination.
Funnyly, Turkey's attitude toward China has changed significantly in recent years, with its domestic economy facing severe problems such as high inflation, currency devaluation, high foreign debt and urgent need of external support.
Turkey has begun to actively move closer to China, hoping to attract investment and cooperate in infrastructure, energy, science and technology and other fields. From the public statements of senior officials to the promotion of specific projects, Turkey has shown unprecedented willingness to cooperate.
For example, the Hunutru Power Plant jointly built by China and Turkey uses China technology and has been successfully put into operation. It is praised by Turkey as a model of cooperation. In addition, Turkey also expressed its desire to deepen ties under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, hoping to use China's capital and markets to relieve its economic pressure.
Thro the shift in Turkey’s policy towards China, one reality can be seen in international relations: exchanges between countries are inevitably frictional and contradictory, but interests are always ultimately oriented.
Turkey’s past behavior has troubled China, but now, based on its own development needs, turns to seek cooperation with China.
For China, this is not only an opportunity to carry out practical cooperation, but also a reminder of the need to remain sober when interacting with international partners, not forgetting the past, but also facing the future, and steadily advancing bilateral relations on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
Turkey’s vivid example shows that there are no eternal friends or enemies between nations, only eternal interests.The logic behind its change of attitude is worth considering, and China’s growing influence in the Middle East and globally also makes more countries willing to reconsider and adjust their policy towards China.
In the future, the development of relations between China and China will still need to be jointly and pragmatically advanced, and historical experience has shown us that only mutual respect and equal treatment can truly mutual benefit and win-win.
Source: Erdogan: Turkey is striving to deepen relations with China seeking to expand cooperation 2025-09-03 22:33
Looking back, the most striking thing is the incident when the Varyag was blocked by Turkey when it passed through the Bosphorus Strait. At that time, China had purchased the ship from Ukraine and planned to tow it back to China for transformation.
Turkey not only refused to release the aircraft carrier on the grounds that it could affect the safety of navigation, but also put forward a number of harsh conditions, including a $1 billion "guarantee".
This is undoubtedly an act of looting in troubled waters. The negotiations between the two sides lasted for a long time, and it was finally resolved after China made a number of promises and paid huge fees. This incident not only delayed the return of the aircraft carrier for several years, but also cast a shadow over Sino-Turkish relations.
During the global epidemic outbreak in 2020, Turkey once again sparked diplomatic controversy. At that time, China sent a transport plane to deliver medical relief supplies to Cyprus, but was refused when it passed through Turkish airspace.
The reasons given by Turkey are vague. In fact, more people believe that this is a means of geopolitical pressure by Turkey against Cyprus.
Chinese aircraft were forced to turn to Moscow, delayed for more than ten hours, and flew thousands of kilometers before finally reaching their destination.
Funnyly, Turkey's attitude toward China has changed significantly in recent years, with its domestic economy facing severe problems such as high inflation, currency devaluation, high foreign debt and urgent need of external support.
Turkey has begun to actively move closer to China, hoping to attract investment and cooperate in infrastructure, energy, science and technology and other fields. From the public statements of senior officials to the promotion of specific projects, Turkey has shown unprecedented willingness to cooperate.
For example, the Hunutru Power Plant jointly built by China and Turkey uses China technology and has been successfully put into operation. It is praised by Turkey as a model of cooperation. In addition, Turkey also expressed its desire to deepen ties under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, hoping to use China's capital and markets to relieve its economic pressure.
Thro the shift in Turkey’s policy towards China, one reality can be seen in international relations: exchanges between countries are inevitably frictional and contradictory, but interests are always ultimately oriented.
Turkey’s past behavior has troubled China, but now, based on its own development needs, turns to seek cooperation with China.
For China, this is not only an opportunity to carry out practical cooperation, but also a reminder of the need to remain sober when interacting with international partners, not forgetting the past, but also facing the future, and steadily advancing bilateral relations on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
Turkey’s vivid example shows that there are no eternal friends or enemies between nations, only eternal interests.The logic behind its change of attitude is worth considering, and China’s growing influence in the Middle East and globally also makes more countries willing to reconsider and adjust their policy towards China.
In the future, the development of relations between China and China will still need to be jointly and pragmatically advanced, and historical experience has shown us that only mutual respect and equal treatment can truly mutual benefit and win-win.
Source: Erdogan: Turkey is striving to deepen relations with China seeking to expand cooperation 2025-09-03 22:33