Case Study:
China
China’s relations w/ with Soviet Union & USA (1949-1973)
Soviet Union:
: Communists under Mao came to power (1949) —welcomed in Moscow
: Formation of huge Soviet-dominated communist bloc stretching eastwards from
Europe to Paci c — West’s fear
: Appearance = deceiving bc no real harmony bt USSR & China — main issue of
contention = which nation was real leader of communist world.
: Khrushchev (leader after Stalin) — enjoyed relations w/ China
: 1954 USSR gave Chinese economic aid
: Friendly relations didn’t last bc:
→ Khrushchev’s de-Stalinisation policy & move towards more peaceful
policy of co-existence w/ West — Chinese gov. = suspicious
→China believed USSR = departing true doctrines of Marxist-Leninism
→Mao believes USSR not t to rule Communist world — china should
assume leadership
: Why did soviets & china disagree:
⌑Increase tensions (1950’s)
⌑Mao felt - USSR played signi cant role in proletariat struggle
- Soviet attitudes towards west = too soft
⌑World Communist Conference (Moscow, 1960) → didn’t heal rift bt USSR &
China:
:Major disagreements abt foreign policy
:Marxist ideology deepened over territorial disputes
:Late 1950s & 1960s both stations troops along common border
⌑1962 Gap bt China & USSR grew bc:
- border con ict bt India & China — as USSR secretly
supported India
- China criticised Soviet’s handling of Cuban Missile
Crisis
⌑1963 - relationship deteriorated →China refused to sign Test-Ban treaty w/
America & USSR
1
fl fi fi fi
, : Implications of Chinese & USSR relations (regard to Cold War)
⌁ Instead of building strong communist power in Eastern bloc, China and USSR
battled each other for domination of the communist world
: international communism = divided
: China & USSR became involved in competition to win/ retain
loyalty& support of communist world
⌁ Public arguments & disharmony bt CN and USSR weakened Khrushchev’s
position — led to his fall from power (1964)
⌁ Khrushchev’s attempts peaceful co-existence w/ West = unsuccessful
⌁ Increase battle of words — result = USSR refusal to:
: Send atomic bombs to China If this was achieved, Cold
War control = tipped
: Set up joint naval base in Paci c → towards Communist bloc
⌁ 1969 →border con ict — nearly brought them to war, result = both isolated each
other diplomatically (missed opportunity for sting communist power in the East
to materialise [ relief to West])
⌁ 1960’s — despite con ict bt China and USSR → yet to be felt in greater spheres
of international relations
2
fl fl fi
China
China’s relations w/ with Soviet Union & USA (1949-1973)
Soviet Union:
: Communists under Mao came to power (1949) —welcomed in Moscow
: Formation of huge Soviet-dominated communist bloc stretching eastwards from
Europe to Paci c — West’s fear
: Appearance = deceiving bc no real harmony bt USSR & China — main issue of
contention = which nation was real leader of communist world.
: Khrushchev (leader after Stalin) — enjoyed relations w/ China
: 1954 USSR gave Chinese economic aid
: Friendly relations didn’t last bc:
→ Khrushchev’s de-Stalinisation policy & move towards more peaceful
policy of co-existence w/ West — Chinese gov. = suspicious
→China believed USSR = departing true doctrines of Marxist-Leninism
→Mao believes USSR not t to rule Communist world — china should
assume leadership
: Why did soviets & china disagree:
⌑Increase tensions (1950’s)
⌑Mao felt - USSR played signi cant role in proletariat struggle
- Soviet attitudes towards west = too soft
⌑World Communist Conference (Moscow, 1960) → didn’t heal rift bt USSR &
China:
:Major disagreements abt foreign policy
:Marxist ideology deepened over territorial disputes
:Late 1950s & 1960s both stations troops along common border
⌑1962 Gap bt China & USSR grew bc:
- border con ict bt India & China — as USSR secretly
supported India
- China criticised Soviet’s handling of Cuban Missile
Crisis
⌑1963 - relationship deteriorated →China refused to sign Test-Ban treaty w/
America & USSR
1
fl fi fi fi
, : Implications of Chinese & USSR relations (regard to Cold War)
⌁ Instead of building strong communist power in Eastern bloc, China and USSR
battled each other for domination of the communist world
: international communism = divided
: China & USSR became involved in competition to win/ retain
loyalty& support of communist world
⌁ Public arguments & disharmony bt CN and USSR weakened Khrushchev’s
position — led to his fall from power (1964)
⌁ Khrushchev’s attempts peaceful co-existence w/ West = unsuccessful
⌁ Increase battle of words — result = USSR refusal to:
: Send atomic bombs to China If this was achieved, Cold
War control = tipped
: Set up joint naval base in Paci c → towards Communist bloc
⌁ 1969 →border con ict — nearly brought them to war, result = both isolated each
other diplomatically (missed opportunity for sting communist power in the East
to materialise [ relief to West])
⌁ 1960’s — despite con ict bt China and USSR → yet to be felt in greater spheres
of international relations
2
fl fl fi
