Major States 997
readiness for combat and were equipped with more and better weapons and machin-
ery. Highly trained Soviet forces were shifted from Eastern Europe to the Far East,
increasing the combat potential of the Soviet forces along the Sino-Soviet border. The
Soviet Union sent nuclear-tipped rockets to the border, and began stressing the para-
military training of citizens in border areas. Tensions remained high throughout 1966
as the Soviets continued pressure; however, no more militarized incidents occurred for
some time. The Soviets settled for greater cooperation and integration with China’s
neighbors, including the signing of a January 15, 1966, defense treaty with Mongolia
that allowed Soviet troops to be stationed at bases in Mongolia.
MID#343
Dispute Number: 343
Date(s): October 1966 to August 10, 1967
Participants: 710 China/365 Russia
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Animosity between China and the Soviet Union grew out of a “Cultural
Revolution” in China. The Soviet Union believed that this was not the proletariat
revolution that it ascribed to be, but in fact it was a creeping spirit of nationalism. In
response, anti-Soviet demonstrations broke out in Chinese cities and tensions rose.
The Soviet paper Pravda claimed that this anti-Soviet climate began shortly after
Maoists committed armed provocations on the Soviet border on August 13, 1966. The
Soviets believed that this anti-Soviet hysteria was brought on by the Maoists attempt
to solve complicated internal problems by directing public attention elsewhere.
Throughout the next year, there were 119 violations of Chinese airspace by Soviet
military aircraft. The Chinese also alleged that the Soviets had fired 8,000 shells into
Chinese frontier territory.
In January 1967, civilians crossed the border from Xinjiang into the Soviet Union,
fearing the Chinese hunt for Soviet sympathizers. This hysteria led to the Soviet
embassy being seized by locals in February. On February 2, China accused the Soviet
Union of working with the United States and Japan in an attack against the Heilongji-
ang province, Manchuria. This attack was allegedly crushed by Chinese forces, but
on February 11, Chinese troops along the frontier were placed on alert. On February
12, China said that the Chinese army had repelled an attack by Soviet forces and had
taken several prisoners near Vladivostok. Times were especially tense because, there
were more than 600,000 men along the Sino-Soviet border by this time. However, by
February 21, the Soviets reported that besides frontier guards all Chinese forces were
withdrawn from the Soviet and Mongolian borders. Also by February 21, the exodus
through Xinjiang had almost ended completely.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from October 2, 1966. End Date changed from
June 7, 1968.
MID#2710
Dispute Number: 2710
Date(s): August 10, 1967 to August 13, 1967