Western nations are grappling with concerns about the close relationship between Russia and China. However, it might be prudent for them to contemplate the potential repercussions that could arise if this alliance were to fall apart.
In the mid-20th century, a confrontation on a diminutive island located in a river within a remote Asian region that serves as the boundary between Russia and China nearly escalated into a nuclear conflict. This incident occurred against the backdrop of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Czechoslovakia. Fearing the prospect of future Soviet aggression, Mao Zedong, China’s leader, directed an unexpected assault on Damansky Island (known as Zhenbao Island in China) in 1969 as a demonstration of China’s military determination. In response, Moscow bolstered its border defenses and issued nuclear threats in a bid to dissuade Beijing and coerce it into negotiations.
Although the skirmish itself was brief, the nuclear crisis persisted for several months. At one juncture, due to the apprehension of a Soviet preemptive strike, Mao and other prominent party figures fled Beijing and placed their nuclear forces on high alert. It was solely within the shadow of the Soviet Union’s strategy of “nuclear coercion” that the Chinese engaged in negotiations to reach a settlement.
Subsequent to this critical juncture, relations between the two nations have witnessed significant improvements. Following Mao’s demise, Beijing and Moscow expanded their trade connections and gradually resolved all territorial disputes. The present leaders, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, now affirm the existence of an unbounded “friendship” between their countries.
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