Soviet Diplomatic Note

Soviet Government, Diplomatic Note to the Government of the People’s Republic of China. March 2, 1969

 

Original Source: Pravda, 4 March 1969, p. 2.

The Soviet government is informing the government of the People’s Republic of China of the following.

On 2 March at 4:10 Moscow time Chinese authorities organized an armed provocation on the Sino-Soviet border in the region of the border point Nizhe-Mikhailovka (the island of Damansk) on the Ussuri River. A Chinese detachment crossed the Soviet state border and made for Damansk island. According to Soviet border personnel guarding this region, the Chinese side suddenly opened fire with light machine guns … The actions of the Chinese violators of the border were supported by an ambush from the Chinese shores of the Ussuri River. In this provocative attack on Soviet border guards more than 200 Chinese soldiers took part. As a result of this bandit raid there are dead and wounded Soviet border guards.

The impudent armed intrusion across the boundaries of Soviet territory appears as an organized provocation of Chinese authorities and pursues the goal of aggravating the situation on the Soviet-Chinese border.

The Soviet government is lodging a resolute protest with the government of the People’s Republic of China regarding the dangerous provocative actions of Chinese authorities on the Soviet-Chinese border.

The Soviet government demands an immediate investigation and the strictest punishment of the individuals responsible for the organization of this provocation. It insists on the adoption of urgent measures which would exclude any violation of the Soviet-Chinese border.

The Soviet government reserves the right to take resolute measures for the termination of the provocations on the Soviet-Chinese border and warns the government of the People’s Republic of China that all responsibility for the possible consequences of adventurist politics, directed toward the aggravation of the situation on the borders between China and the Soviet Union, lies with the government of the People’s Republic of China.

The Soviet government in relations with the Chinese people is guided by feelings of friendship, and it intends to carry on with this policy. But unthinking provocative actions of the Chinese authorities will be met from our side with a rebuff and will be nipped in the bud.

Source: Vladimir Wozniuk, ed., Understanding Soviet Foreign Policy: readings and documents (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990), p. 183.

 

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