China’s international strategic imp

China’s international strategic importance stemmed first from the fact that alone of the other countries in the world it claimed first from the fact that alone of the other countries in the world it claimed to be able to defend itself from either of the superpowers, who in turn had gone to great lengths to contain Chinese power; and second from its independent diplomatic stance as demonstrated by its shift from alliance with the Soviet Union to revolutionary isolationism and now to an alignment with the United States. China’s elevation into the diplomacy of tripolarity also stemmed from the importance the two superpowers accorded the country in their conduct of relations with each other. That, however, did not alter the fact that the dominant strategic relationship in world affairs was still that of the United States and the Soviet Union. The key pillars of the cold war remained in place throughout this period and these emanated from the cold war remained in place throughout this period and these emanated from the confrontation in Europe where the Chinese impact was not great. The Soviet leaders regarded themselves as representatives of the fellow superpower, with whom the Americans had to deal over serious issues. As Brezhnev once put it, Nixon went ‘to Peking for banquets but to Moscow to do business’ .