Why do Russia and China work against the West in the UN?

This question is probably too deep and a gaming forum is likely not the right place to find the answers, but I'm going to post this seemingly naive question anyway. Adhering to this forum's rules, please refrain from posting inflammatory content (I hope the colorful rhetoric I used myself isn't too extreme, otherwise let me know and I'll edit it out).

Maybe it's because I don't know enough about Russian/Chinese culture. Maybe there's just a gap in the modes of thinking between my westernized mind and an Eastern/Asian one. Yet, I have a hard time understanding these nations' Machiavellian behaviour.

The latest thing going on is Syria where Mr. Assad is in all likelihood using chemical warfare against the countrys own population (sic!). The Assad regime has a long history of barbaric atrocities so chemical warfare seems more likely that not (also, it would help explain the hundreds of casualties and wounded bearing clear signs of gas attack). Yet, both Russia and China are, as usual, warning the West against intervention and making things as difficult as possible in the UN.

Now, the Chinese government is obviously insane - power-hungry to the extreme, repressive, paranoid - so I suppose it makes sense for them to have an insane foreign policy that condones an ongoing genocide to protect their economic and strategic interests in the country that are clearly more valuable than the Syrian population to them, as well. Russia is more difficult. Russia is still European - European history, European tradition. Russia used to be a mentally disordered state as well, with her excesses into glorious communism and its fruits of famine and arms buildup during the 20th century, but I thought this was over, and I don't understand why they haven't learned. Russia probably doesn't fare too well on a democracy index, either, but my impression still isn't that Putin has the same kind of dictatorial control over his country the top of the one-party state in the Middle Kingdom does. Thus, the question: What strategic interests in Syria are so vital to Russia she is prepared to defend a man like Bashar Assad? I know Russia has a large military base there, but that just begs the question: How can a country like Syria be considered an ally? How is it defensible? This question applies to the broader scope as well, since Syria is just one case amongst many, with semi-rogue states like Iran, even North Korea, being partners, as well.

If there are Russians or Chinese readers out there who think I'm an idiot for having this point of view: please, explain why you disagree, I'm particularly interested to hear from you.