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#2
12-09-2015, 10:04 AM
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Unfinished work so far... Soviet-Chinese relations Soviet relations with China were in many ways an extension of those of Imperial Russia. Before 1600 Russia and China were at the opposite ends of Siberia, but from the 17th Century Russia expanded across Asia and its interests in the affairs of China increased. In 1860 Russia annexed the Amur Basin and what is now the city of Vladivostok from China, and participated with other powers in the imposition of treaties on Imperial China. Russian interest in China ultimately led to conflict with Japan and humiliation in its defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904. Imperial China's submission to foreign powers also led to widespread Chinese hostility towards the Chinese emperor, resulting in revolution which ended the rule of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. During the Russian Civil War the Chinese supported the White faction against the Bolshevik's and sent Chinese forces to Siberia and Vladivostok with American, British and Japanese troops. Communist victory in 1922 marked the foundation of the Soviet Union and the beginning of a new phase of relations with China. The Soviets supported the Kuomintang faction and the then small Communist Party of China (CCP) against the Chinese government. In 1928 the Kuomintang seized power and established diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union, but they also ended their alliance with the CCP which began the Chinese Civil War that lasted until 1949. Chinese relations with the Soviet Union remained fractious and China fought two Soviet invasions in the north of China in the 1930's. However the Soviets continued to support China against Japanese territorial expansion, and influenced the CCP to ally with the Kuomintang during the Second World War. The influence of the United States also greatly increased in Asia during the Second World War, as American military power was instrumental in the defeat of Japan. America provided military assistance to China during the war and the growth of American power in the Far East alarmed the Soviet Union. Following the American atomic bombing of Japan in 1945, the Soviet's launched a major invasion of Manchuria and destroyed remaining Japanese forces in China. The Soviets also annexed South Sakhalin and the Kurile Islands from Japan and advanced into the Korean Peninsula. Soviet actions in 1945 strongly influenced the creation of the geopolitical order of the Far East that still existed at the beginning of the Twilight War. After 1945 the Chinese Civil War resumed with the CCP ultimately defeating and forcing the Kuomintang regime to retreat to Taiwan by 1949. The new People's Republic of China established an alliance with the Soviet Union and both nations were the largest communist states in the world. However Chinese ideological differences with the Soviet Union over the interpretation of Marxist-Leninist theory, and its reluctant to accept Soviet de-facto leadership of the communist world led to a deterioration of relations. China also became highly confrontational with the West during and after the Korean War and was insistent on obtaining nuclear weapons. In an age when the United States and the Soviet Union were developing nuclear arsenals and were adopting the doctrine of mutually assured destruction to prevented an attack by either side, Chinese antagonism towards the West became highly toxic to the Soviet Union. Deteriorating relations led to a split in the Sino-Soviet alliance by 1961, and also marked the emergence of a third superpower in the world after the United States and the Soviet Union. China began to compete with the Soviets for influence in other communist states and political movements around the world, and tensions led to an escalation of disputes along the Sino-Soviet border. In 1969 Chinese and Soviet forces clashed along the Ussuri River in Northern China and in Xinjiang province. The Soviet's also encouraged minorities in China such as the Uyghur's to rebel against Chinese rule, and during the Vietnam War China provided very little aid to communist North Vietnam who was a Soviet ally. In 1971 the United States and others recognised the legitimacy of the People's Republic of China as opposed to the rump Kuomintang regime on Taiwan, allowing China to take its place in the United Nations and have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. In 1972 US President Nixon visited China and political relations with the United States greatly improved, and reinforced the permanent schism between the world's two largest communist powers. Following the death of Mao Tse Tung in 1976 Chinese leaders introduced reforms to improve China's economy, but Sino-Soviet relations continued to deteriorate. In 1978 Vietnam invaded Cambodia and overthrew the Chinese backed Khmer-Rouge regime which led to the Sino-Vietnam War in 1979. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 led to further tensions with China who supported the anti-Soviet Mujahedeen and ramped up its military presence in Xinjiang Province. Throughout the 1980's China supported the Mujahedeen by establishing training camps in China, and supplied them with arms and anti-aircraft missiles. China also continued to compete with the Soviet Union for influence in the world, and Chinese arms and advisors were found across Asia and Africa and its influence over North Korea matched the Soviet Union. Although Chinese relations with other Asian countries such as Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam remained tense, it was moderated by America's military presence in the region. Chinese relations with the Soviet Union improved under the Gorbachev regime through the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and the diffusion of tensions along the Soviet border. However the removal of Gorbachev from power in 1991 restored Soviet hardliners to the Kremlin and led to a resumption of Soviet hostility towards China. The Soviets were also alarmed at the modernisation of China's economy and armed forces, and the rise of Chinese power played upon traditional Russian xenophobia about being encircled by its enemies. The Soviet leadership took the decision to attack China as early as 1993, and Soviet forces were slowly transferred to the Far East in order to avoid notice by China and Western intelligence services. Using territorial disputes with China along the Sino-Soviet border as a legitimate excuse to attack China, Soviet planners intended to launch a military assault through Manchuria and seize Beijing, and intended to force a regime change in China favourable to the Soviet Union and eliminate Chinese rivalry in one bold stroke before the United States and other nations could influence affairs. The use of nuclear weapons against Chinese forces were not part of Soviet planning, but their use was not ruled out either. Soviet invasion of China 1995 In June fighting breaks out between Soviet Border Guards and the Chinese 52nd Border Defence Force on the Amur River. As regular fire fights and artillery duels occur and Soviet forces cross the Ussuri River into Chinese territory and overrun a contingent of the Chinese Border Defence Forces, China and the Soviet Union move regular forces to the border region by July. US President Tanner appeals for a resolution to the crisis as the UN tries to mediate, but both the Soviet Union and China refuse to negotiate. In response to the build-up of Soviet forces in the Far East Chinese forces conducts ballistic missile tests in the East China Sea close to Taiwan. In response the United States sends the aircraft carrier USS Independence from its homeport in Yokosuka Japan through the Taiwan Strait. On August 19th divisions of the Soviet 1st Far Eastern Front and the 2nd Far Eastern Front cross the Sino-Soviet border. The Soviet 6th Guards Air Assault Division and the Soviet 98th Air Assault Brigade are airdropped into China and seize a number of key river crossings, while Soviet mechanised divisions drive across the border and overrun defending Chinese forces. Soviet divisions advance into Inner Mongolia, Manchuria and Xinjiang Province as resisting Chinese forces and military bases come under Soviet air attack. The Soviet 50th Airmobile Brigade is also dropped behind Chinese lines to block the escape route for several shattered Chinese divisions. As Chinese forces reel under the Soviet assault the Soviet Union officially declares war on the People's Republic of China on August 20th. The United States and NATO place their forces in Europe on high alert and security is tightened on the inter-German border. By the end of August Soviet airborne forces seize key railway junctions, and several Chinese motor rifle divisions are overrun in Manchuria. By September China mobilises reserve forces but the Soviets advance continues, and the Soviet Army occupies large parts of Inner Mongolia, Manchuria and Xinjiang. Soviet Air Force bombers also penetrate Chinese air defences around Beijing and damage a number of military installations in the Chinese capital, while Soviet submarines sink a number of Chinese warships in the East China Sea. By the end of September the Soviets capture the city of Shenyang in Manchuria, but the Soviet advance stalls due increasingly shortages of manpower and equipment and strong Chinese resistance. With divisions of the Soviet 1st Far Eastern Front less than 500 kilometres from Beijing, the United States and NATO authorises emergency arms shipments to China. In October China launches a massive counteroffensive, with nearly two million troops sent against Soviet forces in Manchuria and Northern China. Despite superior Soviet firepower the sheer size of the Chinese offensive forces a general retreat of Soviet forces. A few Soviet divisions are trapped in pockets around Shenyang and have to fight their way out. The Soviet 3rd Tank Division takes heavy losses, while the Soviet 29th Internal Rifle Division and the 38th Internal Rifle Division are overrun and nearly destroyed. By November the entire Soviet front in China is in danger of collapsing, and only attrition and Soviet air power prevents the Chinese advancing on the Sino-Soviet border. The Soviet 173rd Motorised Rifle Division is committed against the Chinese as combat ready divisions in Europe and Western military districts are readied for deployment to the Soviet Far East. However the onset of winter causes the fighting to subside as both sides rebuilt their exhausted forces during the severe cold weather. At the end of the month the Soviets launch a DP-201 high-orbiting military reconnaissance and weather tracking satellite from Plesetsk. In the Soviet Union living conditions begin to fall as industrial production is diverted to support the war effort in China. In December the Soviet Politburo declares martial law in the Soviet Far Eastern, Siberian and Transbaikal military districts and request that Warsaw Pact allies send troops to aid Soviet forces in China. East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland comply with the Soviet request, but Romania refuses to send troops to China which causes noticeable dissent in the Eastern Bloc. The Soviets also begin unrestricted submarine attacks on Chinese shipping in the Pacific Ocean, while Soviet strategic bombers strike targets across China including the populous coastal cities. In response the Chinese 2nd Artillery Corps launches a barrage of conventionally armed intermediate range ballistic missiles against targets in the Soviet Far East and Siberia which severely disrupt Soviet operations. 1996 In the New Year fresh Soviet Category 1 divisions from Europe are transported by rail to the Far East, and the Soviet 9th Guards Tank Division, 18th Guards Tank Division, 22nd Tank Division, 34th Tank Division, 34th Motorised Rifle Division, 1st Guards Motorised Rifle Division and the 106th Guards Air Assault Division are prepared for deployment to China. Although Soviet bombing of Chinese military targets continues over the winter, the Chinese front has remained stable due to a Soviet reluctance to launch ground offensives until adequately reinforced. By February Soviet Category I divisions transferred from the west are moved into position in Manchuria, and are joined by the East German 9th Tank Division and 11th Motorised Rifle Division, the Czech 3rd Motorised Rifle Division, the Polish 4th Motorised Rifle Division and the Bulgarian 5th Tank Group. In April the Soviets launch a fresh offensive against China. The Soviet 1st Far Eastern Front advances on Shenyang and the Soviet 2nd Far Eastern Front assaults Chinese defences north of Beijing. Chinese forces are shattered by the Soviet offensive and the Chinese 16th Army and 23rd Army in Manchuria are routed by the Soviet 1st Far Eastern Front. The Soviet 35th Army advances as far as the Yalu River near the North Korean border, while Soviet forces in Xinjiang Province are aided by Uyghur partisans. By May the Soviet offensive in China stalls as fresh Chinese divisions are transferred from the south to reinforce the Chinese 27th Army and 38th Army defending Beijing. Over the winter Chinese forces were reinforced with NATO arms, and a Chinese counter-offensive led by the Chinese 40th Army breaks through Soviet lines and encircles Harbin and Shenyang. Warsaw Pact troops in Manchuria are hard pressed to hold their positions and casualties increase. During the breakout from the Shenyang pocket the Soviet 70th Motorised Division suffers heavy losses, while the East German 9th Tank Division and 11th Motorised Rifle Division are overrun and destroyed largely due to poor Soviet leadership and communications. Media coverage of Soviet and East German casualties and prisoners of war in China is broadcasted around the world, leading to anti-Soviet protests in West Germany and considerable unease in East Germany. The failure of the Soviet offensive in China leads to a massive mobilisation of Soviet forces. One quarter of the Soviet Army’s Category I divisions deployed in Europe and many Soviet category II divisions are mobilised for deployment to China. Soviet category III divisions are upgraded, and reserve mobilisation only divisions start training for the first time since the Second World War. By June Soviet reinforcements from Europe begin to arrive in the Far East, and the Soviet 27th Tank Division, 23rd Motorised Rifle Division, 33rd Guards Motorised Division, 37th Motorised Rifle Division, 38th Internal Defence Rifle Division, 73rd Internal Defence Rifle Division, 112th Motorised Rifle Division, 116th Motorised Rifle Division, 118th Motorised Rifle Division, 141st Motorised Rifle Division and 158th Motorised Rifle Division are deployed to China. The Soviets also make a second call for troops from Warsaw Pact allies. Even within the highly censured Communist Bloc this news is highly unpopular, but the East German government agrees to reform the divisions destroyed in China. The nationalist officers corps of the Bundeswehr and NVA are alarmed by the prospect of more German troops being sent to China and begin to accelerate plans for German Reunification. In July the Soviet Army goes on the offensive in Manchuria and Chinese cities come under severe Soviet air attack, but the Soviet destroyer Obraztsovy is sunk by a Chinese submarine in East China Sea. In September the Soviet Politburo makes a third call up for more troops from its Warsaw Pact allies to be made ready for deployment to China whether their equipment and training is complete or not. This causes widespread disquiet in the ranks of the Warsaw Pact and an acceleration of German reunification plans. In West Germany the Bundeswehr calls up reserves as part of NATO military exercises, but also positions forces close to the inter-German border. Following the crossings on the inter-German border by Bundeswehr divisions who advance into East Germany, the Soviet General Staff at Checkov orders Soviet forces in China to cease offensive operations until the situation in Germany is contained. By December fighting resumes in China and divisions of the Soviet 1st Far Eastern Front reach the Yalu River on the Chinese border with North Korea for the first time, while the US 2nd Infantry Division is engaged by North Korean commandos in South Korea. 1997 In January the British colony of Hong Kong comes under direct Soviet air attack for the first time. British forces in Asia are amalgamated into the newly formed British 6th Infantry Division and deployed to mainland China in support of Chinese forces. In February the 5th Soviet Army, 36th Soviet Army and the 39th Soviet Army advance against the 38th Chinese Army and 65th Chinese Army in Manchuria. The 36th Soviet Army also advances within 100 kilometres of Beijing, and the 35th Soviet Army also reaches the Yalu River and opens a land route with North Korea for the first time. In response the US 4th Marine Division and 26th Infantry (Light) Division (1st, 2nd Massachusetts & 43rd Connecticut NG) are shipped be sea to South Korea. In June the US 8th Army goes on the offensive in Korea as the US 2nd Infantry Division, 7th Infantry (Light) Division, 25th Infantry (Light) Division, 26th Infantry (Light) Division, 41st Infantry Division and 45th Infantry Division advance on the 38th Parallel as part of a move to reach the Yalu River. In an effort to distract the United States the Soviet's sends military forces across the Bering Straits to invade the US state of Alaska. In July Soviet reversals in Poland lead to the redeployment of the Soviet 1st Tank Division and 9th Guards Tank Division from China to the Polish theatre. By August the North Korean Army retreats back across the 38th Parallel as US and South Korean forces drive towards the Yalu River. US forces meet Chinese forces for the first time when forward elements of the US 2nd Infantry Division cross the Yalu and relieve the surrounded airhead of the 2nd Chinese Parachute Division. Soviet counterattacks cut the 2nd Infantry Division's line of communication, briefly placing it under the command of the Chinese 28th Army. The Soviets also cross the nuclear threshold by using tactical nuclear weapons against Chinese forces in Harbin which changes the nature of the war. Another Soviet tactical nuclear strike destroys the headquarters of the Chinese 28th Army, forcing the US 2nd Infantry Division to march overland through enemy held territory to re-establish contact with the main body of the VI US Corps in Korea. With the Soviet Union and China exchanging tactical nuclear strikes in the Far East, the US 5th Marine Division is shipped from the North Carolina to Korea to reinforce the II US Amphibious Corps. That is all I have on China so far! 
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