Research Task: Why Communist China and the Soviet Union did not form a united
communist front throughout the Cold war
Throughout the Cold War, the Soviet Union and China were the two largest communist nations.
Their shared Marxist-Leninist ideals would have made a long-term communist alliance
advantageous in their fight against capitalism. However, their cooperation was short-lived as
political circumstances and differences in ideology and global policy deteriorated their relations and
manifested in what is commonly referred to as the Sino-Soviet split.
In 1949, China became a communist country following the takeover by the Chinese Communist
Party following their civil war. Leader Mao Zedong sought alliance with the Soviet Union, the
nation established at the forefront of global communism following their revolution and progression
from autocratic monarchy to communist republic. Then leader Josef Stalin welcomed this new
communist ally, and thus began relations between the two countries.
The official declaration of the Sino-Soviet alliance was signed in 1950. The Sino-Soviet Treaty of
Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance was the 20 year long pledge of support in the face of
adversary, the granting of a $300 million loan from the Soviet Union to China for the rebuilding of
its economy following its civil war and the provision of aid in the form of advisors, education
specialists and military and industrial equipment.
Among the support given by the Soviet Union to China was the expertise and funding to facilitate
its industrialisation. Following the Soviet model, China implemented its first Five Year Plan, which
was a success largely due to the loan granted to them by the Soviet Union. Thus, relations between
the two nations were thriving at the beginning of the 1950s.
However, a turning point in their relations was seen as early as 1953. While mutual backing of
North Korea in the Korean War (1950-1953) served to strengthen the ties between the two nations,
1953 was the year Stalin died and Nikita Khrushchev became his successor. With this appointment,
the differences in ideology and policy between China and the Soviet Union began becoming
apparent.
Following Stalin’s death, there was a disagreement of who held most authority in the communist
world standings. Mao, in his position of most senior communist leader immediately after Stalin’s
passing, saw himself as the head of international communism while Khrushchev, Stalin’s successor
communist front throughout the Cold war
Throughout the Cold War, the Soviet Union and China were the two largest communist nations.
Their shared Marxist-Leninist ideals would have made a long-term communist alliance
advantageous in their fight against capitalism. However, their cooperation was short-lived as
political circumstances and differences in ideology and global policy deteriorated their relations and
manifested in what is commonly referred to as the Sino-Soviet split.
In 1949, China became a communist country following the takeover by the Chinese Communist
Party following their civil war. Leader Mao Zedong sought alliance with the Soviet Union, the
nation established at the forefront of global communism following their revolution and progression
from autocratic monarchy to communist republic. Then leader Josef Stalin welcomed this new
communist ally, and thus began relations between the two countries.
The official declaration of the Sino-Soviet alliance was signed in 1950. The Sino-Soviet Treaty of
Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance was the 20 year long pledge of support in the face of
adversary, the granting of a $300 million loan from the Soviet Union to China for the rebuilding of
its economy following its civil war and the provision of aid in the form of advisors, education
specialists and military and industrial equipment.
Among the support given by the Soviet Union to China was the expertise and funding to facilitate
its industrialisation. Following the Soviet model, China implemented its first Five Year Plan, which
was a success largely due to the loan granted to them by the Soviet Union. Thus, relations between
the two nations were thriving at the beginning of the 1950s.
However, a turning point in their relations was seen as early as 1953. While mutual backing of
North Korea in the Korean War (1950-1953) served to strengthen the ties between the two nations,
1953 was the year Stalin died and Nikita Khrushchev became his successor. With this appointment,
the differences in ideology and policy between China and the Soviet Union began becoming
apparent.
Following Stalin’s death, there was a disagreement of who held most authority in the communist
world standings. Mao, in his position of most senior communist leader immediately after Stalin’s
passing, saw himself as the head of international communism while Khrushchev, Stalin’s successor
