Aftermath of the Invasion

Brezhnev's doctrine of "limited sovereignty" is the most dangerous child of Czechoslovakia Under this doctrine, the Soviet Union reserves the right to intervene in any country of what it calls the "socialist commonwealth" where "socialism" i.e. Soviet imperial interests, are threatened.

Following the Czechoslovakian invasion, countries such as Albania, Rumania and Yugoslavia steeled themselves against a possible Soviet invasion. When the Soviet Array began manoeuvres near their borders the leaders of these countries, unlike the Dubcek traitors, mobilised the people to be ready to repel an invasion.

China is particularly endangered by the Brezhnev doctiine. A million Soviet troops have been stationed along the Sino-Soviet border. Soviet troops have created a number of armed incidents along the border, and the Soviet Government obdurately refuses to negotiate the border question. In October 1968, Brezhnev arrogantly demanded that in exchange of a garrison of 100,000 Soviet troops in Czechoslovakia Dubcek had to provide 250,000 Czech troops for the Chinese border. As far as is known, no such exchange was made.

Eugene Rostow prominent adviser to the Johnson Administration, stated privately during his recent New Zealand tour that from 1966-69 Soviet leaders repeatedly proposed to the United States that they make a joint strike against China's nuclear capacity. In July 1970, during negotiations in Vienna, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister. V.S. Semyonov. proposed that the United States and the Soviet Union form an alliance against "provocative actions", the spear-head of which was aimed at China.

The Chinese people have taken the Soviet threat seriously and have made full preparations against such an attack.

The latest talks on European Security in Helsinki have shown that the Soviet Union, for all the prattle about "peaceful coexistence", is ready to repeat the Czechoslovakian adventure. While Gromyko made pious speeches about the "unconditional recognition of the inviolability of frontiers". one of his stooges, Sofinsky, specifically reserved the right for a repetition of Czechoslovak-type invasion. To cover himself, Sofinsky blatantly lied that the Czech Government had invited the Soviet Union to intervene!

Another consequence of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia has been the further exposure of the Soviet Union as a country which is "socialist" in words but imperialist in deeds. If Czechoslovakia had not happened, would it not have been more difficult to understand why the Soviet Union continues to aid the nationalist Lon Not scum in Cambodia?