M. Gorbachev’s Contribution to the Normalization of Sino-Soviet Relations and Further Development of Sino-Russian Relations

Abstract

When Gorbachev came to power in March 1985, there still remained high-degree hostility as in the past two decades between the Soviet Union and China. In order to get rid of the abnormal state of Sino-Soviet relations as soon as possible, Gorbachev completely abandoned the old China policy of the Brezhnev era, made concessions and gradually fulfilled all of China’s demands in political consultations. Based on this, the Sino-Soviet summit held in May 1989 in Beijing officially marked the normalization of Sino-Soviet relations. The joint Sino-Soviet communiqué, released after the summit, indicated that after the normalization, the development of Sino-Soviet relations would be based on the “five principles of peaceful coexistence” and would not be directed against any third country. Meanwhile, during his visit to China, Gorbachev reached agreements with Chinese leaders to thoroughly resolve the territorial issue and create a mechanism for high-level political dialogue. The end of the enmity between the USSR and the PRC and the elimination of territorial disputes laid the foundation for a smooth transition of Sino-Soviet relationship to Sino-Russian one. In the spirit of the Sino-Soviet summit and the joint Sino-Soviet communiqué of 1989, the Russian Federation and the PRC began to establish a new type relationship, which is non-allied, non-confrontational and not directed against any third country on the legal basis of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation in 2001. This is a significant diplomatic legacy and lasting vitality left by Gorbachev for Russia.