Barnett’s caution keeps him within the bounds of his information. One positive result of this is that he makes few mistakes, at least in the articles reprinted in this collection; they date very well indeed. At a time when Communism was generally thought to be monolithic, Barnett repeatedly stressed the paucity of Russian aid to China. When many experts considered that “brain washing” was irresistible, Barnett pointed out that it was possible for a completely insincere confession to be singled out for praise by the Chinese authorities.