ABSTRACT
The political dimensions of Soviet strategy include diplomatic activities, propaganda, and the use or threat of the use of military power for psychological and political purposes. The Soviet interest in East Asia is even more strongly apparent when one considers the sudden increase of Soviet military involvement in the Far East. Moscow's long-term political goal in the Far East is to "Russianize" China. Moscow insists on restoring friendly relations with China based on the "principle of peaceful coexistence," the fundamental rule which is the basis for all relations between the Soviet Union and the capitalistic countries. The strategy of Soviet leaders toward Japan will be successful only when Japan, powerless militarily and therefore isolated politically, is obliged to pour the bulk of its economic and industrial power into the Soviet Union, particularly into the economic development of Siberia and the Far East.
