An unequal friendship: Sino-Soviet relations 1949-1950
The People's Republic of China 1949
October 1st 1949 - Mao announced creation of the PRC
PRC was created following a communist win in
the bitter civil war
Creation of PRC altered the balance of Cold War power
Officially - Russia was the first state to recognise Mao's govt
and quickly signed a treaty of friendship with China
Whereas the US was horrified that communism triumphed China -
consequently US policy in South-East Asia changed dramatically
The Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance
Feb 1950
Reasons for the treaty
PRC was isolated from West because it
was a communist state
However - there was an obvious ideological
similarity between China and Russia
Indeed - Mao described USSR as ' our best
teacher from whom we must learn'
late 1949 - M traveled to Moscow for face-to-face
talks with Stalin - in search of a powerful ally
Stalin had less to gain - but in aftermath of WW2 -
Russian economy needed rebuilding - establishing a
new trading partner was in USSR's interest
Terms of the treaty
Friendship
USSR granted the following aid to China
A loan of $300 million
Equipment for 50 major
construction projects
Alliance
Established a military alliance against
'Japanese militarism'
By which it meant capitalist nations
Included guarantee that USSR would come to China's
aid if it was involved in conflicts with any capitalist
nation
Mutual Assistance
USSR agreed to trade and share knowledge:
set up a joint stock company to
mine in Xinjiang
Soviet experts helped to set up
and run 141 Chinese businesses
China recognised USSR's rights over Outer Mongolia
USSR returned the Manchurian railway to China
Significance of the Treaty - the
Impact on China
Treaty allowed China to begin economic modernisation
There was a 6-fold increase in
Sino Soviet trade 1950-1956
By 1956 - 60% of Chinese trade
was conducted with USSR
USSR educated 9313
Chinese experts in top
Russian unis
Over 38000 Chinese workers were given
vocational training in Siberia
Creation of the China Lobby in the USA
Proclamation of PRC sent shockwaves through USA
- leading to change in US policy
Prior to PRC - USA had been disengaging from South-East Asia
A govt paper published Aug 1949 stated that USA had no strategic interest in China
Moreover, as late as Jan 50 - US secretary of state announced that
US had no plans to offer Korea or Taiwan protection from Communism
Treaty of friendship changed this - led to emergence of the 'China Lobby'
Republicans and Democrats associated with the lobby were
obsessed with the question 'Who lost China?'
Believed that Truman hadn't done enough to ensure survival of
Pro-Western China and that the Sino-Soviet alliance gave USSR new
advantage in the Cold War
In this way - Treaty led to renewed interest in China from the USA
Impact on US government policy
In response to China Lobby - Truman changed policy -
announcing series of measures designed to stop the
spread of communism in South East Asia
By mid-1950 the US had agreed to the following
Military support for Taiwan - US dispatched its 7th fleet to the Taiwan
Strait to discourage Chinese invasion
Military aid for the Philippines - in mid 1950 - US agreed support
for the Philippine government against communist revolutionaries
Military and financial support for the French - who were
battling communism in Vietnam
Aid and Support for South Korea - as North Korea were communist
and US govt feared that it was planning to invade the South
More generally - loss of China persuaded US govt that they hadn't done
enough to retain the initiative in the Cold War
Consequently - NSC-68 - outlined a more active role for USA
in fighting communism in the Cold War