Since the rulers of the Qing Dynasty implemented the policy of closing the country to the outside world, the national fortunes have gradually declined. Backwardness is about to be beaten, the Western powers ruthlessly ravage the rivers and mountains of China, the strong ships and cannons mercilessly bombard the border fortresses, the Chinese people are in the depths of the water, and the stubborn feudal class has no cure.
The defeat and retreat on the battlefield was accompanied by the signing of one humiliating treaty after another, the indemnity of the land was cut, the sovereignty was reduced, and the rulers constantly retreated and tolerated, allowing other countries to bully. Soon, China's territory was occupied by various countries, and the proud eastern "rooster" ceased to exist.
Of all the countries, Tsarist Russia is the country that has encroached on the largest area of our land, and after several battles, it has ceded a total of 1.5 million square kilometers of our territory, which is regrettable. In fact, my country had the opportunity to recover the lost territory, but it failed to do so, for a number of real reasons.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the political situation in the Soviet Union was turbulent, several reforms ended in failure, the domestic forces were not united enough, and the domestic situation was chaotic. In 1991, when the Soviet Union was officially disintegrated and the country was torn apart, the national strength was weak, and many people thought that this was the perfect opportunity to take the opportunity to recover our territory, but it was not.
First, after the collapse, the Soviet Union was divided into fifteen independent countries, and these countries all occupied part of our territory to a greater or lesser extent, and if they wanted to recover, they had to negotiate with many countries, the process was too lengthy and cumbersome, and at that time, the whole country was carrying out vigorous reform and opening up, focusing on economic development, and there was no time to take care of it.
Second, the occupied territories were deeply integrated into the Soviet Union itself, and it was almost impossible to regain them. These territories occupied by Tsarist Russia cannot be compared with Macao and Hong Kong. The latter is far from Britain, the connection is not very close, and the majority of the inhabitants are still Chinese, after all, blood is thicker than water; the former has long been assimilated by the Soviet union, the residents are mostly Soviet natives, the Chinese have been driven away since the beginning of the occupation, and then immediately moved into the country's people, more closely linked.
Third, at that time, most of the land encroached upon by Tsarist Russia was in the border area, the location was dangerous, the population was sparse, and it was an important territory for developing the country's military industry and preventing foreign invasions. One of the most typical examples is Vladivostok, which has a heavy lifting position in Russia as an important hub of the Trans-Siberian Railway and a key port connecting the Far East.
Fourth, there is still a big disparity in the national strength of the two sides. Although when the Soviet Union collapsed, China had begun to carry out reform and opening up, but after all, it was not deep enough, so whether in terms of military strength or in the people's living standards, china could not compete with Russia. If the country is not strong enough, it lacks the capital and energy to negotiate.
Fifth, the international environment at that time forced it. Recovering 1.5 million square kilometers of territory is by no means a small move, it is bound to cause turmoil in many countries, and if it is not careful, it will also involve the interests of all countries and break out a large-scale war. After several world wars, all countries want to recuperate, and provoking disputes at this time is undoubtedly a disruption to the balance of the world, and it is likely that the gains will not be worth the losses in the end.
Nowadays, our country has gradually become stronger, its military strength has been continuously enhanced, and the people's living standards have also been greatly improved. But with the passage of time, it has become impossible to recover the territory occupied by Tsarist Russia, but this does not mean anything. Territorial area is no longer an important criterion for judging national strength, and in the future, China's development will be faster and more intelligent, and it will become a world power.
bibliography:
The Collapse of the Soviet Union