ABSTRACT
The Soviet Union uses every available means, including political, economic, and ideological-psychological measures, armed intervention through proxy nations, and, only if the situation is propitious, Soviet armed forces. The Soviet Pacific Fleet has been strengthened, especially since 1978. The threat from the seas to the Soviet homeland is greatest in the Far East. And a broad area for operations would be open to the Soviet Navy only if the Soviet Navy could deal a fatal blow to the United States (US) carrier forces and could secure exits to the Pacific through the Soya Strait and passages in the Kurile Islands. The Soviet bases in Indochina also occupy such a favorable relative position as to be able to threaten the US forces in the Philippines and the sealanes in the South China Sea. The behavior of the Soviet Union, Vietnam, and the People's Republic of China casts dark shadows on the stability and security of the East Asia/Western Pacific Area.
