Mao's China

dates

1949—1972

maoism

a form of communism that Mao Zedong developed for realizing a socialist revolution on China

declaration of the People’s Republic of China by Mao Zedong

Oct 1st 1949

after defeating nationalist gov of Chiang Kai-Shek - flee to Taiwan

US recognize the Republic of China, located on Taiwan as China’s true gov - Truman admin policy of non-recognistion of the PRC

June 1949

Mao Zedong announced that PRC would support the sov uni

Feb 14 1950

Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual assistance (mainly military agreement)

Korean War

June 25 1950

North Korean People’s Army invades South Korea

US+UN South defense but China supports North → US perceive PRC as major threat to key interest in Asia

4 million ppl dead in the 3 year conflict

Sino-Soviet alliance functioned well during war: Sov Uni provided air support

US toughened economic embargo against the PRC + blocked PRC’s membership in the UN => intensified Cold War

Quemoy and Matsu Islands

Chiang deploys thousands of troops to Quemoy and Matsu Islands in Taiwan

PRC responds by shelling the islands, mainly to foil the US-Taiwan security treaty bet Wash+Chiand Nationalists

2nd half of the 1950s

Chinese communist party started to disagree w the Soviets on how to evaluate stalin + the direction which Nikita Khruhschev was leading the international communist movement

Sino Soviet Split

1960 — sino-soviet alliance collapsed = breach in the strict bipolarity in the Cold War

USSR’s refusal to support China during its conflict w India → in 1960: Sov Uni withdrew advisors from China bc of differences in ideology, security etc

=> USSR and China bitter rivals for leadership of communism + third worlds

Sino-Soviet Border conflict

1969

Sino-American ambassadorial talks

launched in aug 1955 but little progress

bc of Sino-Soviet border conflict → Beiging wished to maintain communication w Washington — no official relations, but facilitated relations

Third World

major battleground for the great power contention: the rise of nationalism posed a threat to the US and “Free World“

china role in third world

china stood out as the world’s leading revolutionary state — PRC gave high priority to relations w Third World ;

Mao Zedong pointed out string coalition of countries could prove to be important

Bandung Conference

April 1955

China attends along w 29 govs of Africa and Asia

→ to discuss peace and decolonization + their roles in the Cold War
Goal: develop relation bet them (as 3rd world) + avoid choosing sides — China attempted to build close cooperative relations, urging others to reject the West

Triangular Diplomacy

foreign policy of the United States, developed during the Vietnam War by Henry Kissinger, as a means to manage relations between the contesting communist powers, the Soviet Union and China

Ping Pong diplomacy

April 6th 1971

china’s ping-pong team invites US team to China = first public sign of warming relations

1971

Henry Kissinger secret trip to China

UN recognizes PRC and gives it a seat on the Security Council

1972:

Nixon spends 8 days in China → meets Mao + signs Shanghai Communique which set stage for improved US-Sino relations => allows for discussions abt difficult issues such as Taiwan

China for Mao

Mao did not follow the policy of detente

China=model for the “liberation” of all the oppressed nations+ppls of the world

The Chinese leaders persisted in proclaiming “Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong thought” (and not communism)

china importance in cold war

the only country that stood at the intersection of the 2 superpowers

—> sino-american rapprochement helped to create conditions that led to the (limited) detente of the 1970s + collapse of the Communist bloc = end of Cold War