Sino-Soviet Relations and the Sino-US Rapprochement (1949-76)

Reasons for Sino-Soviet Split
1. Ideological Differences
  1. Mao focused on agriculture whilst Khrushchev focused on industry
    1. Mao regarded Khrushchev's policy of reconciliation with Tito (Yugoslavia's leader) as ideological revisionism (went against Stalin's ideas)
      1. Mao viewed peaceful co-existence as a weak policy and was further angered by Khrushchev's visit to USA in 1959
        Khrushchev's speech at Twentieth Party Congress (Feb 1956) angered Mao when he insulted his policies and announced de-Stalinisation without consulting Mao
        Mao criticise Khrushchev after failing to see 'privileged elite' forming which stopped socialist progression
        Khrushchev's heavy criticism of the Great Leap Forward and insulting Mao for splitting the communist revolution and helping the capitalist caused friction
        Taiwan Straits Crises caused tension when Mao went against what USSR wanted
        Taiwan Strait Crises (54-55, 58)
        GMD (nationalists) fled to Taiwan islands which Mao wanted to shell. After the Korean War, Mao's focus came back to Taiwan and he shelled Quemoy in 1954 to highlight the issue of Taiwan and register his displeasure at SEATO
        SEATO was set up in 1964 to try and stop expansion of communism in the region, it was joined by USA, UK, France, Australia and New Zealand.
        Mao was angry at this, so Khrushchev decided to support Mao militarily despite Mao not telling him about the 1954 shelling before he did it.
        US backed the GMD even though they left one island after the shelling and this caused tensions between the US and China. Mao had secured China under the USSR's nuclear umbrella as Khrushchev thought it was best the communists stuck together. However, Mao later decided to leave the island for later in case it could be used tactically, by 'loosening or tightening the noose' as appropriate, as he said
2. National Interests
  1. China saw Mongolia as in its own sphere of influence, which the USSR refused to cut ties with
    1. The USSR constantly blocked China's request to expand its control in North Korea
      1. The 1968 USSR invasion of Czechoslovakia changed China's perceptions and resulted in fears that this could be replicated anywhere
        Border disputes between China and Russia made tensions worse, in 1967 the USSR had 15 army divisions on Chinese border but over 30 by 1979.
        The Ussuri River disputes also caused issues. China and USSR share a 2,700 mile border which made things worse. Issues like the Ussuri River dispute would not often be an issue between countries which are at ease with each other, like US and Canada
        Ussuri River Dispute
        Borders between countries with good relations with similar policies not an issue (e.g. USA and Canada), China's border of 2700+ miles caused tension and islands on the Ussuri River caused dispute over who owned which ones.
        EVENTS
        March 2nd 1969, Soviet forces suffered 31 dead and 14 wounded
        March 15th 1969, Chinese attacked Damansky Island
        Soviet forces withdrew them later and attacked the Chinese, exposing their weakness, either side of the island. 800 Chinese dead, but only 60 Soviets
        Initial dispute killed more Soviets which suggests Chinese started it. Ussuri River caused problems as it often flooded, changing the size of the islands. 1964 agreement, Mao announced he owned Damansky which annoyed Khrushchev so he withdrew from agreement. USSR actions in Czechoslovakia made China fear USSR so they set up an active defence, including starting to make nuclear weapons.
        Consequences of Ussuri River Dispute
        Damansky Island remained Soviet
        Border dispute was still unresolved
        Tensions on borders increased (13 August, Chinese brigade eliminated in clash)
        Made Mao realise he needed to change foreign policy, with a different approach to the USA.
3. Korean War
  1. WHY CHINESE INVOLVEMENT IN KOREAN WAR?
    1. China wanted to show commitment to Communist revolutionary cause
      1. US threats of invasion in China
        Stalin's influence (initially against military commitment)
        North Korea offered help in Chinese Civil War
        China believed that Korea belonged to them
  2. USSR made China pay for equipment provided, 900,000 Chinese casualties, USSR provided air support.
4. Personality
  1. Mao's view of himself and arguments with Khrushchev caused tension. Mao was angry for Khrushchev denouncing Stalin without telling him first and Khrushchev referred to him as the Asian Hitler. Mao, in response, called him 'a useless old boot' and asked to hold a meeting at a swimming pool, an insult to Khrushchev as he could not swim.
The Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance (1950)
1. Why?
  1. Mao didn't rule like Stalin and focused on agriculture rather than industry, Mao was also angry at Stalin for funding nationalists and Stalin didn't think China was ready for Communist rule. To reduce tensions, Mao visited Moscow in 1950 to sign the treaty.
2. Agreements
  1. $300mil for China for defence and industrialisation
    1. Gave China control of the railways (China sovereignty)
      1. Military assistance for China in case of an attack
        Banned Non-Soviet leaders from Manchuria
3. Disagreements
  1. Mongolia remained in Soviet sphere of influence
  2. Stalin refused aid for Taiwan invasion in an attempt not to aggravate the USA
  3. There was no revolutionary plan for East Asia
Who benefited from the Sino-US rapprochement?
1. The deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations caused US-Soviet relations to improve. This was known as détente...
2. Ping-pong diplomacy - 1971, China let US win a table tennis tournament and treated guests with courtesy and respect.
3. Trade and travel restrictions were relaxed
4. July 1971, Kissinger (US SoS) met six times with Zhou Enlai, for a total of 17hrs and they got on well
5. Feb 1972, Nixon visited US and both were able to voice their differences and common ground and get on well together. They listened to each other.
6. 1975, Nixon's replacement Ford visited China
7. Chinese government put pressure on USSR by visiting and strengthening ties with other Soviet controlled countries in Eastern Europe
8. Trade between China and USA grew from $5mil to $500mil per year in just a few years. US did not supply China with military things, but allowed China to supply them with it. In 1975, the UK secured a deal with China for Rolls-Royce jet engines
9. US allies in far east (S. Korea, Taiwan, S. Vietnam) were shocked by China's new close links
10. US foreign policy was toned down towards far east. Although they removed Taiwan from the UN Security Council (1971) and in 1978 did not recognise Taiwan and removed it from China's recognised regime.
11. Improved links with US caused tensions between China and its allies, which was useful for the USA as it sort of split up a sea of communism
12. US links with China helped Mao restore his damaged image after the Cultural Revolution and also helped Zhou Enlai's and his foreign relations with the US. US also seemed to help the fall of Lin Biao, who opposed the close links. He died in a mysterious plane crash and China propaganda said he waned to turn China into a colony of the USSR
13. Links provided a series of opportunities for China and USA to undermine the USSR and create implications for them

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	Created by Tom Eustice almost 9 years ago