ABSTRACT
The Chinese opening to the United States in the early 1970's was aimed in large part at ending China's untenable strategic isolation between two hostile superpowers, and at heading off collusion against China between Washington and Moscow. Soviet and US actions in response to the Chinese invasion can be explained largely by reference to the triangle rather than to the specific realities of Indochina. In the most general sense, the leadership in each country has looked over its shoulder at the third country while making policy toward or interacting with the second on key issues of national strategy, military posture and diplomacy. The dynamics of the strategic triangle and their impact on policy disputes in Washington propelled the Carter administration toward closer military ties with China as US-Soviet relations deteriorated. The Chinese apparently hoped the action against Vietnam would further exacerbate US - Soviet relations and push the US closer toward an alliance with China.
