ABSTRACT
The Soviet Union undoubtedly possesses overwhelming military power to face either the Chinese or Japanese alone in Northeast Asia. To a large extent, this burgeoning of military might has been overshadowed, however, by the rapid economic expansion of Japan, Taiwan and South Korea and by the current dynamism of the international relationships among Northeast Asian states and the United States. The Chinese response to its weak position along the Sino-Soviet border has been predominately diplomatic and political. In their opening to the West the Chinese have sought to create potential allies, from among the United States and its European and Asian allies. The emphasis of Japanese foreign policy in Northeast Asia, as elsewhere, has generally been economic. Diplomatic efforts on the part of both nations to strengthen their ties to other Asian and European nations have to a great extent been successful.
