The Soviet Union did not return the land of our country, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia returned the land.
The first return of Russian territory to China was in 1991, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the newly formed Russian Federation inherited the main legacy of the Soviet Union, which mainly consisted of 776% of the territory, 523% of the population, 74% of the economy, 80% of the military power, as well as all the foreign debts of the USSR, arrears lent to foreign countries and legal seats in various international organizations. However, Russia is also facing domestic turmoil and external pressure, and urgently needs to ease relations with China, so it took the initiative to return 9 square kilometers of land in the Siberian region, and thus determined the border between China and Russia.
The second time Russia returned Chinese territory was in 1995, when Russia and China signed the "Joint Statement on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Eastern Boundary Line between China and Russia," which returned to China 5 square kilometers of land in the Far East and on the border between Hunchun and Russia in northeast China. Although the land returned this time is not much, it is the last disputed area on the eastern border between China and Russia, and it is also the last demarcation between China and Russia on the eastern border.
The third time Russia returned Chinese territory was in 1997, when Russia and China signed the Joint Declaration on a Comprehensive Agreement on the Western Border Line between China and Russia, returning to China about 10 square kilometers of land in the Khasan border area in northeastern Russia. The land returned this time is a small corner of the western border between China and Russia, but it is the last disputed area on the western border between China and Russia, and the last demarcation between China and Russia on the western border.
The fourth time Russia returned Chinese territory was in 2004, when Russia and China signed the "Sino-Russian Supplementary Agreement on the Eastern Section of the Sino-Chinese Border", returning half of the Black Blind Island, about 171 square kilometers of land, to China. The return of the land is the biggest dispute between China and Russia on the border issue, and it is also the last negotiation between China and Russia on the border issue. Black Blind Island is an island on the Ussuri River between China and Russia, which has been disputed and even armed since 1964. In 2004, China and Russia finally reached a compromise that divided the island in two, with the Chinese side getting the western half of the island and the Russian side getting the eastern half of the island, thus resolving the border dispute that had plagued the two countries for years.
There are two main reasons for Russia's return of Chinese territory: one is Russia's strategic needs, and the other is China's increased strength.
First, Russia's strategic needs. As a big country, Russia has always had a strong sense of territory and desire for expansion, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's national strength has declined significantly, and domestic turmoil and external pressure have put Russia in a difficult situation. In this case, Russia needs to find a reliable strategic partner to safeguard its national interests and security. As a neighboring country, China is also a rising power, and it has common interests and enemies with Russia, which is the most ideal choice for Russia. Therefore, in order to ease relations with China and improve mutual trust between the two countries, Russia took the initiative to return some Chinese territories in exchange for China's friendship and cooperation.
Second, China's strength has increased. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, China has been working to recover the occupied territories. China has made tremendous progress in economic, political, military, diplomatic and other aspects, becoming the world's second largest economy, a military power with nuclear ** and aircraft carriers, and a political power that plays an important role in the international arena. The increase in China's strength has given China more voice and influence, and it has also given China more confidence and confidence to negotiate and consult with Russia on an equal footing and safeguard its territorial sovereignty and interests. Therefore, the enhancement of China's strength is an important prerequisite and guarantee for Russia to return Chinese territory.