ABSTRACT
In a triangular relationship, the one who is on talking terms with both of his adversaries is likely to gain the most advantage. China acknowledged the new attitude which was forged at Bali, and in May 1976, when Prime Minister Lee was visiting Beijing, the Chinese leadership expressed approval of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and urged that the 'necessary steps' be taken to realize the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality concept. As relations with Vietnam began to deteriorate, China apparently felt it necessary to cultivate friendship with ASEAN. Before the normalization of relations, China used to talk about its friendship with the 'people' of Japan and tried to support the anti-government forces through various 'private' channels, while the Soviet Union also tried, though somewhat clumsily, to draw Japan closer, using natural resource developments in Siberia as a bait.
