What We Saw on the Russia/China Border - Why We Understand the Ukraine Invasion

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We rode motorcycles through most of China/Russia border territory, and met people along the way who explained China and Russia's complex relationship.
This was filmed during Conquering Northern China before we left China - vimeo.com/ondem...
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Shiwei, Inner Mongolia, China
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Living in China for so long, we would like to share some of the comparisons that we have found between China and the west, and shed some light on the situation.
Every week, we take you to a new place in China on our bikes, cover a topic, and reply to your questions.
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Winston and I ride 5000 km across 5 Chinese provinces and discover crazy food, people and customs!
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10,000 km. on motorcycles across China's unexplored northern provinces. The Russian border, Inner Mongolia, and even North Korea!
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[@SparkCroft21]

3:30 Where I can read about this please. This so interesting and I never read about it anywhere. PLease share any reliable source. Thank you in advance. And a huge thank you for the videos.

[@taishanburgermeister8522]

Well, I don’t agree with a lot of the things that you guys have said. Mainly the conclusions and judgments about China. However, as long as you guys don’t blame the Chinese for Russian troops raping Ukrainian women, I can let the other stuff go while this war is going on.

[@Sponsor_Block]

belt and road

[@commentfreely5443]

only cut your hair when the moon is waxing to keep from going bald. Cato the Elder.

[@pakde8002]

VD is cringe af

[@lyle0077]

The footage that you have riding around China is one of a kind. Its so fascinating and fun seeing what is impossible to see otherwise. Keep bringing these videos back!!!

[@commentaccount7880]

gotta be a slow drip lol they cant go get anymore

[@jay_kay709]

@@commentaccount7880 I'd be staying at least an ocean away from the CCP if was them.

[@stlouisix3]

Agreed, Manchuria is my favourite part of China and I was emperors & especially politicians had never persecuted Chinese Catholics because I'd love China even more if it were a fully Christian country (which China was becoming before heavy persecution of Catholics) instead of an anti-Christianity country✝☦✝

[@BrewsterMcBrewster]

I have learned a s&*t ton about China from Winston and C-Milk. God Bless you guys! Thanks for the education.

[@cyclocrossthesea-lionman1824]

Yeah, it's so fascinating to see the geography of a place I know that I will never visit in person. If I watch a video of someone Indonesia , or Mexico , I can imagine myself being there one day, but seeing these remote parts of China , or any part for that matter, i know i will not see them in this incarnation ( unless the CCP falls)

[@Vidhur]

I remember Putin once saying in an interview with western media; "we have no allies, just common interest." Probably the best way to explain the current relation between Russia and China.

[@Rune-Thorne]

It won't last if secondary sanctions hit China...China has a goal to be the largest economy so losing potions of their own trade with the EU and the US quickly changes their own geopolitical goals.

[@Vidhur]

@@Rune-Thorne The problem with these endless waves of economic sanctions is that they are sidecauses of more military conflicts. Usually these sanctions only work as catalysators or accelerators to the existing problems. Moral grandstanding doesn't fix the issues, even if we're right about everything, it doesn't mean characters like Xi and Putin will just play softball when we throw around a new sanction-streak. It hasn't worked yet, maybe we need to think about cutting our losses.

[@Rune-Thorne]

@@Vidhur Xi will cut Putin's throat if it puts at risk his goal of replacing America as the world's dominant economy, that is his target, and they were both betting on NATO and the EU giving up on Ukraine and this being an embarrassment. What Putin was really hoping was that Trump damaged NATO enough that it could no longer be called an effective organization. I have been a victim of Putin's global game, blown up by his proxies in his war against Jeffersonian Democracies. He has always hated the West and always wanted to destroy it, he's 2 years shy from reaching the life expectancy of the Average Russian and his clock is running down to leave his mark as Vlad the great is passed.

[@Rune-Thorne]

oh, and by the way....part of me would love for China to be world dominant, because then the people that hate America, will turn their attention to China and their behavior, and criticize them for being the dominant economy...because that's how it all works.

[@nickywilliams8540]

Simple & to the point.

[@davidle438]

Hi guys, Love your channel. There is a small fact I think it worth mentioning. I was borned and raised in the Mekong delta not very far from the Vietnam and Kampuchea border. At around 78-79, I was in 10th grade in high school when all the students had to learn how to shoot gun and grenades and all of the military drills because the Khmer Rouge was invading all along the border and started kill people just like they did in their country. I was scare to death waiting for them to come which they never did because the Vnese army fought back and went over to Cambodia to get rid of the Khmer Rouge. Right now, if you guys go to those border towns you will see museums with skulls, bones, pictures about the Khmer Rouge invasion. I think within like a week, the vnese had the Khmer Rouge on the run, it was so fast that China had to send the air force to rescue PolPot from the capital and open another front in the north of Vietnam to relieve the pressure for the Khmer Rouge, also "teach VN a lesson". 2 of my classmates volunteered to go fight the chinese up north because of a dare from one of the hot girl from our class. One died from Malaria, not from fighting because the chinese didnt get very far, they didnt even met the Vnese regular army yet. All they did was fighting with the local militias. The Vnmese regular army was waiting for them north or Hanoi. I came to United States later and was surprised to find out that most people here hated the vnese for colonizing the Cambodia which I found it was strange since we kinda save the Cambodian and vnese ppl from the Khmer Rouge, it costed the vnese a lot and at the time Vietnam didnt have a lot, very poor in fact, and there is nothing in Cambodia that the Vnese needs. I have met a lot of Chinese from China and they are all proud of the fact that China kicked the Vmese's ass from this war. I didnt bother to correct them. Thankx for your guys works and mention about this war. I almost fell off the chair when I saw the chinese PM saying China NEVER attacked any one with a straight face .... LMAO Thanks and keep up the good work guys.

[@vincentyeo88]

Thank you for your detailed information. By murdering millions of Cambodians, were Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge executing some kind of ethnic cleansing or carrying out the depopulation agenda? Were they instructed by some overlord to do just that?

[@1Mutton1]

The Chinese are able to say a lot of lies with a straight face. It's part of their culture. It doesn't even annoy me much anymore, I just expect it.

[@tariklyacoubi8197]

Thanks for the detailed comment , I can't never understand how many genocides we humans are capable of, it's sad and disgusting.

[@maxi123ism]

@@vincentyeo88 It was a communist revolution and takeover. They were executing ideological rivals, capitalists, intellectuals, and when they ran out of those they started killing teachers, dentists, people who wore glasses and so on

[@arbiterodie7685]

David - I'm curious who you talked to in the United States about the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. I have seldom encountered people here (in the US) who possess even the most basic knowledge about the US presence in Vietnam, let alone knowledge of what happened after the pullout and the subsequent NVA/Viet Cong takeover of South Vietnam. Were they cambodian expats or something?

[@gregw3044]

You guys have a phenomenal, extremely informative channel together and individually as well. Realistically on a finite income this is stuff I’d never be able to see without your efforts

[@cmonkey63]

I'm so glad you guys went to the places you did, but even more that you report back what you saw and learned. Love this channel.

[@kylerae9196]

A large reason for Vietnam kicking the Khmer Rouge out of Cambodia, was because the Khmer Rouge were obsessed with regaining the traditional (largest historic) borders of Cambodia. Which included villages inside of present day Vietnam. So they kept crossing the border and ransacking/murdering/kidnapping Vietnamese villagers. Vietnam didn't take kindly to it, for obvious reasons.

[@archlich4489]

Did not know that. Thank you!

[@HaiNguyen-jg1er]

@@archlich4489 the massacre of Ba Chuc: killing 3,157 civilians is the tipping point.

[@sirmiles1820]

This is true. That is why Vietnam invaded them and discovered the brutality of Khmer Rouge. Before they Invaded Vietnam pleaded then to stop killing and plundering because they are both communist brother but it was rejected and so Cambodia intensified its crimes givig Vietnam a fucking hard reason. Its not the same as Ukraine tho

[@someblackguy7371]

i kinda see why China feels sympathetic to that now.

[@PerfectSense77]

They should have known better than to mess with the people who just sent a superpower packing with their tails between their legs.

[@cstephen98]

China and Russia have never been friends (except when coming together to condemn the West or for specific instances where self-interest overlapped). They've always been rivals for power in Eurasia.

[@dreamersiminegev6203]

only thing what russia and china have common is that they both hate u.s.a

[@plaguedoc7727]

China and Russia didn't even knew each other existed until the 1600's.

[@HaydenLau.]

Russia is not a rival to China. Russia is... Very weak compared to China. There are only 2 superpowers in the world, USA and China. They are on an entirely different level. No one else can really rival them

[@stevemcgowen]

@@HaydenLau. China isn't even technically a superpower. They are a regional power...

[@R0G3RZ87]

@@HaydenLau. well considering you just made that up not a bad guess there's 8 more can you work it out ?

[@williamlloyd3769]

Got to say both of you got around China. Really too bad country is no longer accessible to you for road-trips. Appreciate your insights into what actions, that are glossed over, really mean

[@dongshengdi773]

China has always been at War since ancient times up to this day. Warring States period. The Three Kingdoms Kublai Khan Mongols Opium Wars War against Kuomintang War against Japan War against Korea invaded Xinjiang, East Turkestan invaded Tibet invaded Inner Mongolia invaded Russia, Tielieketi and Damansky invaded Vietnam invading India, Ladakh, Galwan invading Taiwan now invading South China Sea The list goes on and on , literally thousands of Wars. Check out List of Chinese wars and battles in online encyclopedia.

[@darknessviking]

i wonder what it feels like to waste a decade of your life in a country that doesnt like you and that doesnt want you

[@timmmahhhh]

@@darknessviking so they both met their spouses there and immersed themselves in a culture very different from their own, and have and share the knowledge of those experiences to shed light on the perspective on the world's largest nation by population. Sorry that doesn't at all sound like a waste to me.

[@Bufekana]

@@timmmahhhh 👍👍👍

[@rpraetor]

@@darknessviking Must be like your everyday life.

[@wobblechopps2010]

Genuinely one of the most eye opening travel videos I’ve seen, especially in the wake of what’s happening it’s so fascinating to learn things about the Russian & China border . These villages are amazing in how they have been split . I just hope that their is enough peace in the world that I and others can travel to these places! My travels start very soon in Australia. Thanks for the great insight, can’t wait for more . Peace & stay safe everyone

[@jorgerobles8334]

I love watching these guys' videos!!!! They allow us to remember a lot of historical facts in a very amusing fashion!!!!! Keep doing your excellent videos!!!!!

[@agalah408]

I asked my friend who grew up in China and went to university there, "What are your thoughts on Pol Pot and Kampuchea?' He replied "Who's Pol Pot?" History....with Chinese characteristics.

[@PhilJonesIII]

This is exactly what has been happening to the teaching of history in many western countries.

[@deeh.513]

If you ask in USA who's Pol Pot almost nobody will know, that history isn't even taught here, many can't find Ukraine or Iraq on map yet they're having wars there...

[@PerfectSense77]

@@PhilJonesIII Well I can't speak for every Western country, but growing up in the West we had to read an entire book about that in high school.

[@PhilJonesIII]

@@PerfectSense77 It was all happening when I was at school. I acknowledge there is a problem with teaching history, there is so much of it.

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

No US high school student would know who Pol Pot was. But, they are taught that men can have babies.

[@b.w.22]

When I was in 8th grade, we had a class called Soviet Studies and one point of information I remember that really drove home the depth of distrust between China and the USSR, even in the late 80’s, was that the Soviets had fifty divisions arrayed along their shared border. Now that number could be inflated or just estimated by whatever intelligence service saw from space, but if it were true, the Soviets had something like a half-million men guarding against invasion from their “so much real deep friends forever” China.

[@arlenbell4376]

What happened to the news story last week that said Russia was moving some of its troops from the eastern border (China?) to Ukrainian?

[@effexon]

@@arlenbell4376 im interested too, I thought it is unprecedented both russian doctrine to protect borders from every side and this other side that even friends are not that friendly neighbors... eg japan and china , many countries still have 100 year old border disputes with russia.

[@MrNajibrazak]

the distrust still exists but CCP are experts in taking advantage of situations.

[@sivartb7273]

Soviet Union almost nuked China, America prevented it.

[@jeffreythompson9549]

In the 60's that border was supposed to have been the most militarised in the world. So we learnt at school.

[@MaxJanowiczSawicki]

As someone who served in the Russian military I can confirm that these guys near the border are most likely local villagers who are wearing camo pants and a tank top. But the buildings with towers and stuff are some kind of a border posts, but border guards are not a part of the military in Russia. In the military you don't have time to do shit, since officers will do everything to keep you occupied, even if that means digging trenches for no reason, so I'm not even taking about swimming in a river and drinking booze lol (and you will be punished severely if you get caught with alcohol and/or drunk in the Russian military, which isn't surprising).

[@chino19963]

That’s pretty interesting, drinking alcohol seems like a culture in the American military, the only way you can get in trouble is if you’re underage, drinking and driving, and being drunk at work

[@MaxJanowiczSawicki]

@@chino19963 I mean you can do whatever, just try not to get caught lol. Of course we had alcohol in the military, but we had to hide in a bathroom in the middle of the night to drink it lmao, but to be honest, we preferred food over booze, since food in the military (here at least) resembles the one from a school canteen, and we got annoyed by it pretty quickly, so we smuggled kebabs, wraps, burgers and stuff, even snickers bars lol. Anyways, pardon me for writing an essay. Cheers

[@raimonestanol8234]

@@MaxJanowiczSawicki 19:27 as if the US and Europe hadn't propped up terrible regimes...

[@andriyselezen9513]

Hope you will lose

[@MaxJanowiczSawicki]

@@andriyselezen9513 You mean the Putin's military? I hope that they will loose too, because it will give us, Russian people a chance to destroy this tyrannical regime and make sure that there will be no new Putin. His regime is already crumbling, and hopefully, in less than a year or two we will see a new democratic Russia, and a white-blue-white flag above the Kremlin. Слава Украïнi! Жыве Беларусь! Россия Будет Свободной!

[@juancarlosvaldes4538]

Thank you Winston and C-Milk for this great and educational video on Russia and China! I hope you guys are safe and see you on your next video! From Miami, Florida!

[@jacko4483]

This was one of the best episodes you two have done! Very informative and revealing. I was impressed with your depth of knowledge of the wars, skirmishes and territorial issues both past and present! Thanks for all your hard work!

[@Upioornica]

Chinese people seeing Serpentza on the border: Oh, you're Russian! Serpentza: Actually, I'm from Africa

[@KazeHorse]

Chinese government: need a belt or a road?

[@lamar_actual]

And they are caucasian Chinese. lol

[@PerfectSense77]

Nope he says "I'm British" ;)

[@buildinasentry1046]

@@PerfectSense77 huh

[@christophermacintyre5890]

@@KazeHorse No, but I could use a belt before hitting the road. Pass the jug over here!

[@nono-su3iu]

i love the shots of your visit to the northern border of China, that huge open sky is so beautiful. always appreciate your vids, highly informative!

[@michellebarnhill5130]

I love these guys!

[@Agustin-jo8mv]

I love them more.

[@terjejohnsen3651]

Yes they are awsom.

[@simonmcdaniellswiss]

so go to see the Milk/Serpent are still making quality KZbin videos !! love it guys!

[@JCSAXON]

I haven’t seen one of your videos in quite some time. I just wondered how you were doing, and you popped up in my algorithm. I found that disturbing but I’m glad you’re both healthy and well. Cheers from the states

[@rabadeuce814]

Great video - You guys definitely dive into history that most people get zero exposure to. Keep it up!

[@ClorinasWish]

I watched this two full times already, it really is a great video. Thanks for providing us with this awesome footage. I really have to say how beautiful this area is, and I especially like the open skies with mountains in the background in the timestamp of 2:30 or so. Stay awesome!

[@stonewolf7850]

I'm positively envious of your guys journey and experience that you had. What an awesome trip.

[@barbravire8994]

MISSED YOU GUYS JUST FOUND YOU ALL AGAIN, BEEN WITH YOU GUYS FOR YEARS!

[@frost1183]

I’ve lived in Russia and spent some time in Ukraine and when I say that this thing goes back years and years it’s no joke it’s been a very confusing cultural and national problems

[@FuriousImp]

Do you think Ukraine's "propaganda" is mostly correct? Or is there an element of wild exaggeration such as we've seen on the Russian side of wartime propaganda?

[@Klonoahedgehog]

It's cool that you guys recorded yourselves biking around the old Windows XP background in the beginning of this video.

[@snippen1]

Not bad getting keeps as a sponsor. Congrats and hopefully they will stay with you. They are known for being more willing to sponsor more ``controversial´´ creators so im sure it will be a long lasting relationship :). Love the Adv china stuff. Hopefully u have a bunch of more traveling videos up ur sleeves otherwise you just have to travel again wich would be amazing.

[@eheersink]

This was a really great episode. I appreciate your insight

[@alexvig2369]

I'm originally from Russia and still have family there. Russians are *definitely* very cautious about China and their territorial claims. However, most westerners don't know it, but in the 1990s post-Soviet collapse the Chinese did invite the Russians to talk and settle their borders once and for all. Supposedly, this settled border from the 1990s is supposed to last, but who knows...

[@kevinansley7353]

So was Ukraines

[@HomeByTheSeas]

@@kevinansley7353 USA and EU didn't hold their end of the deal. They bluffed Russia and got called.

[@ovrskr]

It was a big reason for the creation of Mongolia as a state. White Russia and later Soviets gave any support needed to Ulan Batar to become a state and handle the borders between China and Russia.

[@alexvig2369]

@@kevinansley7353 So long as the CCP or current Russian regime remain in place, this border should be stable. In Ukraine you had a coup d'etat in 2014 that installed a very hostile regime to Russia, so the equation changed.

[@canicetang8837]

Interesting. That border blue sign at 15:22 of the video clearly said, "(It is) required to shepherd your flock. Mandatory to prevent livestock from leaving the border"

[@1Mutton1]

These videos are a bit like slide night watching my parents travel photos from the 60s and 70s. Love you have this all recorded and are willing to share.

[@OrbitalAstronaut]

Vladivostok means lord of the east. For China it could be highly strategic area. A port outside the Yellow Sea gives unmolested access to the Pacific Ocean. Some of the territory on the other side of the Amur river also looks like a ripe prize if Russia becomes too isolated.

[@KyleOfTheNorth]

Yeah it's kinda funny how Russia completely shuts off China to the Sea of Japan. I bet China is salty about that.

[@alanparsonsfan]

Exactly. Google First Island Chain...

[@ghmj2607]

@@KyleOfTheNorth china feels salty about everything though. they're salty about the west, they're salty about russia, they're salty about japan, they're salty about s. korea. they're literally the whiniest on the planet. china just believes any land bordering it was theirs at some point in history. claiming that south korea belongs to china bc they found a couple of ancient chinese pots lmao even though south koreans have more in common with the mongolians (DNA) than han chinese.

[@valdivia1234567]

@@ghmj2607 They do seem to be the least happy people on the planet.

[@ghmj2607]

@@valdivia1234567 the happiest Chinese ppl I've seen are Chinese ppl living outside of China lmao and i had lived in China for 10 years

[@OspreyKnight]

Really appreciate your videos. Your knowledge of history really gives context to what we're seeing now.

[@dpraptorP]

Wow, what a great eye-opening video! Thank you for sharing this vital information!

[@bpg786]

You have some fantastic footage of that part of the world. I have always wanted to visit Mongolia and Northen China, but unfortunately, a foreigner could not do a trip like that any longer. Love the footage and insights from living there for as long as you did 👏

[@genes2311]

Pretty cool you guys went to all these far away places most of us can not even dream of going. Awesome video !

[@SabrinaConstance]

Great video. This one was particularly fascinating. Thank you.

[@MasterMalrubius]

Talk about going off the grid. I looked at maps of the area. That is days of riding from any airport or rail station. Amazing.

[@Daren_PNW]

@@MasterMalrubius and on small cc bikes, nonetheless.

[@This_is_my_real_name]

Maybe you address this (I just started watching the video), but I don't see Russia and China as friends. And it seems pretty clear to me that China has designs on the Russian landmass, one of the few remaining vast untapped natural resources. So, with Russia tied down in Ukraine, wouldn't it be ironic if China -- "The Art of War" students -- decided to drop the whole "Taiwan" ruse, and make a move on Russia? And wouldn't it be even more ironic if Russia went "Full 1984" and segued into "enemy change" mode? "Hey, America! Sorry about that whole Ukraine thing. Anyway, we _really_ need your help! You wouldn't want _China_ to own Europe _and_ Asia, right? Right? _Right?"_

[@chottochotto7112]

You may not care but what you have described is the exact scenario that is the subject matter of several orthodox Christian prophecies made about the end of the world since at least 1100 AD. Including the bit about the west turning against china after it gobbles up Siberia. There is something transient about this new partnership.

[@KingPickleBk]

That would be a good play. China moves on Russia and will have the support of the world behind them right now

[@jtothew4201]

I was thinking the same thing but you would imagine, Russia's nukes will make sure China never thinks about that.

[@vinhbao9738]

Russia have nukes bro. If Chinese dare to invade Russia will retaliate with nukes.

[@GAndreC]

China would not win that and unlike Ukraine they have an actual military structure that would keep the party from doing that as any potential long term propaganda victory would be seriously diminished and it would isolate China more

[@MrBarefoot09]

awesome video guys , great info without rambling on like many others , you sum things up very well , great pics

[@jimcameron9848]

Awesome video and timely.

[@sebastianriemer1777]

I'm surprised about the good condition of the tarmac roads in the middle of nowhere. Its usually not a good sign if your neighbour is building nice streets at your border.

[@trevorsomers8344]

Probably hardly ever used

[@accountuser5588]

I've always been fascinated with borders of every sort whether it be country, county or even city. What is special about this border is that it's the divide between the caucasiods and the mongoloids.

[@stevedavenport1202]

County border are kind of boring.

[@kabardinka1]

Lots of people in the Russian far east are not ethnically Russian. There are lots of Koreans, Yakuts, and Tuvans who aren't white. Ironically, many of the white people in the Russian far east are actually Ukrainian, not Russian.

[@sebastianriemer1777]

Or German. Russia deported nearly all Wolga Deutsche to siberia and about all Deutschrussen I met in Germany (German citizenship is by blood so if you can prove German heritage you get the passport) came from siberia.

[@gumdeo]

@@sebastianriemer1777 Weren't many Germans also sent to Kazakhstan?

[@twistmynips]

If you knew anything about borders it would be that they've constantly shifted through war, conquest, treaties etc. A border means nothing in terms of the ethnicity of people already living there. Russia is made of multiple ethnicities within its own border.

[@MasterMalrubius]

I'd love to see a video on your support group. Or a longer one where you determine your route, plan the logistics and how you go about filming on the trip.

[@pi1392]

watch their "conquering northern china" long film.

[@Tacit_Tern]

Is that milkdog mah jong image available elsewhere? Been trying to make a custom hoodie with it for over a year now.

[@lesliesavage9229]

Thanks guys. Nice to have a different perspective than most channels are giving.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

I know a Russian fencing instructor in my city who used to work in the KGB as a border guard in the far east, keeping watch over the border with China. The USSR and PRC weren't friends after the Sino-Soviet split. So, in a way, the Russian Federation today's far eastern flank is more secure than the Soviet one was in the past.

[@Triadii]

Good. Russia is the less of two evils.

[@bighongus4243]

​@@Triadii funny.

[@antonyrudiger907]

I know an American fencing instructor in my city who used to work in the CIA as a border guard in the far south, keeping watch over the border with Mexico. The US and Mexico weren't friends after the Texas invasion. So, in a way, the America's today's far southern flank is more secure than the Soviet one was in the past.

[@jhonbus]

"No no, we didn't lose to North Vietnam.. We'd, er, finished teaching them a lesson so we left!" Haha, where have I heard that one before :)

[@peterfireflylund]

They just prepared for another victory, closer to home…

[@xLymonx]

It's their strategic retreat.

[@willbass2869]

Biden......Afghanistan

[@doujinflip]

The PVA were originally sent into Korea to 'annihilate the Americans', but when they evacuated out of Changjin and Hamheung practically intact and regrouped to push them back from the South, Mao silently changed China's mission there to 'save North Korea'.

[@Dept246]

Deng promised that it was limited war to both the Americans and Soviets at the time. They just wanted to give Vietnam a bloody nose and not have a costly invasion. If the PLA had attacked Hanoi they would have suffered massive causalities because it was heavily defended. Both sides according to western estimates lost about 30,000 men.

[@lakefiftyseven]

Very interesting. Keep us informed. You guys are very unique in your knowledge.

[@Elcapitaan5]

I'm glad you mentioned the Khmer Rouge and the support that helped them commit genocide. Behind every genocide is either an enabler or an endorser.

[@hotcakesism]

Such as the CIA

[@Elcapitaan5]

@@hotcakesism quite right.

[@dragonace119]

@@hotcakesism To be fair in regards to the CIA while they did initially fund the Khmer, it was the CCP that funded the main bulk of it especially in the latter half leading to the Chinese invasion of Vietnam.

[@alanbaskaev3907]

Thanks for sharing this incredibly interesting stuff boys

[@timhammonds2382]

Exceptional Content…..Honored To Have Discovered

[@cy0031]

If you would like a deeper look into the history of the Soviet-Sino relationship read "Enter the Dragon" by Russell Spurr It tells of how Mao and company felt cheated and robbed by the Soviets.

[@deadrivers2267]

@Pedro Ortega Thanks for using italics instead of quotations to denote movies.

[@Matt_from_Florida]

When the Cold War ended in 1991 there was such a sense of hope and optimism in the world. Now look. In only 30 years people have completely mucked it up again!

[@julius43461]

I miss "the end of history" period so much, but I knew that it couldn't last. It's only in a unipolar world that such optimism can exist. There is also the fact that it was your perspective only. Majority of people around the world didn't feel that optimism, but were rather devastated by the failure of their governments and their defeat against the west. As a matter of fact, the rest of the world was waiting for the opportunity to turn the tide and do their own thing, and we are kind of seeing that now with the recent events surrounding Ukraine.

[@emmaearnshaw3282]

It's not the people that have done this.

[@gumdeo]

Yeltsin wanted Russia to join NATO, the USA should have accepted.

[@ced1244]

@@gumdeo There was fear back then (warranted or not) that Russia only wanted to join NATO so they could destabilise it from the inside.

[@thetawave2473]

I have a feeling it’s a bunch of corporations and billionaires and bankers that mucked it up. The only way the normal people have mucked it up is being stupidly blind to the aforementioned corporations / billionaires etc.

[@RickyJr46]

These border scenes showed both sides, and we should strive to do the same with conflicts. Censoring or ignoring one viewpoint makes a broader understanding very difficult. Fascinating insights from you gents, as always - thank you.

[@HomicidalTh0r]

Incredible video! Thank you for sharing

[@nicholasbansraj5489]

You guys are great. Really enjoyed this video.

[@Todd66]

I’ve been watching this channel a couple years at least and I’ve watched these guys grow and age… seeing grey in their hair… Matt’s hair looks pretty good with the grey. Winston’s hair is like mine… I really like these guys. Good people

[@jeygee3736]

A lot better and more classy then the emo fringe he was rocking before.

[@Todd66]

@@jeygee3736 lol

[@gigiwills7851]

Six years ago, my long wished-for trip to China got indefinitely suspended due to an unexpected dodgy heart. *Then* I discovered you two touring around China, and I joined in happily. Your years touring have given me some context to interpret current events. I have so enjoyed the tour of China and your perspective. I'm glad you are in the states now though. It appears we are in those "interesting times" the parable speaks of.

[@youreprettygood2603]

In Heilongjiang there are also villages full of White Russians near the border with Vladivostok, and not one Han Chinese to be seen, came across them on my exploration of Dongbei.

[@polynesianwarrior2166]

But, before 1912 most who live in Siberia are Turkic,innui,etc they are definitely east asian descent with turkey ethnicity

[@abysses]

Thank you both for all the amazing content you create, together and solo.

[@Dancemom-hw2jt]

Thanks for the very informative video! We would never see this footage without you guys. Greetings from Miami!

[@ryanburke7763]

Hey guys I’ve been watching your content for over a year now and you two have unique insights and perspectives that give charisma to your content. Sometimes I feel like I am a part of your adventures! Thank you for providing such important content and sharing your experiences with us. Cheers!

[@ADVChina]

Thanks mate! Glad to have you along for the ride!

[@theaveragejoe5781]

Mongolia steppe is just amazing. Can't wait for ADVMongolia 😃

[@theaveragejoe5781]

Oh, and amazing episode, both in terms of stories and footage!

[@Robin-ci2kx]

never seen or read a thing about this border area- really glad you guys have such immense curiosity. It was all amazingly not what I had thought. Cities? Never would have guessed.

[@TheLaXandro]

6:11 that architecture is actually kinda hilarious, with everything looking like a bootleg St Basil's cathedral. Its architect was literally blinded at the orders of the tzar so that he never builds another one of those ever again and it forever remains a unique feature, and so there are only two buildings of this style- itself and Spas na Krovi in St Petersburg, which was a very special occasion almost 300 years later to commemorate assasination of the emperor.

[@olivegrove2615]

the saying "keep your friends close but your enemies closer" represent the China Russia relationship.

[@jimflagg4009]

Mao starved the Chinese people so he could out pace USSR in wheat. (Never mind you covered it)

[@kruncytheklown]

Nice job guys. Learned a lot.

[@disposedemoivltmts2701]

I'm glad I found your channel it's better than the news

[@КириллМайхрук]

I'm Russian and the sign on military building says "built in honor of the 50th anniversary of Soviet power"

[@beth5763]

This was super interesting! I live in China, and it's so fascinating to learn about such unique locations and their history. Thanks for sharing.

[@isaiahmcclure8894]

I also live in China, I thoroughly enjoy my life here :D

[@littlebrit]

Father of my friend told me that he took part in China-USSR border conflict. It was many years ago and I don't remember much he told about it. He said that China had installed automatic shooters, so it was hell for Russians (He is not Russian, but Russia usually sent conscripts from other nationalities to the conflict zones).

[@adropintheocean9421]

Stories in China said it was hell for chinese soldiers as well. For the lack of anti tank weapons, they had to crawl under soviet tanks and suicide bomb them.

[@henrylawson430]

You guys have really lived! Awesome video.

[@ingwerschwensen8115]

I like all your vids, more or less of course, for all the reasons many people already, and rightly, pointed out in the comments. But this one belongs into that special category of hard to find or never before seen rare footage, paired with an informative commentary. I also liked the significant historical context you gave, even including the 3rd Indochina War which was politically enlightening but is nearly, and wrongly, forgotten today. Good stuff. Thanks.

[@lacintag5482]

The border thing is hardly unique to Communist nations. For every border on the planet (especially recent borders) you'll find people near it who were cut off from their families and people by it. In my country of Israel many Druze people found themselves not only separated from their relatives in Lebanon and Syria, but political enemies.

[@jhonbus]

Exactly right. The whole idea of the nation state is really very new, only a couple hundred years old. Most places in the world had no hard borders. Whether you were Russian or Chinese or anything else had much more to do with your own personal history and ethnicity than your location.

[@tinarichardson5990]

Very interesting video - thank you! You mentioned the underground nuclear shelter in Beijing, I recently heard about this via an article in National Geographical. They have photos and interviews with some of the million people who currently live there. Definitely worth a read!

[@BountyFlamor]

Why do they live there? Did they make flats out of the bunker?

[@audreyandlinCompany]

You've forgotten that the ROC/KMT had a good relationship with the Soviet Union. Chiang Kai Shek was a big fan of Stalin's methods and his son, Chiang Ching Kuo, trained in their security offices and returned to China with a Belarusian wife. In fact, he created and established the Garrison Command (i.e. "Secret Police") in Taiwan. So why would Mao trust the Soviet Union when the US doesn't trust the ROC? Added: Everything changed when Taiwan left the United Nations (depends on your perspective) -- then Chiang and the ROC lost all their power and credibility.

[@davidgibbon1020]

interesting, not sure if correct, but China history books say Chiang Kai Shek fled to Taiwan whilst other say he went to repatriated/recover/rest his army.

[@ameliah8164]

是的

[@christophermacintyre5890]

@@davidgibbon1020 70 years is one hell of a long rest.

[@ceradinimp]

Really awesome video, information and interesting. Beautiful scenery. Great job!

[@ssjwes]

Very interesting video! Thanks guys.

[@Invizive]

16:40 Can't be sure, but I can read "Построен к 50-летию Советской власти!", which roughly means "Built for the 50th anniversary of the Soviet regime!" Seems like it was built as a municipal building - such relatively expensive for the area "anniversary buildings", replacing actual gradual improvement of living conditions and infrastructure, were rather common. Nowadays even these are rare.

[@ZSmitherzGaming]

I’m pretty sure that’s a mig 19 in the beginning by the guns at the wing root. Not the 17.

[@charlieb9248]

I’ve traveled there as well. Pretty interesting place. I loved who everyone would assume I was Russian and speak Russian at me. I would respond to them in Chinese that I’m not Russian! They would reply back “holy shit the foreigner speaks Chinese!”

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

*Thanks for sharing informative video. Liked&Subcribed!!*

[@emailer8326]

This was very informative so I have subscribed!

[@tnickknight]

No question China will be taking huge sections of Eastern Russia. It's not a matter of if, but when 🤔

[@ameliah8164]

Come on, we Chinese didn't attack any country after 1960 except when Vietnam and the Soviet Union invaded our territory and were described by the media as provoking the China Vietnam War. The territory of Russia is not a pastry. This is your typical looting thinking in the West. The eastern civilization is different from your way of thinking. By the way, the Korean War was also after the United States bombed our northeast border, we agreed to North Korea's request to join the war, but I think the western media will never explain this premise 😄。 Media monopoly.

[@tnickknight]

@@ameliah8164 haha, a weakened poor China was of course no going to mess with the Soviet Union. Things have changed, they have money and power and have already been using them. China has always been a hostile nation, only limited by it's resources. Well Putin is going to make China's goals even more achievable. Russia will be helping fuel its own destruction, when China makes up its own excuses for invasion. Again, not if , but when.

[@chad_mackinson]

AWESOME! I remembered the episode with the weird beer bread stuff and all that, mindblowing, these are the real deal, not much footage of this kind exists, thank you for keep sharing! Not that Cardi-C or Fat Shady aren't Monty Python, but this is post-python Michael Palin on steroids, pure awesomeness, full respect!

[@bendeleted9155]

Absolute power corrupts absolutely (CCP). This is increasingly golden content. Thank you. 👍

[@Nanogrip]

Loving these videos! Fascinating view on the border between Russia and China. Keep it up and looking forward to the next one.

[@charlesbarnett2724]

Fascinating presentation guys. Thank you.

[@alhollywood6486]

It's kind of scary, I started watching you guys way back when you were in country, and I feel like the whole world is about 9 months behind all of us.

[@bjarkih1977]

You need to start telling people what year the footage is from :)

[@charleswomack2166]

Did people start speaking to you in Russian? Update: After watching the entire video, my question was answered! Spasciba tovarish means thank you comrade!

[@Silveirias]

Tovarish also means "friend". Like "companion" or "pal". I've heard that a lot of Western people think it means something closer to "soldier". Not saying you do, but someone reading this might not know.

[@davidchristensen2970]

Exceptionally interesting. Thanks.

[@dofnad]

Great show style - running retrospective commentary format

[@PhoiDel]

Guessing there was a lot more water there at one point.. seeing that rusted ship laying out in the open.

[@SG-js2qn]

My description of the relationship of Russia and China is: two tigers in the same forest.

[@sargesacker2599]

I know that this was recorded ages ago but the nerd in me is screaming to inform you that the jet in the beginning is a MIG-19 not a MIG-17.

[@riogrande5761]

Interesting video. Not necessarily surprising but still fascinating. You guys have some really interesting experiences that so many people will never have the chance to experience. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

[@robertflyingheart2427]

Ive been waiting for your next video for ages! Realising i was UNSUBSCRIBED from you guys all along!

[@warikwarlock]

It was my understanding that Russia & China (officially) resolved all territorial disputes in 2003 with a signed agreement. Obviously there’s historical animosities between these countries but this is the first time I’ve heard of the PRC still wanting to take over parts of Russia….

[@hanzocloud]

PRC signed agreements, but not ROC (Taiwan). So if ROC ever rule the mainland again, Russia’s east land is still in dispute

[@yorunohoshi4838]

As far as territories go, yes. Although the contract can always be violated. As for the spheres of influence in neighboring countries, it seems that they have also already decided, but this is no longer a voiced story.