Section 3. Relations between China and the Soviet Union
Sino-Soviet relations since September 1969 have had two aspects-one being the continuation of the confrontation over ideology and party relations and the other being the intentions to improve State relations. However, since the violent exchange of mutual criticisms within and outside the United Nations in and after November 1971 and also during the Indo-Pakistan War, their relations appear to have deteriorated a little recently.
1. Between the latter half of 1969 and the summer of 1971
It seems that Sino-Soviet relations had two aspects -confrontation over party relations and ideology and moves toward the normalization of State relations.
2. Between Nixon's announcement of his visit to China (July 15, 1971) and mid-September
The Soviet Union assumed a cautious attitude toward moves of the People's Republic of China, including President Nixon's announcement of his visit to China, and took steps that seems designed to counter them. Such Soviet moves included the following:
(1) Holding of a conference of the COMECON members, except Romania, in the Crimea on August 20;
(2) Publication of a critical theoretical thesis in Pravda dated September 4;
(3) Distribution of the above-mentioned thesis at the United Nations; and
(4) Intensification of the Soviet Union's diplomacy of exchanging visits, including General Secretary Brezhnev's visit to Yugoslavia and France.
3. Between mid-September and mid-November
An abnormal phenomenon was seen in the field of domestic politics in the People's Republic of China in early and mid-September, and the Soviet Union again relaxed a little the frequency and intensity of its criticism toward China. The People's Republic of China also showed moves that can be taken as reflecting a flexible attitude toward the Soviet Union, such as sending a congratulatory telegram to the Soviet Union on November 7 on the anniversary of the October Revolution, which was more friendly in tone than its telegram sent the previous year.
4. Between December and Nixon's visit to China
Sino-Soviet relations showed signs of deterioration, with the exchange of mutual criticisms in the United Nations and also during the Indo-Pakistan War which seems to have been a turning point. For example:
(1) The Soviet Union severely criticized the People's Republic of China in Pravda and Izvestia, and Pravda, dated December 22, criticized Premier Chou En-lai by name.
(2) The People's Republic of China, in the joint New Year's Day editorial of its three major newspapers, also criticized the Soviet Union in the most violent language ever used in their New Year editorials in recent years.
(3) Tension was reported on the Sino-Soviet border where the situation reportedly had been quiet since the autumn of 1969. It was also reported that Chinese from Sin-kiang Province sought refuge in the Soviet Union.
(4) During Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko's visit to Japan, the People's Republic of China showed to a mission from Japan, which included members of the General Council of Trade Unions (Sohyo), a listing of 11 items showing that the Soviet Union was responsible for the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations.
5. After Nixon's visit to China
In connection with Nixon's visit to China, the Soviet Union severely attacked the "Sino-American rapprochement." Later, in a speech on March 20, General Secretary Brezhnev stated to the effect that the Soviet Union had no objections to the establishment of Sino-Soviet relations on the principles of peaceful coexistence. In view of the fact that the principles had been espoused by the People's Republic of China ever since October 1969 as a fundamental rule to govern Sino-Soviet relations, the move on the part of the Soviet Union to recognize them, even provisionally, is regarded as a new development in Sino-Soviet relations.