Open AccessWhite water, Red tide: Sino‐Russian conflict on the Amur 1917–20
Author(s) -
Lin Yuexin Rachel
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
historical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.203
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1468-2281
pISSN - 0950-3471
DOI - 10.1111/1468-2281.12166
Subject(s) - china , nationalism , ideology , white (mutation) , negotiation , spanish civil war , political science , economic history , political economy , history , politics , law , sociology , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
The failure of the White movement in Siberia, one of the key theatres of the Russian civil war, has often been attributed to domestic actors and disunity among the Allies. Less attention is devoted to one of the region's closest neighbours, China. By examining the acrimonious negotiations between China and Russia over Amur River shipping, this article argues that the Whites inherited a legacy of imperial conflict which they were ideologically unable to resolve. Their mishandling of China's nationalist aspirations severely undermined their cause, whereas the Reds won Chinese sympathies through concessions. As in other regions, the White movement collided with nationalism on the Russian periphery.