ABSTRACT
The Thirteenth Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which met in late October 1987, set new directions for Peking's foreign policy. Though significant, these shifts went largely unnoticed by most outside analysts, as their attention was preempted by the top leadership reshuffles and the possible policy implications of the new theory of "initial stage of socialism" launched at the Party session. The reversal in late 1987 can only mean that Peking is prepared to accept the elevation of Peking-Moscow relations from the dungeon of "anti-hegemonism" to the more genial plane of "peaceful coexistence." A high-level mission—headed by Chang Wen-chin, former ambassador in Washington, who heads the Chinese Association for Amity with Foreign Nations—was dispatched to Moscow to attend the ceremonies. This was the first such mission ever sent on the annual occasion since the 1960s. On the larger strategic horizon, from Peking's point of view, there were significant breaks.
