A bloody battle over a tiny island raised fears that China and the Soviets would ...
(WorldNews China)

Soviet soldiers involved in fighting with Chinese troops over what the Soviet Union called Damansky Island, March 8, 1969. Nikolai Nazarov/TASS In March 1969, Soviet and Chinese troops clashed over an unremarkable but disputed islet in a river on their eastern border. Border clashes were nothing new, but the fighting over what China called Zhenbao Island and the Soviets called Damansky Island escalated. The conflict became so intense that both sides put their nuclear missiles on high alert, edging closer to nuclear war. Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories. On the morning of March 2, 1969, Soviet border guards set out to confront 30 Chinese soldiers who were heading toward...