China-Mongolia Relations 1980-84: Analysis and Chronology.

Mongolias geographical location, between China and the Soviet Union, its two large and powerful neighbors, has influenced its history and continues to affect its present-day development. For historical reasons, Mongolia deeply distrusts Chinese intentions toward its sovereignty and relies on Moscow to guard against a perceived threat from China. In ongoing Sino-Soviet consultations on normalization of relations, Beijing includes the Soviet troops stationed in Mongolia as one of the three obstacles to an improved relationship the other two being the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and Soviet aid to the Vietnamese in Kampuchea. Since Ulaanbaatar does not want to lose Soviet military support, it endorses Moscows official position that the obstacles involve third parties and should not be discussed with China. There have been only limited bilateral exchanges between Mongolia and China since 1980. Politically, their relations are cool, marked by a lack of party-to-party relations and periodic expulsions of Chinese diplomats and nationals. The expulsion of a large number of Chinese from Mongolia in May 1983 only slightly damaged bilateral relations, since trade and other exchanges resumed by the end of the year. The two countries exchange a modest amount of commodities annually they also meet periodically to discuss their border railway. Mongols on the two sides of the border have very little contact with each other save a limited exchange of mail. The late 1983 visit to China of the first Mongolian sports team in 20 years was an indication of slightly improved bilateral relations. In most aspects, Sino-Mongolian relations are parallel to Sino-Soviet relations. In addition, the Mongolian people harbor an intense distrust of China which is expressed in the strident criticism of Chinese policies in the Mongolian media.