Mao's attempts to sabotage Khrushchev's 'peaceful co-existence' policy

Bad relations with the US?

Mao had various issues with Khrushchev and 'peaceful co-existence'. Having had prominent American leaders (e.g MacArthur) threaten to bomb the PRC and get Jiang Jieshi-Mao's arch nemesis to invade to reclaim China from Mao, Mao was unlikely to see the possibility of peacefully coexisting with the West.

China to leading the Communist movement, not the USSR...

Mao was also critical of the USSR because he wanted the PRC, not the USSR, to lead the global Communist movement. His aim for this was that the PRC would support anti-colonial/anti-imperialist forces around Asia and Africa, who could overthrow their colonial powers and join the anti-imperialist Communist bloc led by the PRC.

What was the Second Taiwan Straits Crisis?

It occurred from August to October 1958.

What was Mao's intention during the Second Taiwan Straits Crisis?

Mao deliberately tried to destabilise 'peaceful co-existence' with the West by invading Taiwan.

What prompted Mao to launch attacks on Taiwan in 1958?

Mao launched the attacks in response to the USA invading Lebanon in July 1958 and Khrushchev not criticising this action.

Why did Khrushchev not criticise the American intervention in Lebanon?

Khrushchev recognised that the Middle East and its oil were essential to the USA.

What was Khrushchev's goal regarding the USA during the Second Taiwan Straits Crisis?

He wanted to maintain peaceful coexistence with the USA.

How did Mao criticise Khrushchev?

In what Mao saw as blatant imperialism, he thought that Khrushchev was not fulfilling his duty as the leader of world Communism.

The USSR's reluctance to publicly support the PRC's actions in Taiwan:

Because the USSR were allies of the PRC at this time, Khrushchev was obliged to publicly support Mao's actions, Khrushchev's nuclear threat to the USA in retaliation to US threats of nuclear bombardment was not because Khrushchev wanted to fight the USA but his support for Mao as allies.

Mao tried to sabotage Khrushchev's attempts for 'peaceful coexistence' through launching an attack on Taiwan.

What was the trigger for the breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations?

It was Mao's intense disapproval of Khrushchev visiting the USA and negotiating with Eisenhower at Camp David in September 1959.