Russia�s gas export reorientation fromWest to East: economic and political considerations

belyi, andrei v.;

The Russia�China deal in May 2014 opened a new page in Gazprom�s efforts to orient
its exports to Asia. The political logic behind the new agreement resembles the first
Soviet gas export contracts with European states. However, the international gas markets favour Asia�s position in general and China�s in particular. Moreover, China is now having a leverage on its future liquefied natural gas suppliers. The new context makes Russian negotiating positions weaker and, moreover, Russian gas export to China might not be a subject of Gazprom monopoly any longer.