China and the Soviet Union enjoyed a honeymoon period until 1961. During that time, China issued passports to its citizens nationwide, allowing people to travel to the Soviet Union legally. However, those without passports sought to escape China clandestinely across the country, never to return. Consequently, in 1962, amidst growing tensions, Kazakhs in Hobogsair considered fleeing China, similar to their counterparts who had sought refuge in Soviet Russia from the Ili and Tarbagatai regions. Urtnasan, the head of the Tabhin Us commune at the time, took proactive measures by organising patrols along the Hobogsair-Soviet border to prevent such migrations. By 1963, the Hobogsair government escalated its efforts by resettling military units to the northwest border, effectively pushing Kazakhs further inland and away from the border areas to thwart any future escape attempts. Notably, Kazakhs residing in Altai maintained their local identity and lacked significant ties to Kazakhstan.