Georgia’s strategic partnership with China may seem promising for Tbilisi on the surface, but the substance of the relationship conflicts with Georgia’s long-term ambitions. There are two drawbacks for Georgia. First, the partnership with China comes at the expense of Euro-Atlantic integration: the increasing rivalry between China and the West makes it difficult, if not impossible to walk the geostrategic tightrope dividing both sides. Second, Chinese engagement is unlikely to deter possible future Russian military aggression – the primary security concern in Tbilisi. Georgia is looking for se…