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Seaver, my point was that China wasn't the Soviet's most powerful ally in the late 60's/early 70's and that China was never a powerful ally of ours. The reason that Kissinger's talks were successful had more to do with the fact that China had been pulling away from the Soviets for years. There's also an interesting theory that Kissinger presented them with proof that the Soviets attempted to frame the Chinese for an unprovoked nuclear strike on Honolulu in 64 or 65 using an older model Soviet missle sub that sank either by accident or mutiny. I don't know how much credence I lend to that theory, but it would explain the suddenness that the Chinese open to us with.
Sorry for the second threadjack, but the diplomacy angle isn't always the one that is the most effective. Sometimes proving that your enemies aren't treating everyone well is more important than what you have to offer, though.
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Well, choice of words is key. I never said they were their "closest" allies, they were, however, their most "powerful."