Introduction

The Soviet Union is not an east Asian power, but it is a power in east Asia. British experts were gathered from journalism, business, government and universities in the first half of 1982 to produce and comment upon papers covering various aspects of Soviet east Asian policy. The essential features of the Soviet Union remain European, even if the major part of Soviet territory is non-European. Christina Holmes suggests there are no simple solutions to Soviet dilemmas. Soviet–American conflict in the area has steadily declined in intensity, but there remains a bedrock of basically irreconcilable differences. Soviet–Japanese relations are more deeply affected by the US factor and are less concerned with military than economic factors. The rapid growth of the Soviet Pacific fleet has given Moscow at least minimal confidence in the strategic balance, but not nearly enough overwhelming power that it can rest easy.