Foreign Affairs 1966-76 Flashcards

1
Q

Who was Chen Yi?

A

Foreign Minister of the PRC from 1958-1972, having served in both the Sino-Japanese and Chinese Civil Wars.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What were the differing views on foreign relations during the Cultural Revolution (2)?

A

1) Zhou Enlai and Chen Yi took a pragmatic approach to foreign affairs.
2) The radicals wanted China to encourage revolution in developing countries in Africa and Asia, and to adopt a confrontational approach to Western powers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How did the Red Guards impact China internationally, before the purge of the Red Guards in the summer of 1967 (4)?

A

1) In 1967, the Red Guard occupied the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, destroying many of its records.
2) In August 1967, the British and Indonesian embassies were burned down, with many diplomats badly beaten by Red Guards.
3) Red Guards attempted to export revolution, sending Mao badges and Little Red Books to foreign embassies. Attempts to distribute this material in Kenya led to the expulsion of Chinese diplomats. Similar situations occurred in Nepal and Sri Lanka.
4) There were serious disputes with Burma and Cambodia over the support given by the Chinese to Communist rebels in the countries.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Explain the border clash between China and the USSR on Zhenbao Island (March 1969) (3)?

A

1) Throughout the 1960s as relations had deteriorated, both sides had strengthened their forces on the borders. In March 1969, fighting broke out on Zhenbao Island in the Ussuri River in north-eastern China.
2) Evidence points to China being the initiators of the conflict, with Lin Biao orchestrating it to stress the role of the PLA, and justify its growing influence in politics.
3) The fighting only lasted a few days, resulting in Chinese forces being expelled from Zhenbao Island.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Explain the border clash between China and the USSR on China’s north-western frontier in Xinjiang (August 1969)?

A

In Xinjiang, fighting broke out between Soviet and Chinese forces. The Soviet Prime Minister, Kosygin, visited Beijing in September 1969, for talks with Zhou Enlai. Although no agreement was reached, the sides agreed to further talks, avoiding the prospect of all-out war between the two.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What was the impact of China’s border disputes in the 1960s with the USSR on foreign and defence policy (2)?

A

1) Mao’s Third Line defence project had been sited in Western China, far from the coast, in anticipation for an American invasion. The border clashes in 1969 showed that the most likely aggressor was the USSR, and the Third Line was vulnerable.
2) After 1969, many in the Chinese leadership, including Mao, concluded that China needed to improve relations with the USA, as a counter-weight to the threat of the USSR.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What was the state of the PRC and the USA’s international relationship before 1966 (3)?

A

1) After 1949, the PRC and the USA had no formal relationship, with tensions increased by the Korean War, disputes over Taiwan and the Vietnam War.
2) Some contact was maintained through the American and Chinese embassies in Warsaw, but most of the talks between ambassadors were angry exchanges over Taiwan.
3) Pakistan acted as an intermediary on several occasions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How did Sino-American relations improve 1966-70 (4)?

A

1) The USA saw the conflict between China and the USSR as an opportunity to exploit for the global balance in the Cold War.
2) In 1966, America invited Chinese scientists to visit the USA. China rejected this offer, but became more receptive to improved relations in 1969.
3) China realised that they could not afford to be at odds with both superpowers, brought to light by the border clashes with the USSR.
4) Chinese engineers and scientists reported that they needed access to the more advanced technology of the West if they were to fully exploit China’s mineral resources. During 1970, China, through the intermediary of Pakistan, indicated to the USA that they were open to possible talks.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What was détente?

A

A relaxation of tensions in the Cold War (late 1960s - late 1970s).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who was Henry Kissinger?

A

He became National Security Advisor to President Nixon in 1968, and was the architect of the policy of détente, the policy of reopening contacts with China, and was involved in the efforts to extricate the USA from the Vietnam War.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who was Richard Nixon?

A

President of the USA (Republican) 1969-74, negotiating an end to the Vietnam War. He was an outspoken opponent of Communism as Vice-President to Eisenhower, earning him a record as an anti-communist. This allowed him to negotiate with China without being accused as a Communist sympathiser.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What was ‘ping-pong diplomacy’?

A

In April 1971, the USA table tennis team was invited to visit China to play some matches. They were the first official US visitors since 1949 - ‘ping pong diplomacy’.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What was the significance of ‘ping pong diplomacy’ on Sino-American relations (3)?

A

1) The invitation was approved at the highest level of CCP leadership, signalling their desire to improve relations.
2) In August 1971, Kissinger flew to Beijing to hold talks with Zhou Enlai.
3) The outcome of the talks was that the USA lifted their trade ban with China, with preparations made for Nixon to visit China in 1972.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How did China and America resolve the issue of the status of Taiwan in October 1971 (2)?

A

1) Since 1949, the USA had recognised the GMD government of Taiwan as the legitimate government of China, upholding their right to occupy the Chinese seat at the UN.
2) This changed after Kissinger’s visit, as when Taiwan’s seat was debated at the UN General Assembly in October 1971, and a majority voted for the PRC to take the seat, the USA did not stand in the way. The Taiwanese delegation was expelled from the UN, and replaced by a PRC delegation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

When did Nixon visit China, and what did he describe his visit as?

A

Nixon visited China in February 1972, meeting Mao and Zhou Enlai. He described it as the ‘week that changed the world’.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What was the significance of Nixon’s visit to China for international relations (2)?

A

1) It ended a 23 year diplomatic freeze between the PRC and the US, setting in motion a process of restoring diplomatic relations.
2) It affirmed both powers wanted to reduce the danger of global war.

17
Q

What was agreed upon during Nixon’s visit to China (3)?

A

1) Both would increase their trading, sporting, cultural and scientific contacts.
2) The CIA would cease their support of Tibetan rebels.
3) The USA secretly agreed to supply China with intelligence information on Soviet forces.

18
Q

What issues were not resolved between China and the USA during Nixon’s visit (2)?

A

1) There was no agreement on the future status of Taiwan.
2) China refused to help the USA bring an end to the Vietnam War.

19
Q

When did Mao die?

A

9 September 1976.

20
Q

What was the political state of China at the time of Mao’s death (2)?

A

1) A power struggle between the Gang of Four and Hua Guofeng had been developing, threatening civil war without PLA intervention.
2) Although Mao had left China in a stronger political state than it was in 1949, the political upheavals of the Cultural Revolution revealed how fragile China’s political structure was.

21
Q

To what extent had Mao socially benefitted China at the time of his death (3+, 1-)

A

1) Better educational opportunities.
2) Improvements in healthcare.
3) Greater equality.
4) However, many had died due to failed policies, such as the GLF, as well as due to purges.

22
Q

What was the economic state of China at the time of Mao’s death (3)?

A

1) China had undergone significant industrial development under Mao, with its enormous reserves of minerals and resources being accessed.
2) The ‘technology transfer programme’ and the Four Modernisations were signs that China was still behind other advanced industrial economies in terms of technological development.
3) Food production generally kept pace with population growth, yet food supplies were vulnerable to poor weather and misguided political policies.

23
Q

What was the international state of China at the time of Mao’s death (4)?

A

1) China had regained its self respect, and was regarded by many as a world power. This is because they had acquired nuclear bombs, although they were yet to develop the systems needed to launch them.
2) Nixon’s meeting with Mao in 1972 was on Mao’s terms, described as ‘an imperial audience’.
3) China had recently gained a seat at the UN, and in the wake of Nixon’s visit, heads of government from Britain and Japan visited China.
4) China had recently established relations with West Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.