New evidence about the regional factor in sino-soviet relations, 1969–1986

This chapter focuses on the regional dimension of the Sino-Soviet relationship by examining how it was perceived by local party officials on both sides of the border and how local leaders balanced regional interests with their support for central government priorities. The regional factor has been one of the neglected issues in the history of Sino-Soviet relations, but due to the availability of new sources, it is possible to study regional foreign policy in both Russia and China. In Russia, regional archives present a treasure trove of new information about a wide range of issues in Soviet politics, including foreign policy. The chapter presents four case studies of regional foreign policy, two concerning Russia’s Khabarovskiy Kray, and two relating to China’s Heilongjiang Province. The cases show how the provincial leaders balanced their responsibility to support central government policy, while attempting to shape central policy in a direction favorable to regional interests.