Agreement on the Eastern Section of the Boundary between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the People's Republic of China (1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement)

Country/entity
China
Russia
Region
Cross-regional
Agreement name
Agreement on the Eastern Section of the Boundary between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the People's Republic of China (1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement)
Date
16/05/1991
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
No
Agreement/conflict level
Interstate/interstate conflict (Sino-Soviet Border Conflict (1969 - 1991)
Lasting 7 months, this undeclared border war erupted at the height of the Sino-Soviet split in March 1969 in the area of Zhenbao on the Wusuli River. Ten years earlier, the two allies had stood as champions of communism. Indeed, Soviet Russia played a key role in supporting Communist rebels against the nationalist Koumintang. However, relations soured over differences in ideology and leadership and although a border treaty was drawn up in 1965, Nikita Krushchev refused to sign after allegations by Mao Zedong were leaked that Tsarist Russia had stripped China of its historical territory. Accounts of the conflict vary between Chinese and Russian historians. Nonetheless, a People's Liberation Army raid on a Soviet border outpost on March 2, 1969 left over a hundred dead. Although, the conflict brought both countries to the brink of a greater war, with troops amassing on both sides, this outcome was avoided. The conflict was formally ended in September 1991 with the first border demarcation agreement.Other agreements were signed with formerly-Soviet States included Kazakhstan.
Sino-Soviet Border Conflict (1969 - 1991) )
Stage
Framework/substantive - partial (Core issue)
Conflict nature
Territory
Peace process
27: China-Russia border dispute peace process
Parties
People’s Republic of China
Plenipotentiary
Qian Qichen

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Plenipotentiary
Alexander Bessmertnykh
Third parties
Description
Detailed border demarcation agreement on the Eastern Sector of the Sino-Russian border running through thirty three boundary points running South Easterly from Tarbagan-Dakh to Guoluminiwujiaoshi Mountain. Agreement stipulates that the seventh, eighth, tenth and eleventh boundary points will be agreed upon in another agreement. Agreement establishes a boundary demarcation committee.

Agreement document
CN_RU_910516_Agreement on the Eastern Section of the Boundary.pdf []

Agreement document (original language)
CN_RU_910516_Agreement on the Eastern Section of the Boundary_CN.pdf []

Groups

Children/youth
No specific mention.
Disabled persons
No specific mention.
Elderly/age
No specific mention.
Migrant workers
No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group
No specific mention.
Religious groups
No specific mention.
Indigenous people
No specific mention.
Other groups
No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons
No specific mention.
Social class
No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender
No specific mention.
Men and boys
No specific mention.
LGBTI
No specific mention.
Family
No specific mention.

State definition

State definition
Border delimitation
[Summary] Entire agreement is a border demarcation agreement.

Page 1, Article 1
The contracting parties agree to use the existing treaty related to the Sino-Soviet border line as a basis and to act in accordance with the standards of international law, based on the spirit of equal agreement, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation. In addition, they will use the agreement reached in the process of border negotiations, to fairly and reasonably resolve the historical issue of the Sino-Russian border and clarify and determine the direction of the borderline which runs between the two countries.

Page 1-8, Article 2
[Summary] Description of the 33 border points in eastern section running south east from Tarbagan-Dakh to the Guoluminiwujiaoshi Mountain.

Page 8, Article 3
The Contracting Parties agree to continue negotiations on the direction of the eastern section of the Sino-Soviet boundary, from the seventh to the eighth boundary points, and from the tenth to the eleventh boundary points, in accordance with Article 1 of this Agreement.

Page 8, Article 4
In order to clarify and determine the borderline that is described in Article 2 of this agreement, the Contracting Parties decided to establish a joint demarcation committee on the basis of reciprocity, and to give this committee the task of boundary surveying. This committee will be in charge of determining the exact location of the main channel centreline, river centreline or main stream centreline, and in accordance with Article 5 of this Agreement, will determine the ownership of the islands and islets in the centre of the rivers. It will also establish landmarks, draw up boundary surveying documents, draw up detailed boundary surveying maps, as well as resolving and completing each of the specific tasks mentioned above.

Page 8, Article 5
The Contracting Parties agree on the borderline that is described in Article 2 of this agreement, the navigable river that follows the main channel centre line, and the non-navigable river that follows the river or mainstream centre line. The exact location of the main channel and what is regarded as the borderline’s main channel, the river centre line or the mainstream centre line, thus divide the islands and islets in the river and the section of the watershed that the borderline follows along will be specifically determined at the time of Sino-Soviet boundary surveying.
The main channel is determined by the water depth, combined with the channel width and the radius of curvature, in addition to comprehensive consideration. The main channel centre line indicates the centre line between the two corresponding isobaths of the main channel.
The main stream is primarily determined by the river flow rate at the mid-water level.

Page 8, Article 6
The Contracting Parties agree that the boundary line on the ground between China and the Soviet Union shall also be divided vertically into the sky and the subsoil.

Page 8-9, Article 7
Any natural changes that may occur on the boundary river do not affect the location of the Sino-Soviet boundary line and the ownership of the islands assigned in the field, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties.
After the demarcation of the boundary line of the boundary river, any newly emerging islands in the boundary river will be divided according to the demarcation line. If the newly emerging islands are located on the boundary of the assigned boundary, the two sides shall consult based on fairness and reasonableness to determine their ownership.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed)
No specific mention.
Constitution's affirmation/renewal
No specific mention.
Constitutional reform/making
No specific mention.
Elections
No specific mention.
Electoral commission
No specific mention.
Political parties reform
No specific mention.
Civil society
No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders
No specific mention.
Public administration
No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing
No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing
No specific mention.
Economic power sharing
No specific mention.
Military power sharing
No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL
No specific mention.
Equality
No specific mention.
Democracy
No specific mention.
Protection measures
No specific mention.
Human rights framework
Treaty incorporation
Page 1, Article 1
The contracting parties agree to use the existing treaty related to the Sino-Soviet border line as a basis and to act in accordance with the standards of international law, based on the spirit of equal agreement, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation. ...
Civil and political rights
No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights
No specific mention.
NHRI
No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions
No specific mention.
Mobility/access
Page 9, Article 8
The Contracting Parties agree that vessels of all types, including military vessels, may navigate unobstructed from the Ussuri River (Ussuri River) through Khabarovsk City to Heilongjiang (Amur River). The competent authorities of both sides shall be responsible for regulation of navigation.

Page 9, Article 9
The Soviet side and its related side agrees that Chinese vessels (carrying the Chinese flag) can navigate back and forth along Tumenjiang (Tumanaya River), which is described after the thirty third boundary point narrated in article 2 of this agreement. This specific issue related to sailing shall be resolved by consultation from both parties.
Detention procedures
No specific mention.
Media and communication
No specific mention.
Citizenship
No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law
No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions
No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts
No specific mention.
Prisons and detention
No specific mention.
Traditional Laws
No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction
No specific mention.
National economic plan
No specific mention.
Natural resources
No specific mention.
International funds
No specific mention.
Business
No specific mention.
Taxation
No specific mention.
Banks
No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights
No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights
No specific mention.
Cultural heritage
No specific mention.
Environment
No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access
Page 1-8, Article 2
[Summary] Description of the 33 border points in eastern section running south east from Tarbagan-Dakh to the Guoluminiwujiaoshi Mountain. Several of the border points cross or are situated in rivers and estuaries.

Page 8, Article 4
In order to clarify and determine the borderline that is described in Article 2 of this agreement, the Contracting Parties decided to establish a joint demarcation committee on the basis of reciprocity, and to give this committee the task of boundary surveying. This committee will be in charge of determining the exact location of the main channel centreline, river centreline or main stream centreline, and in accordance with Article 5 of this Agreement, will determine the ownership of the islands and islets in the centre of the rivers. It will also establish landmarks, draw up boundary surveying documents, draw up detailed boundary surveying maps, as well as resolving and completing each of the specific tasks mentioned above.

Page 8, Article 5
The Contracting Parties agree on the borderline that is described in Article 2 of this agreement, the navigable river that follows the main channel centre line, and the non-navigable river that follows the river or mainstream centre line. The exact location of the main channel and what is regarded as the borderline’s main channel, the river centre line or the mainstream centre line, thus divide the islands and islets in the river and the section of the watershed that the borderline follows along will be specifically determined at the time of Sino-Soviet boundary surveying.
The main channel is determined by the water depth, combined with the channel width and the radius of curvature, in addition to comprehensive consideration. The main channel centre line indicates the centre line between the two corresponding isobaths of the main channel.
The main stream is primarily determined by the river flow rate at the mid-water level.

Security sector

Security Guarantees
No specific mention.
Ceasefire
No specific mention.
Police
No specific mention.
Armed forces
No specific mention.
DDR
No specific mention.
Intelligence services
No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces
No specific mention.
Corruption
No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime
No specific mention.
Drugs
No specific mention.
Terrorism
No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general
No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon
No specific mention.
Courts
No specific mention.
Mechanism
No specific mention.
Prisoner release
No specific mention.
Vetting
No specific mention.
Victims
No specific mention.
Missing persons
No specific mention.
Reparations
No specific mention.
Reconciliation
No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory
No specific mention.
Other international signatory
No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement
No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar
No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism
No specific mention.

The University of Edinburgh