How did Sino-Soviet Relations change during the Cold War?
L/O - To identify and explain the reasons for the key turning points in Sino-Soviet Relations
Sino-Soviet Relations in the Cold War
Many people expected communist nations USSR and PRC to be allies during the Cold War against American “imperialism”
1950, both nations formed alliance pledging mutual support for each other
Relationship declined in 1960s, brief border war in 1969
China sought closer relations with USA
Until late 1980s when relations began to improve
Reasons for the Breakdown in Relations
Historical Differences
- Russia seized Chinese territory in 19th century
- Bolsheviks seized Outer Mongolia in 1920s
- Manchuria stripped $2 billions in equipment after WW2
- USSR supported KMT in 1920-1930s
Ideological Differences
- Mao and Stalin differed over interpretation of Marxist revolution
- Stalin opposed Mao’s rise in CCP, argued over continuing revolution
Political Differences
- Mao opposed Khrushchev’s “peaceful co-existence” policy
- Sought independence from Moscow
- USSR only gave conditional support during Korean War
- Both sought leadership of international Communist movement
Economic Difference
- Argued over how to develop Chinese economy
- Great Leap Forward failure
- China paid for aid
Military Differences
- USSR was reluctant to give China military aid and nuclear technology
- China suspicious of this
Mao’s Foreign Policy Priorities in 1949
Source of disagreements can be traced back to Mao’s aims which were essentially about “national” survival rather than helping USSR
Economic Development
- China reluctantly relied on Soviet aid
- Expertise to re-build
- Internationally isolated at UN
- Western trade embargo since November 1949
Territorial Integrity
- China needed to secure its control over outlying provinces like Tibet and Taiwan
- Feared hostile forces on its borders in Vietnam/Korea
- Needed Soviet protections initially
National Identity
- Maoism wasn’t only about world revolution but restoring the Chinese nations and re-dressing past humiliations, including Soviet domination
- Mao wanted independence of action
International Revolution
- Mao believed that war with Capitalism was inevitable
- Communist revolutions should be encouraged world wide
- USSR didn’t want this after 1956
Ideological & Personal Differences
Stalin and Mao had a history of disagreements even before 1949
Stalin believed that the GMD were better placed to re-unify China and supported them even in the 1940s
Mao believed that Stalin wanted a weak China that he could dominate
Mao’s interpretation of Marxism focused on using peasants as the revolutionary class
Stalin believed that this was wrong, revolution should be based on urban working class
Stalin also was mistrustful of any rivals with the Communist world
Did not want to spread Soviet commitments into Asia when war in Europe seemed likely after WW2
The Sino-Soviet Treat of Alliance
February 1950, Mao was invited to Moscow
Treaty of alliance was signed
USSR promised economic assistance to China
Protect in case of war with Japan again
Mao was offended at his treatment
Treaty gave China $300 Million in loans but repayable
Mao had to recognise Soviet control over Outer Mongolia and influence in Manchuria
Khrushchev called it “an insult to the Chinese people.”
USSR sent over 20,000 advisors to the PRC
Helped construct over 200 industrial projects
The Korean War
November 1950, Red Army of the PRC invaded North Korea in an attempt to push back American-led UN forces
Threatened to wipe out the North Koreans
During war, 1 million Chinese troops fought, over 700,000 casualties
Mao’s son killed
China had to pay back to the USSR $1.35 billion in weapons supplied to China
Suggestions that Stalin deliberately prevented an early armistice in order to exhaust Chinese
Armistice came quickly after Stalin’s death
Khrushchev and De-Stalination
Stalin’s death 1953, Soviet Union became ruled by Malenkov, Khruschev and Bulganin
Tensions eased as the USSR began to supply China with loan and technology
1956, Khrushchev became de facto leader of USSR
February, gave a speech criticising the personality cult of Stalin and his crimes
Suggesting Stalin had “put himself above the party”
Mao interpreted this as an attack on himself too as he ruled China in a similar way to Stalin
Increased tensions between the two
Khrushchev and “Peaceful Coexistence”
1956, Khrushchev began calling for “Peaceful Co-existence”
Better relations with USA to avoid nuclear war
Indirectly led to protests across Eastern Europe
Many people believed Khrushchev was promising greater freedoms
Uprising in Hungary in November 1956 was violently crushed
Mao angered by the failure of the USSR to control “reactionary forces” and for allowing protests with the USSR
Mao viewed peaceful-coexistence with the West as “heresy” and a betrayal of the Marxist-Leninist notion of the inevitability of war with capitalism
Mao sincerely believed that “continuing revolution” with the West was the only way to ensure victory of Communism
Negotiating with West on arms reductions in the 1950’s
Mao believed USSR was becoming a “revisionist” and a betrayer of true communism
The 1957 Moscow Conference
November 1957, Khrushchev convened a special Meeting of World Communist Parties in Moscow
Celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution and to try and resolve differences
Despite approving a declaration that promised future co-operation, Mao made a series of speeches warning Moscow to abandon ‘revisionism’ and to return to the true Marxist-Leninist path
Deng Xiaoping demolished Soviet speaker Suslov
Arguing that world revolution was only possible through armed struggle
This angered and humiliated Moscow
Khrushchev’s Visit to Beijing 1958
1957 Moscow Conference - Mao was attempting to challenge the USSR for leadership of the international communist movement
Khrushchev visited Beijing in July 1958, Mao took his chance to humiliate Khrushchev
The talks failed dramatically
Deng Xiaoping again attacked the USSR
Stating they were arrogant for only viewing themselves as the only true Marxist-Leninists
The Taiwan Crisis 1958
Crisis erupted over Taiwan in August 1958
China began bombarding the Nationalist controlled island of Quemoy off the Chinese coast and mobilised its army for war
The USA responded by mobilising the 7th Fleet and prepared for war
Seemed as if Mao was trying to prove his independence from the USSR and to test the USSR’s support for China
Khrushchev argued that he was unwilling to put the USSR at risk by ‘testing the stability of the capitalist system
USSR withdrew all its technical and scientific advisors from China in 1959 and ended all military cooperation, including nuclear
The Great Leap Forward 1958-61
The increasing failure of Mao’s ‘Great Leap Forward’ economic plan was criticised by the USSR
It had led to famine and economic collapse within China
The Soviet press called it ‘faulty in design and erroneous in practice’ and denounced Mao
He was purged by Mao during the July 1959 Lushan Conference
Soviet-Albanian Split 1961
When the USSR began withdrawing financial aid to Albania in January 1961, China immediately stepped in to supply Albania with technical and financial assistance
Mao was attempting to prove the leadership of China as the true leader of the Communist world
Albania had also criticised Khrushchev for his ‘revisionism’
The End of Diplomatic Relations 1961
The move to support Albania was a clear challenge to Soviet influence in Europe. Matters came to ahead at the 22nd Congress of the CPSU in Moscow in October 1961
Ended diplomatic relations between the two nations
Khrushchev called Mao an ‘Asian Hitler’ and Mao called Khrushchev ‘a redundant old boot’
The Sino-Indian War 1962
In October 1962, a dispute over the Tibetan border between India and China broke out into fighting
War ended in November with China taking disputed areas
USSR had supported India by selling MIG fighter jets
The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962
Erupted when Soviet ballistic nuclear missiles were spotted by the US on Cuba
Khrushchev backed-down by removing the missiles
Mao attacked the USSR for its ‘adventurism’ in placing missiles on Cuba and its ‘capitulationism’ in cowardly backing down
The Nuclear Issue 1963-64
The USSR only agreed to give China a nuclear deterrent if China allowed the USSR to control its use
Mao did not agree
After Soviet nuclear cooperation was withdrawn in 1959, Chinese nuclear physicists managed to piece together hundreds of shredded documents on nuclear technology
This knowledge enabled China to press ahead with developing its own bomb
1963, USSR and USA signed the Test Ban Treaty which suspended the atmospheric testing of nuclear bombs
In 1964 China detonated its first atomic bomb
The bomb was codenamed’ 59/6’ after the year and month that Soviet atomic advisors had been withdrawn
L/O - To identify and explain the reasons for the key turning points in Sino-Soviet Relations
Sino-Soviet Relations in the Cold War
Many people expected communist nations USSR and PRC to be allies during the Cold War against American “imperialism”
1950, both nations formed alliance pledging mutual support for each other
Relationship declined in 1960s, brief border war in 1969
China sought closer relations with USA
Until late 1980s when relations began to improve
Reasons for the Breakdown in Relations
Historical Differences
- Russia seized Chinese territory in 19th century
- Bolsheviks seized Outer Mongolia in 1920s
- Manchuria stripped $2 billions in equipment after WW2
- USSR supported KMT in 1920-1930s
Ideological Differences
- Mao and Stalin differed over interpretation of Marxist revolution
- Stalin opposed Mao’s rise in CCP, argued over continuing revolution
Political Differences
- Mao opposed Khrushchev’s “peaceful co-existence” policy
- Sought independence from Moscow
- USSR only gave conditional support during Korean War
- Both sought leadership of international Communist movement
Economic Difference
- Argued over how to develop Chinese economy
- Great Leap Forward failure
- China paid for aid
Military Differences
- USSR was reluctant to give China military aid and nuclear technology
- China suspicious of this
Mao’s Foreign Policy Priorities in 1949
Source of disagreements can be traced back to Mao’s aims which were essentially about “national” survival rather than helping USSR
Economic Development
- China reluctantly relied on Soviet aid
- Expertise to re-build
- Internationally isolated at UN
- Western trade embargo since November 1949
Territorial Integrity
- China needed to secure its control over outlying provinces like Tibet and Taiwan
- Feared hostile forces on its borders in Vietnam/Korea
- Needed Soviet protections initially
National Identity
- Maoism wasn’t only about world revolution but restoring the Chinese nations and re-dressing past humiliations, including Soviet domination
- Mao wanted independence of action
International Revolution
- Mao believed that war with Capitalism was inevitable
- Communist revolutions should be encouraged world wide
- USSR didn’t want this after 1956
Ideological & Personal Differences
Stalin and Mao had a history of disagreements even before 1949
Stalin believed that the GMD were better placed to re-unify China and supported them even in the 1940s
Mao believed that Stalin wanted a weak China that he could dominate
Mao’s interpretation of Marxism focused on using peasants as the revolutionary class
Stalin believed that this was wrong, revolution should be based on urban working class
Stalin also was mistrustful of any rivals with the Communist world
Did not want to spread Soviet commitments into Asia when war in Europe seemed likely after WW2
The Sino-Soviet Treat of Alliance
February 1950, Mao was invited to Moscow
Treaty of alliance was signed
USSR promised economic assistance to China
Protect in case of war with Japan again
Mao was offended at his treatment
Treaty gave China $300 Million in loans but repayable
Mao had to recognise Soviet control over Outer Mongolia and influence in Manchuria
Khrushchev called it “an insult to the Chinese people.”
USSR sent over 20,000 advisors to the PRC
Helped construct over 200 industrial projects
The Korean War
November 1950, Red Army of the PRC invaded North Korea in an attempt to push back American-led UN forces
Threatened to wipe out the North Koreans
During war, 1 million Chinese troops fought, over 700,000 casualties
Mao’s son killed
China had to pay back to the USSR $1.35 billion in weapons supplied to China
Suggestions that Stalin deliberately prevented an early armistice in order to exhaust Chinese
Armistice came quickly after Stalin’s death
Khrushchev and De-Stalination
Stalin’s death 1953, Soviet Union became ruled by Malenkov, Khruschev and Bulganin
Tensions eased as the USSR began to supply China with loan and technology
1956, Khrushchev became de facto leader of USSR
February, gave a speech criticising the personality cult of Stalin and his crimes
Suggesting Stalin had “put himself above the party”
Mao interpreted this as an attack on himself too as he ruled China in a similar way to Stalin
Increased tensions between the two
Khrushchev and “Peaceful Coexistence”
1956, Khrushchev began calling for “Peaceful Co-existence”
Better relations with USA to avoid nuclear war
Indirectly led to protests across Eastern Europe
Many people believed Khrushchev was promising greater freedoms
Uprising in Hungary in November 1956 was violently crushed
Mao angered by the failure of the USSR to control “reactionary forces” and for allowing protests with the USSR
Mao viewed peaceful-coexistence with the West as “heresy” and a betrayal of the Marxist-Leninist notion of the inevitability of war with capitalism
Mao sincerely believed that “continuing revolution” with the West was the only way to ensure victory of Communism
Negotiating with West on arms reductions in the 1950’s
Mao believed USSR was becoming a “revisionist” and a betrayer of true communism
The 1957 Moscow Conference
November 1957, Khrushchev convened a special Meeting of World Communist Parties in Moscow
Celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution and to try and resolve differences
Despite approving a declaration that promised future co-operation, Mao made a series of speeches warning Moscow to abandon ‘revisionism’ and to return to the true Marxist-Leninist path
Deng Xiaoping demolished Soviet speaker Suslov
Arguing that world revolution was only possible through armed struggle
This angered and humiliated Moscow
Khrushchev’s Visit to Beijing 1958
1957 Moscow Conference - Mao was attempting to challenge the USSR for leadership of the international communist movement
Khrushchev visited Beijing in July 1958, Mao took his chance to humiliate Khrushchev
The talks failed dramatically
Deng Xiaoping again attacked the USSR
Stating they were arrogant for only viewing themselves as the only true Marxist-Leninists
The Taiwan Crisis 1958
Crisis erupted over Taiwan in August 1958
China began bombarding the Nationalist controlled island of Quemoy off the Chinese coast and mobilised its army for war
The USA responded by mobilising the 7th Fleet and prepared for war
Seemed as if Mao was trying to prove his independence from the USSR and to test the USSR’s support for China
Khrushchev argued that he was unwilling to put the USSR at risk by ‘testing the stability of the capitalist system
USSR withdrew all its technical and scientific advisors from China in 1959 and ended all military cooperation, including nuclear
The Great Leap Forward 1958-61
The increasing failure of Mao’s ‘Great Leap Forward’ economic plan was criticised by the USSR
It had led to famine and economic collapse within China
The Soviet press called it ‘faulty in design and erroneous in practice’ and denounced Mao
He was purged by Mao during the July 1959 Lushan Conference
Soviet-Albanian Split 1961
When the USSR began withdrawing financial aid to Albania in January 1961, China immediately stepped in to supply Albania with technical and financial assistance
Mao was attempting to prove the leadership of China as the true leader of the Communist world
Albania had also criticised Khrushchev for his ‘revisionism’
The End of Diplomatic Relations 1961
The move to support Albania was a clear challenge to Soviet influence in Europe. Matters came to ahead at the 22nd Congress of the CPSU in Moscow in October 1961
Ended diplomatic relations between the two nations
Khrushchev called Mao an ‘Asian Hitler’ and Mao called Khrushchev ‘a redundant old boot’
The Sino-Indian War 1962
In October 1962, a dispute over the Tibetan border between India and China broke out into fighting
War ended in November with China taking disputed areas
USSR had supported India by selling MIG fighter jets
The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962
Erupted when Soviet ballistic nuclear missiles were spotted by the US on Cuba
Khrushchev backed-down by removing the missiles
Mao attacked the USSR for its ‘adventurism’ in placing missiles on Cuba and its ‘capitulationism’ in cowardly backing down
The Nuclear Issue 1963-64
The USSR only agreed to give China a nuclear deterrent if China allowed the USSR to control its use
Mao did not agree
After Soviet nuclear cooperation was withdrawn in 1959, Chinese nuclear physicists managed to piece together hundreds of shredded documents on nuclear technology
This knowledge enabled China to press ahead with developing its own bomb
1963, USSR and USA signed the Test Ban Treaty which suspended the atmospheric testing of nuclear bombs
In 1964 China detonated its first atomic bomb
The bomb was codenamed’ 59/6’ after the year and month that Soviet atomic advisors had been withdrawn