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CCP allegiance to the USSR
In June 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced its allegiance to the USSR. The USA saw this as a major challenge to its position in Asia, and began to develop policies of checking the advance of Communism in that part of the world. In particular, the USA became concerned that Russia and China would act together to extend Communism to other Asian countries. -
China White Paper
Dean Acheson, Secretary of State, was committed to supporting the KMT in Taiwan, but this was done secretly so that the USA did not appear as an ‘imperialist menace’ to China. -
China falls to communism
The Chinese Communists, under the leadership of Mao, won victory in 1949 in the long-running Civil War, and created the People’s Republic of China. -
The Defensive Perimeter Strategy
His thinking was focused on the military security of the Pacific and the policy the USA should develop to ensure this. He argued that the military defence of Japan was the responsibility of the USA. This would be done in the first instance by defining what Acheson described as the ‘defensive perimeter.’ This concept was defined in January 1950, in advance of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of
Friendship, which followed in February. -
Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship
The treaty of alliance concluded between the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union on February 14, 1950. It was based to a considerable extent on the prior Treaty of the same name that had been arranged between the Soviet Union and the Nationalist government of China in 1945 and it was the product of extended negotiations between Mao and Stalin. By its terms the Soviet Union recognized the People's Republic of China and recalled recognition of the Republic of China. -
NCS-68
In September 1949, the USA’s nuclear monopoly ended as the USSR tested its own atomic bomb. This, together with the loss of China to communism, triggered a fundamental review of the USA’s strategic objectves and priorities. This review emerged in the form of the National Security Council Resolution 68. 1950. It stressed the urgency of building the USA’s political, economic + military power. It focused on the globalisation of the Cold War+there was a powerful military emphasis on containment. -
The Southeast Asia collective defence treaty (SEATO)
The Sino-Soviet relations formed in 1950 were strengthened in May 1953. The USSR provided economic and technological aid to China. It was in response to this that John Foster Dulles (US secretary of state) brokered a defensive alliance based on Southeast Asia in September 1954. SEATO was a collective defence treaty. Many SEATO members were not Southeast Asia countries (GB, France, Australia, US, NZ, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan). -
Sino-Soviet relations broke down
WHY?:
± Mao:
- Provoked the USA through bombing the Taiwanese held islands of Quemoy and Matsu in 1958
- Criticised Khrushchev for being unwilling to use nuclear weapons.
- Criticised Khrushchev for removing the missiles in Cuba.
± Khrushchev:
- Supported India in its dispute with China in 1959
- Withdrew technological aid from the Chinese by removing Soviet experts in 1960
- Refused to fulfil his agreement to provide prototype atomic bombs+undermined the Chinese nuclear weapons program -
China called or the return of its territory
China called or the return of its territory that it claimed the USSR had occupied historically, particularly parts of Siberia. Khrushchev rejected this but after his resignation Brezhnev advocated the restoration of positive relations with China. -
Malinovsky Incident
At Sino Soviet talks held in Moscow in late 1964, the Soviet Defence Minister, Rodion Malinovsky suggested to a Chinese delegate, Marshal He Long, that the Chinese should get rid of Mao just as the USSR had removed Khrushchev. The talks immediately collapsed despite Soviet apologies. The rift between the two sides widened. -
Cultural Revolution
1966, Mao embarked in the Cultural Revolution. This intended to return China to its revolutionary communist roots. In so doing there were attacks against anything considered remotely Western, capitalist or dynastic. Boys and girl between the ages of 9 and 18 formed the Red Guard. They justified their actions by citing quotations from Chairman Mao. SU's embassy in Beijing was besieged by the Red Guard mob, led by a 16 year old girl, they threatened to burn the embassy down. -
Border disputes
Due to increasing hostility from China, the USSR decided to station military forces in Mongolia and Eastern Kazakhstan. This alarmed the Chinese and reinforced their view that the USSR intended to attack. As a result they began ‘active defence’. This was activated on 2 March 1969 when a Soviet border patrol near Zhenbao Island in eastern USSR was ambushed by Chinese forces.
Border talks took place in 1969. All efforts to reconcile the Sino-Soviet alliance in the 1970s had failed. -
Sino-American Relations
The first steps towards discussion with China occurred in 1969, when the US removed some trade controls and relaxed some travel restrictions. These were part of what was termed the ‘artichoke’ approach. This was based on the gradual peeling-off of restrictions layer by layer, rather than whole scale removal of controls. -
More improved Sino-American relations
China’s Prime Minister achieved a major victory over those opposed to China’s improved relations with the USA. There was a policy shift towards viewing the USSR as a greater threat to China than the USA – therefore it made sense to make an alliance America. -
Kissinger visits China
In July 1971 Henry Kissinger visited Beijing this agreed a presidential visit and Sino-American summit meeting in early 1972. -
Den Xiaoping
Den agreed with economic development rather than revolution. Both
Xiaoping and President Carter believed in the idea of maintaining relations between the two countries. However Taiwan was a potential obstacle towards this. -
Agreement of Taiwan
China and the USA reached an agreement of Taiwan, Deng Xiaoping conceded that the USA should stop aid to Taiwan’s military and as a result formal diplomatic relations were agreed to take effect from 1 January 1979.