Sino-Soviet Relations |
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During Tsarist times, there was much tension between China and Russia, as they shared a 4500 mile border. China also lost land to Russia during the Manchu dynasty, leading to antagonism between China and Russia. The CCP hoped the new Bolshevik regime would return lands claimed by Tsarists, but they seized Outer Mongolia and $2 billion of equipment and machinery from Manchuria.
On October 1st, 1949 The PRC is proclaimed. This was after a CCP (Chinese Communist Party) victory in the Chinese civil war (April 1927-May 1950). There were many differences between Chinese Communism and USSR Communism. Chinese Communism was based on a revolution in the peasants, as peasants in China outweighed the working class. Russian communism was based in workers leading an urban-based class war, leading to Stalin not endorsing Mao's revolution as "true" Communist revolution.
Reasons Stalin failed to support CCP in Chinese Civil War
The Sino-Soviet Treaty of Alliance (1950) was the first treaty between the USSR and China. The USSR openly praised the PRC, but Stalin initially did not want to sign the treaty. Even after two months of negotiations, Mao thought the accommodation given to the Chinese was poor. Soviet aid and loans to the Chinese would even have to be repaid with interest. Regardless, Soviet engineers helped develop 200 Chinese construction projects in the 1950s, and Soviet technology was prioritized over Western technology. The PRC saw the Soviet assistance as necessary, until the PRC had their own nuclear program.
When US troops neared the Yalu river during the Korean war, China was forced to send 1 million volunteers to fight for North Korea and had to pay for all the equipment used in the war. Mao losing a son in the war also accelerated the breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations. After the death of Stalin in 1953, it seemed relations would improve, as Soviet leaders appeared willing to continue supplying technology and loans to China. However, Khrushchev's "Secret Speech" (24 February, 1956) and several other key events prevented any improvements in Sino-Soviet relations. Khrushchev's "Secret Speech" was seen by Mao as an attack on his cult of personality, as it denounced Stalin's similar cult of personality. The Soviet intervention in the Hungarian Uprising (October/November 1956) was seen by Mao as a failure of Khrushchev to contain reactionary forces in East Europe. Khrushchev's peaceful coexistence policy also put Mao at odds with the USSR, as Mao believed Communism could only exist if Western Capitalism was destroyed.
During the 1957 Conference of Communist Parties, Mao called on the USSR to abandon revisionism. He further stated his belief that international revolution could not be supported by working alongside "class enemies". Mao also believed the detente was an USSR plot to isolate China. China had used the Conference as a way to present Mao and China as the leaders of international Communism. Khrushchev also visited Beijing in 1958. Mao intentionally attempted to humiliate Khrushchev. During the trip Mao also accused Khrushchev of: betraying the international Communist movement, guilty of viewing themselves as the only true Marxist-Leninists, sending spies posing as technical advisers.
On October 1st, 1949 The PRC is proclaimed. This was after a CCP (Chinese Communist Party) victory in the Chinese civil war (April 1927-May 1950). There were many differences between Chinese Communism and USSR Communism. Chinese Communism was based on a revolution in the peasants, as peasants in China outweighed the working class. Russian communism was based in workers leading an urban-based class war, leading to Stalin not endorsing Mao's revolution as "true" Communist revolution.
Reasons Stalin failed to support CCP in Chinese Civil War
- Feared Mao as rival for leadership of Communist world
- Did not want the Cold War to spread to Asia
- Knew GMD govt would recognize Soviet claims to the disputed border along Manchuria andXinjiang
- Underestimated CCP
The Sino-Soviet Treaty of Alliance (1950) was the first treaty between the USSR and China. The USSR openly praised the PRC, but Stalin initially did not want to sign the treaty. Even after two months of negotiations, Mao thought the accommodation given to the Chinese was poor. Soviet aid and loans to the Chinese would even have to be repaid with interest. Regardless, Soviet engineers helped develop 200 Chinese construction projects in the 1950s, and Soviet technology was prioritized over Western technology. The PRC saw the Soviet assistance as necessary, until the PRC had their own nuclear program.
When US troops neared the Yalu river during the Korean war, China was forced to send 1 million volunteers to fight for North Korea and had to pay for all the equipment used in the war. Mao losing a son in the war also accelerated the breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations. After the death of Stalin in 1953, it seemed relations would improve, as Soviet leaders appeared willing to continue supplying technology and loans to China. However, Khrushchev's "Secret Speech" (24 February, 1956) and several other key events prevented any improvements in Sino-Soviet relations. Khrushchev's "Secret Speech" was seen by Mao as an attack on his cult of personality, as it denounced Stalin's similar cult of personality. The Soviet intervention in the Hungarian Uprising (October/November 1956) was seen by Mao as a failure of Khrushchev to contain reactionary forces in East Europe. Khrushchev's peaceful coexistence policy also put Mao at odds with the USSR, as Mao believed Communism could only exist if Western Capitalism was destroyed.
During the 1957 Conference of Communist Parties, Mao called on the USSR to abandon revisionism. He further stated his belief that international revolution could not be supported by working alongside "class enemies". Mao also believed the detente was an USSR plot to isolate China. China had used the Conference as a way to present Mao and China as the leaders of international Communism. Khrushchev also visited Beijing in 1958. Mao intentionally attempted to humiliate Khrushchev. During the trip Mao also accused Khrushchev of: betraying the international Communist movement, guilty of viewing themselves as the only true Marxist-Leninists, sending spies posing as technical advisers.
Sino-American Relations
Questions 1-11
- Kissinger points out the Chinese fears of an American invasion of China through Japan, Taiwan and Korea. This is what led to a Chinese intervention in the Korean war. Kissinger also says the US did not expect the invasion, as the US believed China would not intervene in the Korean war
- The US Department of State believes China was aggressive and expansionist. It also believes China saw the US as "a principal obstacle in the way of its path conquest"
- Activity 3
- The cartoonist likens the private lots issued to the Chinese as graves. The cartoonist is saying that private lots will not improve the situation in China.
- The message would encourage Americans to believe that the Chinese were intentionally starving their citizens.
- This source shows that hate for the Americans was not only in the adult population, but felt even by the child population. It also shows that the Chinese believed Vietnam and China should stick together and that both the Vietnamese and the Chinese saw the US as "pirates".
- It portrays Mao as a "god", worshipped by the Chinese.
Why did détente end in a second Cold War?