Sino-Soviet Relations Flashcards
Why was the USSR crucial to early PRC?
- Source of economic resources in early years
- China’s economy decimated by GMD/ Civil War
- $300 million loan 1950 Sino-Soviet Treaty
- Mao used the USSR model to build his economy/ industry
- He had no experience otherwise
- Didn’t want to copy the Capitalist West
- 1950 Treaty: 10,000 Soviet economic + military advisors sent over
- Closest ally
- 1950 Treaty: agreement to support each other in Conflict
When was the first Sino-Soviet Treaty?
1945
What was the agreement in the first Sino-Soviet Treaty?
Agreement between GMD and USSR
- allow Russian forces into Manchuria as long as USSR didn’t support CCP and recognise GMD as the legitimate authority
When was the second Sino-Soviet Treaty?
1950
What was the agreement in the second Sino-Soviet Treaty?
Agreement between CCP (Mao) and USSR (Stalin)
- Guaranteed China economic and military help
- Return of some remaining Manchurian territory
- Agreement to support each other in conflict
- 10,000 Soviet economic and military advisors to go to China
- Paid for in full by China
- China hands over most of its bullion to USSR
- $300 million loan that had to be repaid + interest
Was the second Sino-Soviet Treaty friendly?
No
- Many people (inc. Khrushchev) have said that it was an almost exploitative treaty
What four factors did the differences between Mao and Stalin stem from?
- Territorial disputes
- Ideological differences
- National rivalry
- Personality clash
What were the territorial disputes between Mao and Stalin?
Manchuria
- USSR had invaded Manchuria during the Soviet-Japan war in 1945
- 1945 Treaty: GMD allowed Soviet troops into Manchuria
- Manchuria was returned to China, however the USSR had stripped the region of resources
- Ongoing border disputes
Xinjiang
- USSR supported nationalists in their uprising in Xinjiang
- After CCP defeated GMD in 1949, USSR terminated their support
-Xinjiang brought back into mainland China with reunification of China under Mao
What were the ideological differences between Mao and Stalin?
Mao believed in Marxism with a nationalist focus whilst Stalin believed the USSR interpretation of Marxism was the only true one
- 1941 CCP Politburo accepted Mao’s version of Communism as against pure Marxism
- A speech restating this in 1942 started the idea of Rectification Campaigns to root out those who didn’t believe in Mao’s version
What was the national rivalry between Mao and Stalin?
- Mao believed Stalin didn’t want a strong China
- wanted a strong USSR instead of a desire for global communism
- 1945 Soviet-GMD Friendship Treaty: recognising GMD as only legitimate party and not supporting CCP in order to put Soviet forces in Manchuria
- However, Mao still had to rely on USSR for economic reasons
Why did Mao and Stalin not get on personally?
Mao felt Stalin often treated him with disdain and not as equal partners
- e.g. meeting for 1950 Treaty: no official arrangements made, making Mao feel disrespected
Why didn’t Mao get help from Stalin during the Yan’an Years?
- Mao had a different version of communism to Stalin
- Russia thought the GMD were a stronger ally
- A stronger Chinese ally would help Russia fight off any Japanese aggression along its border
What were Stalin’s motives for involving PRC in the Korean War?
- Can be involved in the war without having to lose any USSR soldiers
- no military commitment, simply political backing
- Could distract early PRC from becoming a global Communist superpower
How did the Korean War affect Sino-Soviet relations?
- 1950: Stalin’s letter manipulated Mao to join war
- heavily implied USSR would also get involved
- meant PRC had to spend lots of money for war effort when it was still recovering from Civil War
- Strengthened Communist ideology
- solidarity of communist USSR and PRC powers against the West
How did the Korean War affect Sino-Soviet relations?
- 1950: Stalin’s letter manipulated Mao to join war
- heavily implied USSR would also get involved
- meant PRC had to spend lots of money for war effort when it was still recovering from Civil War
- Strengthened Communist ideology
- solidarity of communist USSR and PRC powers against the West
