Moreover, Russia’s relative economic decline during the 1990s, at a time when the Chinese economy was growing rapidly, further reduced Chinese perceptions of its vast common border with Russia being a threat. These changes fundamentally altered the dynamic between the two countries. It also caused a reluctant Moscow to accept, over time, its newfound junior status in the relationship. This was not an easy pill for the Russians to swallow, especially given their sense of vulnerability arising from the small Russian population in the Far East—in contrast to the vast Chinese population lying to
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