The intricacies of sino-russian relations

Résumé du document

Since the birth of the Popular Republic of China, in 1949, the PRC and the USSR experienced a love and hate relationship, which can easily be understood given some capital elements: China and Russia are two countries as large as continents, both claim(ed) to adhere to communism, and they share the world longest continental border (4250 km, along Central Asia, Mongolia and the Far East). It is thus, obvious that all the elements are combined for alliance or rivalry between the two countries, and they experienced both since the second half of the 20th century. How has Sino-Russian relations evolved since 1949? How does each power perceive the other, and how does this conception influence both of their policies?

Extraits

[...] How did Sino-Russian relations evolve since 1949? How did each power perceive the other, and how did this conception influence both foreign policies? First, we are going to make a brief overview of Sino-Russian relations under the Soviet era, and then we will consider the changes brought by the end of the Cold War and finally the challenges to the new Sino-Russian partnership for the twenty-first century. I. Sino-soviet relations: thirty years of mistrust 1. Ideological and strategic dispute All had started quite well between the newly-created PRC and the URSS. [...]

[...] The new president of the USSR visited China in May 1989, which marked a step towards the normalization of bilateral relations. Deng Xiaoping stated that since alliance and confrontation had not worked, Sino- Soviet relations had to be based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (already established with India): peaceful coexistence, non- intervention in internal affairs and territorial integrity and sovereignty. The betterment of diplomatic relations went on after the collapse of the USSR. Chinese and Russian leaders became aware that their strategic environment was changing. [...]

[...] Beijing's most important strategic priorities are south and east”. Sources Articles CHAUVIRE, Marie-Astrid, La frontière sino-russe et les nouveaux équilibres régionaux en Extrême-Orient Géographie et cultures, 34, été 2000. CHENG, Joseph Y. Challenges to China's Russian Policy in Early 21st Century Journal of Contemporary Asia, vol GARNETT, Sherman, Challenges of the Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership Washington Quarterly, vol fall 2001. MONTANARO JANKOVSKI, Lucia, Chine Russie : des intérêts convergents Questions Internationales, mars avril 2004. Books SARSEMBAEV, Iliyas, La question territoriale : enjeu géopolitique et idéologique dans les relations sino-russes, Thèse de doctorat de l'IEP de Paris, sous la direction de D. [...]

[...] But the destalinization launched in 1956 by Khrushchev at the Twentieth Congress of the Communist Party of the USSR marked the worsening of Sino- Soviet relations. Mao blamed the USSR for having betrayed the international revolution, accusing Khrushchev of revisionism. Besides, there was a growing sense of rivalry between both powers, in particular ideological tensions, since China asserted itself as an explicit ideological competitor to the USSR. Pragmatic interests were also important, because Khrushchev had refused to give China the technology for the H-bomb Tensions and clashes Tension reached its height when China made territorial claims. [...]

[...] Both countries wanted to avoid US pressures. On one hand, Russia felt threatened by NATO's eastern expansion. On the other, China was afraid by US bilateral and military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region, in particular by US- Taiwan arms trade. This is why during all the nineties, Russia and China strongly promoted multipolarity. They felt that their national interests converged and that they should be mutually supportive. For instance, both opposed the NATO interference in Kosovo in Beyond normalization: the strategic ties In the nineties, Russia and China showed a good will to go on improving bilateral relations. [...]