Zhenbao Island
Small island that sparked a major border conflict.
Zhenbao Island, also known as Damansky Island, is a small landmass in the Ussuri River, covering just 0.74 square kilometers. It lies within Hulin, part of Jixi in China’s Heilongjiang Province, and marks the border between that province and Russia’s Primorsky Krai. The island’s Chinese name translates to “Rare Treasure Island,” while its Russian name honors Stanislav Damansky, a railway engineer who died there in 1888 while surveying a route for the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Until the 1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement, the island was a point of contention between China and the Soviet Union. China argued that, without a clear treaty, the boundary should follow the main channel’s center line—the Thalweg principle—which would place Zhenbao and about 600 other islands under Chinese control. This dispute escalated into armed clashes in mid-1969, with significant casualties during the Sino-Soviet border conflict. The standoff raised fears of a larger war until a preliminary resolution was reached in November of that year.
In his memoir, U.S. President Richard Nixon recounted a story from Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai about the incident. Zhou said that during the 1969 flare-up, Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin used the hotline to call Beijing. When he asked to speak with Chairman Mao, the Chinese operator refused, calling him a revisionist. Kosygin then requested Premier Zhou, but the operator again declined and hung up. On May 19, 1991, the two sides agreed that the island belonged to China, and Soviet troops withdrew. A 2004 Russian documentary, *Damansky Island Year 1969*, covers the conflict.
- location
- Hulin, Jixi, Heilongjiang Province, China / Primorsky Krai, Russia
- area
- 0.74 square kilometres (0.29 sq mi)
- disputed_period
- Prior to 1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement
- named_after
- Stanislav Damansky, railway engineer (died 1888)
- known_for
- Sino-Soviet border conflict of 1969
Lore & Background
In mid-1969, battles were fought on Zhenbao Island with considerable loss of life during the Sino-Soviet border conflict. The dispute raised concerns that it could ignite World War III until an initial resolution in November 1969. In his memoir, US President Richard Nixon recounted a story that Premier Zhou Enlai told him: during the 1969 flare-up, Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin used a hotline to call China. When the Chinese operator answered, Kosygin said, 'This is Premier Kosygin. I would like to speak to Chairman Mao.' The operator, completely on his own, said, 'You are a revisionist, and therefore I will not connect you.' Kosygin then asked to speak to Prime Minister Chou, but the operator gave the same unauthorized reply and broke the connection. On 19 May 1991, both sides came to an agreement that the island was part of the territory of China, and the Soviet troops withdrew. A 2004 Russian documentary film, 'Damansky Island Year 1969' ("Остров Даманский. 1969 год"), was made about the 1969 incident.
Reader's Guide
Zhenbao Island's significance lies in its role as a flashpoint in the Sino-Soviet border conflict, a Cold War-era confrontation that brought two nuclear-armed communist powers to the brink of war. The 1969 battles, though small in scale, had global implications, as they threatened to escalate into a larger conflict. The dispute was resolved diplomatically, with the 1991 agreement affirming Chinese sovereignty. The island also illustrates the complexities of border delimitation: China (PRC) held that 'in the absence of an explicit treaty provision, the central line of the main channel—the Thalweg principle—provided a legal basis for delimiting the boundary in the two rivers,' claiming that 600 of the rivers' 700 islands—including Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri River, just 180 miles southwest of an important Soviet city, Khabarovsk—belonged to the P.R.C. The anecdote about the hotline operator underscores the deep mistrust between the two nations at the time. A 2004 Russian documentary, 'Damansky Island Year 1969,' later chronicled the incident, preserving its memory in popular culture.
Did You Know?
- Zhenbao Island has an area of only 0.74 square kilometres (0.29 sq mi).
- Its Russian name comes from railway engineer Stanislav Damansky, who died there in an incident in 1888 while charting the future route for the Trans-Siberian Railway.
- During the 1969 border incident, Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin used a hotline to call China, but the Chinese operator refused to connect him, calling him a 'revisionist' and breaking the connection.
- On 19 May 1991, both sides agreed the island was part of China, and Soviet troops withdrew.
- A 2004 Russian documentary film, 'Damansky Island Year 1969,' was made about the 1969 incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Zhenbao Island?
Zhenbao Island, also called Damansky Island, is a tiny 0.74-square-kilometer landmass in the Ussuri River along the Russia-China border. It sits between Hulin in Heilongjiang Province, China, and Primorsky Krai, Russia.
What is Zhenbao Island famous for?
The island is best known as the flashpoint of the 1969 Sino-Soviet border conflict, when armed clashes between Chinese and Soviet troops briefly raised the specter of a full-scale war between two nuclear powers. It remains the most cited example of that confrontation.
How was the Zhenbao Island dispute resolved?
The 1969 armed confrontation was de-escalated within the same year, with a formal border agreement reached in November 1969. The island's exact status, however, stayed officially disputed until the 1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement settled it permanently.
Why does Zhenbao Island matter in Cold War history?
A small skirmish on this 0.29-square-mile island nearly triggered a wider war between two nuclear-armed superpowers, making it a critical escalation 'close call' of the 1960s. Its position on the Ussuri River turned it into a strategic flashpoint along the Sino-Soviet frontier.
Who is the island named after?
The alternate name 'Damansky Island' honors Stanislav Damansky, a railway engineer who died in 1888. The Chinese name 'Zhenbao' (roughly 'treasure-guarding') reflects the island's role as a contested border point.
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