George Kennan (Part V)

(15) that Soviet pressure against the free institutions of the west is something that can be contained by the adroit and vigilant application of counter-force at a series of constantly shifting geographical and political points, corresponding to the shifts and maneuvers of Soviet policy.

On the basis of the fifteen points quoted above, I marvel at the foresight of George Kennan who wrote them in 1947. He had a sharp eye in analysing the sources of Soviet conduct, and not surprisingly CCP also had such conducts, particularly in the first 30 years since the latter ruled mainland China.

Even in recent years, I still can see traces of the Soviet conducts in the behavior of CCP. For example in quotation number five above it states that in USSR the mass of Party members might go through the motions of election, deliberation and action; but in these motions they were to be animated not by their own individual will but by the awesome breath of the Party leadership. This situation is still quite true in CCP. Quotation number nine above is also relevant. But now the role of USSR is replaced by China. It seems that when there is something China wants from the US the former's stance may be thrust temporarily into the background; and when that happens there will always some China observers/experts who will leap forward with gleeful announcements that "China's policy have changed," and some who will even try to take credit for having brought about such "changes".

Reference:
1. [George Kennan]. "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" in Foreign Affairs, 1947.
2. US Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.(http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/March)
3. Una McGovern ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.,2002.