China blasts Soviets after agreeing to bilateral talks

December 28, 1982

China accused the Soviet Union of plotting world domination and of massing troops along the narrow frontier between Afghanistan and China.

The People's Daily, in a Monday front page editorial to mark the third anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, said that Moscow was bogged down in a quagmire and could never defeat Afghan resistance.

The criticism was published only days after Peking sent a message to Moscow indicating its willingness to continue talks on bilateral relations next year.