War and Peace: The Views From Moscow and Beijing

This monograph by two young scholars addresses the somewhat neglected matter of Soviet and Chinese perceptions of each other. It is based on interviews in Moscow and Beijing as well as analysis of Soviet and Chinese periodicals. The authors conclude that the Soviets believe that the conflict with China is persistent because it is based on a geopolitical configuration of power that is unlikely to change. The Chinese view, also unlikely to change, is that the much stronger Soviet Union has long sought hegemony over China and this has forced China to seek counterbalancing ties with the major powers in the West. Thus, a seemingly permanent impasse.