In August 1929, in preparation for the Sino-Soviet conflict over the Chinese Eastern Railway, the division became part of the Special Far Eastern Army (ODVA). At the time, it was commanded by Ivan Onufriyev and included the 4th Insk, 5th, and 6th Rifle Regiments, the 2nd Separate Cavalry Battalion, and the 2nd Artillery Regiment. The 5th Rifle Regiment was stationed at Blagoveshchensk and was relieved there by the 26th Rifle Division, which allowed it to concentrate with the rest of the division across from the mouth of the Sungari in eastern Manchuria. The division was tasked with conducting the Sungari operation in cooperation with the Amur Flotilla, which would threaten Harbin with the defeat of the Chinese Sungari flotilla by the Amur flotilla and successive amphibious raids on Tungchiang and Fuchin. The 2nd Battalion of the 4th Rifle Regiment trained other units of the division in amphibious tactics and formed the assault group of the division along with two battalions each from the 5th and 6th Rifle Regiments.