Cold War: Superpower relations Flashcards
What was Nixon’s strategy for relations with China?
Rapprochement - Establishment of harmonious relations
Why did Nixon want better relations with China?
A part of his election campaign was to remove US troops from Vietnam. This involved détente with Moscow and Beijing.
When did Sino-American relations begin to improve?
March 1969, after the Sino-Soviet border conflict.
Why did China want better relations with the US?
To develop trade and technology.
What was the first step towards rapprochement?
1971, the Chinese invited the US table tennis team to tour around China. This is where the term ‘ping pong’ diplomacy comes from.
What happened in October 1971, to improve relations between the US and china?
The US ended its veto on the entry of China into the UN. This meant that the PRC were formally admitted into the UN.
When did President and Mrs Nixon visit China?
1972.
When/where did Nixon announce the Nixon doctrine? What did he announce?
1969, Nixon held a conference on Guam (US island territory). He stated that the US would expect allies to maintain their own military defense.
What is the ‘One China’ policy?
The policy states that there is only one country of China, despite the fact there are two regimes. This was to deal with tensions between Taiwan and China.
What was the goal of the Nixon doctrine?
To end US involvement in Vietnam and equip the South Vietnamese forces for fighting.
What were the 3 main points of the Nixon doctrine?
US would keep all of their treaty commitments
The US would provide a shield if nuclear power threatened an ally.
The US would give military and economic assistance in accordance with their treaties. BUT they would look to the threatened nation to provide the majority of manpower.
What is domino theory?
The idea that the fall of one state to communism would result in a chain reaction leading to the fall of other states.
Why did Mao intervene in Korea?
Chinese feared an attack on mainland China
Mao claimed he made a deal with Stalin
Worry over comments from US General MacArthur, who expressed desire to invade China
Wanted North Korea as a buffer state from US influence.
What were the consequences of US and China interventions?
China gained prestige, as they didn’t lose to the US.
Mao was angry with Stalin because he withdrew support for Chinese actions in Korea.
US moved the 7th fleet into Taiwan Straits to prevent conflict in Taiwan.
US imposes a total trade embargo on China
US persuaded the UN to declare China as the aggressor in Korea. On this ground, China was denied its seat in the UN Security Council.
Who replaced Stalin when he died?
when?
1953 Nikita Khrushchev
When was Khrushcehv’s ‘secret speech’? What did he talk about?
1956, the end of Stalin’s personality cult.
He spoke about his doctrine of peaceful coexistence. He still believed in a communist-dominated world, but thought this would occur via the recognition of his superior ideology - not force.
How did Khrushchev plan to win over non-aligned states to his communist ideology?
Through economic aid
What did Mao call Khrushchev’s move from Stalinism?
Soviet revisionism.
When was Dwight Eisenhower elected as US president? What was his promise?
- Promised that the US would ‘roll back on Communism’ and be ‘tougher on the Soviets.
What was Massive Retaliation? What did critics have to say? When was it changed?
A military strategy which supported the US responding with nuclear response in case of attack or aggression.
that it was too excessive
When John Kennedy was elected, he amended the policy to be more flexible.
When was the Warsaw Pact signed? Who signed the Warsaw Pact? What prompted its creation?
1955 Signed by all USSR states, apart from Yugoslavia.
Triggered by the admission of West Germany into NATO.
