In Asia at the beginning of the 20th century, the Eastern Railway was not just a railway, but a meeting point of national destiny and geopolitics. The Eastern Railway, built by Tsarist Russia in 1903, runs through northeastern China and is a key link between the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Far East. The control of this railway is directly related to the strategic balance in Northeast Asia. After the Russo-Japanese War, the southern extension of the railway came under Japanese control, and the northern section remained under Russian control. With the fall of Tsarist Russia and the rise of Soviet Russia, the fate of the Eastern Railway once again became the focus of international attention.
In 1917, after the October Revolution, the Russian tsarist regime collapsed, the Soviet government was formed, and the new regime led by Lenin was determined to overthrow the old imperialist order. Against this background, Lenin saw China as a potential revolutionary partner and decided to use the China Eastern Railway as a diplomatic bargaining chip in order to establish friendly relations with China.
In July 1919, the Russian diplomat Garrahan shocked the world at an intensive meeting in Beijing: "The decision of the Soviet government to return the Eastern Railway to China free of charge is the first step towards a complete end to imperialist domination in Asia." The Chinese officials in the room exchanged mixed glances, both surprised and skeptical at the sudden kindness.
The Beiyang government was not impressed. They are well aware that this move of Soviet Russia is not simply generous, but has deeper strategic considerations. A Beiyang official privately said to his colleagues: "Lenin is just playing a game, and he needs our support to fight against the White Russian forces that are still in the northeast." ”
By 1920, the situation had changed subtly. Soviet Russia initially stabilized the situation in the civil war, but control of the Far East remained precarious. At this time, the second declaration of Soviet Russia on China was issued, and the issue of the return of the Eastern Railway became negotiable. In Moscow, in a modest office of the Soviet Foreign Ministry, Lenin told his advisers: "Now is not the time for a big show of generosity, we need to make sure we have an advantage at the negotiating table." ”
At the meeting table, the atmosphere between the Chinese delegation and the Soviet and Russian delegations was tense and heavy. The representative of the Soviet side, Stalin, calmly stated: "The Eastern Railway can be returned, but we hope that China will support the interests of the USSR in the Far East." The leader of the Chinese delegation responded with a little tiredness: "The China Eastern Railway is China's territory and assets, and we do not accept transactions at the expense of sovereignty." ”
The Third Manifesto of 1923 became more cautious as the two sides tuged forward, and Russia was now more focused on domestic affairs and more conservative in its strategy towards the Eastern Railway, promising only to consider restitution at an "appropriate time."
It was not until 1924, with the gradual consolidation of the Soviet and Russian regime, that the Soviet Union finally made an explicit commitment in the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance to return the Eastern Railway to China unconditionally. This decision not only marks the end of the 30-year-long international dispute over the China Eastern Railway, but also symbolizes China's important victory in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The history of the China Eastern Railway is a microcosm of the modern history of East Asia. It bears witness to the aggression and decline of imperialism, the rise of new regimes, and the difficult journey of an ancient civilization in its quest to assert itself in the modern international system. The China Eastern Railway is not only a track paved with steel, but also a witness line in the historical process, recording the twists and turns of the power game and cooperation between countries.
Lenin once said: "The fate of small countries often lies not in their own strength, but in the evolution of the international balance of power." The story of the China Eastern Railway is a vivid embodiment of this evolution of the balance of power. In the long river of global history, every seemingly local event is closely linked to the fate of the world, and together weaves the richness and diversity of human history. The China Eastern Railway, as a key link in this historical pattern, reminds us that respecting history, cherishing peace, and upholding justice are the common responsibilities and pursuits of people in every era.