The Sino-Soviet Border War of 1969: Volume 2 - Confrontation at Lake Zhalanashkol, August 1969

The communist victory in the Chinese civil war resulted in the formation of a new socialist state – the People’s Republic of China. The Soviets were the first to recognize the PRC, and subsequently provided China with considerable assistance. After Stalin’s death, however, relations rapidly deteriorated over disagreements regarding Stalin’s legacy and co-existence with capitalist states.

With the ‘cultural revolution’ in the PRC, these disagreements intensified: the two sides accused each ot...