This is a blog about China and Russia. The two countries share a border stretching 4,300km, and aside from vague mention of compatible economies and friendly ties, there is little discussion of one of the most important relationships in the world. This blog looks at the economic, political and social nuances of the links between Dragon and Bear.

The Third Line was a Cultural Revolution-era policy of Mao Zedong to shift tens of thousands of factories and military bases from coastal areas into the undeveloped interior out of fear of the Soviet nuclear threat. Billions of dollars were spent – mainly on roads – at a time when there weren’t billions to spend, and the vast majority of the factories would never achieve sustainable production. The Soviet Union never attacked.

The author of this blog is a journalist based in Hong Kong.