Dynamics of the Sino-Soviet Dispute: Border Demarcation and Territorial Claims

An outgrowth of the Sino-Soviet dispute is the enigmatic border issue which has taken on a hostile and potentially explosive life of its own. The PRC is surrounded by a dozen states and a vast ocean; its northern border with the USSR is the longest and geographically the most diverse boundary in the world. This study relates an historical narrative of the border's evolution through a series of Chinese-Russian treaties, outlines the technical problems involved in the border demarcation issue, evaluates the PRC's territorial claims resulting from "unequal treaties," and reviews the prospect for settlement of the border dispute by the two powers. Specifically, the Manchurian-Far Eastern segment of the border is examined with emphasis on the disputed riverine islands and the imprecisely demarcated boundary. In summary, although the border problem could be solved through serious negotiations, it would require major concessions from both sides. The broader question of territorial claims, however, is a more complex issue which, under the generally accepted principles of international law, appear to favor the Soviet Union.