Lenin 's Thought And Practice Of Russian - Chinese Relations

Guided by the Marxist theory of international relations, and with a scientificanalysis of the international situation and international relations of the new historicalconditions, Lenin formed the basic thoughts of the foreign policies of the proletariatcountries. Among them, Lenin’s thoughts about the Russia-China relations are animportant part with great significance. Affected by the special background of the era andthe complicated environments, Lenin’s basic thoughts and practice concerning theRussia-China relations have double contents: state-to-state relations and class relations.In terms of international relations, it refers to the analysis and cognition of the relationsbetween Russia and China during the Tasrist times, as well as Russia’s diplomaticthoughts and explorations to China. In terms of class relations, it refers to the cognitionand exploration of Russia-China revolution relations, and also the guidance andimprovement of the relation to the Chinese revolution. Through the study of Lenin’sthoughts and practice of Russia-China relations, we can better understand Russia-Chinarelations in the Soviet times as well as Russia’s policy to China, thus deepen theunderstanding of Lenin’s thoughts of international relations, and deepen the experienceof position and principle of the foreign relations about what the proletariat countriesshould have, and draw on the beneficial revelations for current China’s foreign relationsand for the development of the bilateral relations between China and Russia.The paper consists of the following aspects in terms of the basic struture:First, the forming conditions of Lenin’s thoughts of the Russia-China relations. Chinais the largest neighbor of Russia, so Lenin always paid attention to Russia-Chinarelations and China’s reform and development in leading the Russian Revolution and theconstruction. Since modern times, the unequal bilaterial relations caused by TsaristRussia’s aggression is the historical background of the formation of Lenin’s thoughts ofRussia-China relations. Marx and Engels’ international relationship thoughts are thetheoretical basis of Lenin’s thoughts of Russia-China relations. Under the guidance of theidea of Marx and Engels’ thoughts of international relations, Lenin analysed theinternational situation at that time, criticised Russia’s foreign policies, and considered these as the realistic basis of his thinking of the equal Russia-China relations. Leninfirst discussed these problems in his War with China, which marked the formation of histhoughts of Russia-China relations.Second, the basic points of Lenin’s thoughts of Russia-China relations before theOctober Revolution. Lenin’s thoughts of Russia-China relations is divided into two partsby the October Revolution. Before the October Revolution, Lenin mainly exposed andcriticized the Tsarist Russia’s policy towards China which was full of aggression, and theunequality between Russia and China, and analyzed its class nature. Based on this,Lenin put it as the basic requirement to realize the equal Russia-China relations tooverthrow the Czar tyranny, fight against the oppression of international capital, andestablish the power of the working class. The only way to realize the equality ofRussia-China relations is through the people’s revolutionary movement of Russia andChina. Therefore, interactive effects of revolutions from both countries should bepromoted and revolutionary forces should be joined together. Peaceful foreign policiesand equal relation can be achieved only after the proletariat revolution when theproletariat grasps the state power.Thirdly, the main contents of Lenin’s thoughts of Russia-China relations after theOctober Revolution. After the victory of the October Revolution, Lenin and Russiapublished the Peace Act, and abolished "secret diplomacy", actively strived for thestruggle for international peace and determined the diplomacy position of internationalpeace, which laid the foundation for the establishment of the new relationshipbetween Russia and China. The National Equality Policy of the Soviet Union provided atheoretical basis for the establishment of the new relationship between Russia and China.With the propaganda of the Soviet Union’s peaceful foreign policy, they won publicsupport for the establishment of the new relationship between Russia and China as wellas actively showed Russia’s friendly attitude to China, especially through the declarationof the two "Declarations to China", and announced to give up the rights and interestsof all unrighteousness by Russia’s aggression against China, and gathered aconsensus to build the new relationship between Russia and China. Lenin putforward these ideas and implemented new policis, which marked a complete break from the previous unequal deplomacy, and opened a new era of new relationshipbetween Russia and China.Fourthly, Lenin’s practical efforts to promote the normalization process ofRussia-China relations. Under the leadership of Lenin, the Soviet Union graduallyestablished national diplomatic organizations and specialized agencies to deal with issuesof China, actively contacted with the Chinese former diplomats in Russia and in othercountries to show the friendly policy of Russian government towards China. To seekthe normalization of diplomatic relations between Russia and China, Lenin and thegovernment promoted the development of bilateral relations between the Far EastRepublic and China, and attached great importance to the dealing of the unsettledbilateral historical issues, and promoted the direct diplomatic negotiations betweenRussian and China, and finally realized the diplomatic normalization between Russiaand China in May1924.Fifthly, Lenin’s guidance and help to the Chinese revolution. This is an importantpart of Lenin’s thoughts and practice about Russia-China relations as well. Lenin spokehighly of the revolutionary thoughts of Sun Yat-sen and directed and aided the NationalRevolution led by Sun Yat-sen and pushed Sun Yat-sen to establish contact with theSoviet Russia and the Communist International, and aided the South Government and theKMT’s policies. He also attached great importance to the spreading ofMarxism-Leninism and the October revolution experience to the Chinese, instructed andpromoted the first cooperation between Kuomintang and the Communist Party of Chinathrough the establishment of concerned organizations among the CommunistRussia (Bolshevik) and the Communist International.Sixthly, the value and funtion of Lenin’s thoughts and practice about Russia-Chinarelations. Lenin’s thoughts and practice about Russia-China relations enriches anddevelops Marxist theory of international relations, and creates a new model ofsocialist nations’ foreign relations and lays a solid foundation for the friendly relationsbetween Russia and China, and improves the external environment of Soviet socialism. Italso creates the favorable conditions for Chinese social change and development, and itspositive effect is evident. But there are also some historical limitations in Lenin’s thoughts and practice of Russia-China relations, for example, some of his ideas failed tobe carried out effectively due to the lack of operating measures; in terms of Chineserevolutions and bilateral differences, the theories cannot be completely in line withChina’s actual problems. Despite these deficiencies, Lenin’s thoughts and practice aboutRussia-China relations still have very important significance for us to adhere the correctposition in international relations and standards, to engage in a variety of externalexchanges and handling international affairs, and to promote the process of world peaceand development in the new international relations.