Deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations 1954-58

Introduction
1. Following Stalin's death - Sino-Soviet relationship enjoyed a brief 'honeymoon period'
  1. Khrushchev- new leader- agreed to more economic aid
    1. Also agreed to personally visit China
      1. Still, tensions between the 2 powers began to emerge
2. 1954-57 significant because of the growing erosion of the trust between the 2
  1. During this time, China began to emerge as ideological rival to USSR
    1. no longer clear that USSR alone led the comm world
      1. Mao was less inclined to follow K because of his reluctance to back China over Taiwan and his reluctance to stand up to the USA in the Cold War
3. Personal relationship between M and K also suffered
  1. Because of M's willingness to snub K and disagree with him publicly
    1. However, China was still dependent on Soviet aid, and the global authority of the USSR was strengthened by the alliance
      1. Therefore the 2 remained allies in this period
The Great Leap Forward 1958
1. was a rejection of the Soviet model of economic development
  1. USSR stressed role of expertise and the working class in developing the economy
    1. The Great Leap Forward was based on the enthusiasm of the peasants
2. M was increasingly convinced that K was not a real revolutionary
  1. Instead, believed K was an administrator concerned with organisation and not with change
    1. By initiating TGLF, M was consciously distancing himself from the USSR and undermining K's leadership of the comm world
3. TGLF was a turning point in China's relationship with the USSR
  1. Demonstrated to world that Mao was willing to forge his own path - increasingly independent of the USSR
Further deterioration during 1958
1. TGLF was a signal of M's self confidence and his willingness to act independently of USSR
  1. Differences over Taiwan further convinced Mao that Khrushchev lacked revolution spirit
    1. This led to M's deliberate humiliation of K during his 2nd visit to China
China's National and military interests
1. During 58, differences emerged between USSR and China over nuclear arms and the position of Taiwan
  1. July 1958 - K proposed joint Russian-Chinese control over China's nuclear programme
    1. In practice - would mean that China's weapons could only be used with Soviet authorisation
      1. M believed that this was patronising
        Also felt that the USSR was being slow to share its own nuclear secrets
  2. September 58 - China began second bombardment of Taiwan
    1. K refused to support this as he feared that Sino-Taiwan confrontation, could drag their allies, the USSR and the USA into a nuclear war
  3. Initially, K attempted to persuade M to end attack on Taiwan by agreeing to share USSR's nuclear secrets
    1. Even offered to send China a sample bomb
      1. However - Jan 59 - K changed his mind - proposing a Pacific 'atom-free zone' which would mean China abandoning its nuclear programme
  4. 2nd Taiwan crisis convinced M that K could not be relied on to advance China's strategic interests
    1. Furthermore - Crisis confirmed Mao's belief that K was in favour of compromise with capitalism rather than revolution
      1. K - believed that M acted rashly - risking nuclear war in his desire to conquer Taiwan
Personalities
1. Aug 1958 - personal relationship between M and K was further strained
  1. During K's 1st visit to China - M set out to deliberately humiliate him
    1. Organised photo-opportunity at swimming pool - knowing that K couldn't swim
      1. M swum confidently before the cameras whilst K floundered in a rubber ring
        For K - this demonstrated M's unpredictable nature
Sino-Soviet relations in 1958
1. By end of 58 - the 2 remained allies
  1. China had no other major allies - depended on USSR for aid
    1. Equally, USSR hoped that its alliance with China would give it the upper hand against the US in the Cold War as it united 2 powerful armies
2. Still - 1958 was turning point in relations
  1. M's actions signalled his desire to contest K's leadership of the communist world
    1. The relationship of between the 2 leaders became increasingly strained
3. USA was largely ignorant of the tensions in the relationship between the 2 communist powers
  1. Therefore - it did little to capitalise on these growing tensions at this time

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Deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations 1954-58

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