Its connection to the politics of imperialism has received little attention, though【 this 】featured more prominently in the commentaries to the travelogue’s intact editions, providing Soviet readers with guidance through this treacherous terrain.
this指的是connection，还是整个“Its connection to the politics of imperialism has received little attention”？

this = 前面那句话 没人在意那件事

请问，在this位置，若想指称its connection，用什么代词(或代词短语)? 能用this么?
.
请高手回答。

Its connection to the politics of imperialism has received little attention. [1] However, this connection is fatal to .....
[2] However, such connection is fatal to .....
[3] However, it is a fatal link to .....
[4] However, this is a fatal link to .....
.
1，2， 3， 4，
哪个对? 哪个不妥?

我觉得this指代是its connection to ***，而不包括has received little attention，原句的意思是Though the connection featured more prominently in the commentaries, it received little attention.

Its connection to the politics of imperialism