Draft Versions of Article 4 of Soviet-Chinese Border Security Negotiations

Version 1 - Article IV

"In principle the mutual reduction of the armed forces will be accomplished in comparable geographic zones, the parameters of which are agreed later. The Parties will pursue an additional agreement concerning those regions where there are special conditions".

Version 2 - Article IV

"In principle the mutual reductions of the armed forces should be accomplished in the geographic zones agreed by the Parties. The depth and the other comparable parameters of the zones will be determined later with allowance for the Parties' security interests. The Parties will pursue an additional agreement concerning those regions where there are special conditions".

Version 3 - Article IV

"In principle the mutual reductions of the armed forces should be accomplished in comparable geographic zones having an agreed depth from each side of the border. The Parties will pursue an additional agreement concerning those regions where there are special conditions".

Version 4 - Extreme Position - Article IV

"In principle the mutual reductions of the armed forces should be accomplished in comparable geographic zones agreed by the Parties to an equal* depth from each side of the border. The Parties will pursue an additional agreement for those regions where there are special conditions".

* The criterion of "equal depth" is employed for the western sector of the Soviet-Chinese border where the deployment Armed Forces of the USSR and PRC is comparable. In the eastern sector, where Soviet troops are deployed near the border but the Chinese [troops] are deeply pulled back, the second part of the formula will be used: "The Parties will pursue an additional agreement for those regions where there are special conditions".