Sino-American and Sino-Soviet Relations During the
Cold War
(Depth Study 3: International History, 1945-1991)
(Cambridge International AS and A level History 9389)
1950s - increasing tension
Tibet 1950
1950 People's Liberation Army (PLA) invaded Tibet. Mao saw as domestic concern, not
foreign policy. Chinese saw as reunifying former Chinese territory.
Outside world saw as brutal Invasion and Dalai Lama fled Tibet + called Maoist regime
‘Cultural Genocide’.
Korean war 1950-53
Mao was taken by surprise by N. Korea's Invasion as the US. PRC not particularly concerned
Korea divide as focused on Taiwan + Tibet.
USSR boycott UN as US refusal see PRC as official country. USSR didn't use Veto stop US UN
troops defend South.
US justified actions by saying N aggressors even though S as well
Mao threatened US with war if cross into North. 1950 Douglas MacArthur crossed 38th
parallel, by 1953 PLA lost 1 million men.
Taiwan, 1954 + 1958
K. War altered US perspective towards Asia + Communist Chinese, included policy on
Taiwan. US didn't want intervene over Taiwan.
By 1953, Taiwan key territory in US policy Containment Asia.
PRC not take Taiwan earlier as:
- Taiwan well defended; PRC not confident.
- US navy Seventh Fleet present in area
- US promised protect Taiwan after K. war
, 1954 Mao bombed Islands Quemoy and Matsu, test US commitment. Eisenhower said if
Taiwan attacked would nuke China. US had look tough for allies in region, though USSR not
back PRC. 1958 Mao bombed Quemoy and Matsu again + more PLA troops. US vessels fired
at in straits. US prepared for war, Mao backed down.
US saw PRC as expansionist + gave leadership Rev countries. PRCs aims linked to
Domino theory. Perceived as threat to West. US followed Containment policies in
China: - US trade embargo PRC.
- obstruction PRC into UN
- Massive econ + mili aid Taiwan
- Aid programme for region
- SEATO
- Defence treaties with Asian states PRC threat.
Sino-American Cold War 1960s
Kennedy continued isolation + Containment China. US used failure ‘Great Leap Forward’
show public Marxist economic experiment + PRC willing sacrifice millions of Chinese for
ideology.
KEY issues US + PRC 1960s:
- Taiwan
- Vietnam
- Decolonization movements - Chinese Cultural Rev.
US, PRC + Taiwan
1960s PRC persisted demands reunify Taiwan. 1958 crisis didn't cause war, issue important
to Chinese. Two Chinas not acceptable. Improvement relations with US only possible when
Taiwan part China.
US, Nam, PRC
Nam war heightened tension US + Asia-Pacific region + US allies. PRC said US involvement =
imperialist like in Taiwan. Mao said UN dominated imperialist policies West
PRC + decolonisation
PRC supported Rev + deco. movements in dev world. Aimed replace USSR as world leader
international Rev + end Western imperialism, supporting anti-colonial movements.
Cold War
(Depth Study 3: International History, 1945-1991)
(Cambridge International AS and A level History 9389)
1950s - increasing tension
Tibet 1950
1950 People's Liberation Army (PLA) invaded Tibet. Mao saw as domestic concern, not
foreign policy. Chinese saw as reunifying former Chinese territory.
Outside world saw as brutal Invasion and Dalai Lama fled Tibet + called Maoist regime
‘Cultural Genocide’.
Korean war 1950-53
Mao was taken by surprise by N. Korea's Invasion as the US. PRC not particularly concerned
Korea divide as focused on Taiwan + Tibet.
USSR boycott UN as US refusal see PRC as official country. USSR didn't use Veto stop US UN
troops defend South.
US justified actions by saying N aggressors even though S as well
Mao threatened US with war if cross into North. 1950 Douglas MacArthur crossed 38th
parallel, by 1953 PLA lost 1 million men.
Taiwan, 1954 + 1958
K. War altered US perspective towards Asia + Communist Chinese, included policy on
Taiwan. US didn't want intervene over Taiwan.
By 1953, Taiwan key territory in US policy Containment Asia.
PRC not take Taiwan earlier as:
- Taiwan well defended; PRC not confident.
- US navy Seventh Fleet present in area
- US promised protect Taiwan after K. war
, 1954 Mao bombed Islands Quemoy and Matsu, test US commitment. Eisenhower said if
Taiwan attacked would nuke China. US had look tough for allies in region, though USSR not
back PRC. 1958 Mao bombed Quemoy and Matsu again + more PLA troops. US vessels fired
at in straits. US prepared for war, Mao backed down.
US saw PRC as expansionist + gave leadership Rev countries. PRCs aims linked to
Domino theory. Perceived as threat to West. US followed Containment policies in
China: - US trade embargo PRC.
- obstruction PRC into UN
- Massive econ + mili aid Taiwan
- Aid programme for region
- SEATO
- Defence treaties with Asian states PRC threat.
Sino-American Cold War 1960s
Kennedy continued isolation + Containment China. US used failure ‘Great Leap Forward’
show public Marxist economic experiment + PRC willing sacrifice millions of Chinese for
ideology.
KEY issues US + PRC 1960s:
- Taiwan
- Vietnam
- Decolonization movements - Chinese Cultural Rev.
US, PRC + Taiwan
1960s PRC persisted demands reunify Taiwan. 1958 crisis didn't cause war, issue important
to Chinese. Two Chinas not acceptable. Improvement relations with US only possible when
Taiwan part China.
US, Nam, PRC
Nam war heightened tension US + Asia-Pacific region + US allies. PRC said US involvement =
imperialist like in Taiwan. Mao said UN dominated imperialist policies West
PRC + decolonisation
PRC supported Rev + deco. movements in dev world. Aimed replace USSR as world leader
international Rev + end Western imperialism, supporting anti-colonial movements.
