ABSTRACT
In the 1990s, Russian-Chinese negotiating behavior on border issues was marked less by compromise than by Chinese willingness to grant Russia territorial concessions and to allow Russian citizens to retain economic use of islands legally transferred to China. A rapid militarization of the border ensued as each side sent troops to protect its turf. To a considerable degree, Russia and China shared complementary interests in Central Asia, notably in the preservation of regional stability, which led them to coordinate their efforts to promote the development of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The endurance and subsequent evolution of the Shanghai Five since 1997 reflected the interests of China in creating a regional structure to foster security and stability in the Central Asian region. In less than ten years, Russia and China succeeded in resolving the border dispute that had obstructed Sino-Soviet relations for decades. At present, the foreign policy orientation of both Russia and China argues for the maintenance of cordial relations.
