Sino-Soviet relations, 1949-1976 Flashcards
When was the Treaty of Friendship signed?
1950.
When did Khrushchev deliver his Secret Speech?
1956.
Who did the Treaty of Friendship benefit more?
The Soviet Union.
When did the USSR pull economic aid and advisers from China?
1960.
When was the Sino-Soviet agreement on atomic cooperation cancelled by the USSR?
1959.
When did the battle of the Ussuri River happen? Why?
- Chinese soldiers attacked Soviet border guards.
When did Kissinger visit China?
1971.
How did China try to undermine Soviet influence in Eastern Europe in the early 60s?
They encouraged Romania to distance itself from the Soviet Union and financially supported Albania after it left the USSR.
When did China become communist?
1949.
Did Stalin consider China as an equal communist power?
No.
Why had Stalin been reluctant to support the Chinese Communist Party during the Chinese Civil War?
Because he felt that the nationalists offered a better defence against the Japanese expansion that was happening in China.
Who did the USSR give aid to during the Chinese Civil War?
The Guomindang (Chinese nationalists)
What were the terms of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of 1950? (The treaty of friendship)
-A formal alliance between both countries
-Economic aid for China, most of it was used to buy equipment for defence industries
-Soviet military aid in case of attack from Japan or the USA
-Soviet promise to restore Chinese sovereignty over the province of Manchuria
-Agreement to ban all non-soviet foreigners from Manchuria
Why did Mao not think North Korea taking military action against the South in 1950 was a good idea?
He feared it would mobilise the US and make them a bigger presence in the region. This would jeopardise Mao’s plans to invade Taiwan.
What were some things that China wanted but didn’t get with the 1950 Treaty?
-Mongolia (it remained in the Soviet sphere of influence)
-Stalin refused to give aid to conquer Taiwan out of fear of provoking the US
-No joint revolutionary strategy was devised for East Asia.
Why did Stalin not want soviet forces directly involved in the Korean War?
He feared US interference.
Why did Mao support the civil war in Korea?
-Threat of US action in China
-Debt owed to NK volunteers
-Opportunity to show China’s credentials as a world revolutionary force
Explain how Stalin used the domino theory to convince Mao to take action in North Korea.
He claimed that if North Korea fell to capitalism, a reverse domino theory would happen and the region would be in danger. He got his way and China got involved in the conflict.
When did Chinese forces become involved in the Korean War?
October 1950.
What were Mao’s feelings towards the USSR and Stalin?
He felt inequality but also a moral superiority.
Did Stalin care about spreading communism in East Asia?
No. He didn’t directly involve Soviet troops and overruled Mao when he deemed it necessary.
When did the Taiwan Straits crises happen?
1954-55 and 1958.
Why was control over the Taiwan Straits so important for Mao?
After the revolution, the remains of the Guomindang fled there. In Mao’s eyes, Chinese liberation was not complete without control over the Straits.
What was SEATO?
Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation.
Who were the Guomindang in Quemoy and Matsu supported by?
The US.
When was Quemoy bombed for the first time?
September 1954.
What were the reasons for the second bombing of Quemoy in 1958?
-Frustration at Taiwan’s lack of concessions in negotiations
-Mao wanted to test the US’s commitment to Taiwan
-Mao’s attempt to stir up revolutionary enthusiasm
-Opportunity to tie the USSR to the defence of China by highlighting the threat by the USA
Why did Mao leave Quemoy and Matsu in the hands of the Guomindang and the US?
It gave him a way of applying pressure to the US and the Guomindang when needed. A noose to tighten and loosen when it suited him.
When did the Chinese Red Guards attack the Russian embassy in Beijing?
1967.
Why did armed struggles develop at the Ussuri River in 1969?
As a result of tensions. The river floods often and changes paths, and since it was used as a border this made the line between China and the USSR unclear. Due to tensions between the countries, the unclear border was used as an excuse to start armed conflicts.
Explain some ideological differences between the USSR and China.
-Mao didn’t like Khrushchev’s reconciliation with Yugoslavian dictator Tito
-Mao didn’t like Khrushchev’s aim to improve relations with the US, he saw peaceful coexistence as a betrayal
-Mao didn’t agree with destalinization
-Mao criticized the elite that had developed in the USSR
-Khrushchev criticized Mao for splitting the communist movement
Khrushchev didn’t agree with Mao’s ‘Great Leap Forward’, in 1958
What was the Great Leap Forward of 1958?
A Chinese economic plan.
How did the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia affect China?
Mao felt threatened because he feared that if China strayed too far from Moscow they could be invaded too.
When did Mao launch the Cultural Revolution?
1958.
Were border disputes between China and the USSR the cause of tensions?
No, they were mostly the result.
Why was the preliminary agreement for the USSR to hand over Damansky Island to China in 1964 cancelled?
Mao spoke openly about this being the first of many territorial gains from the USSR. Khrushchev was outraged.
Why was armed conflict between China and the USSR especially dangerous in the 1960s?
Because both sides had nuclear weapons.
What were the consequences of the Ussuri River dispute?
-Damansky Island remained Soviet
-Border dispute was left unsolved
-Tensions increased along the border
-Sino-US reapprochement
What were some threats to Chinese security in the 1960s?
–Threat of increased US involvement in the region due to the Vietnam War
-Continued conflict in Taiwan
-Hostile neighbours (Korea & Japan)
-Tension with India over their shared border
Were geographic threats the main factor in China’s rapprochement with the US?
No. Ideology always needs to be considered in the Cold War context.
Why did Mao distance himself from the USSR?
He believed that it was developing into a reactionary and conservative society. This went against the core ideals of communism.
What was the excuse the US and Chinese governments used to meet?
The 1971 World Table Tennis Championship in Japan.
What were some obstacles in the way of improved Sino-US relations?
The Taiwan situation, the military situation in Vietnam, the division between North and South Korea, and how to deal with Japan’s emergence as an economic world power.
When did President Nixon visit China?
February 1972.
How did the Chinese government put pressure on the Soviet Union in the 70s?
They visited Eastern European countries to strengthen their ties with them.
Trade between China and the US grew considerably during the 70s. What was a line the US were not willing to cross yet?
Trade in goods with military applications.
When did the US give diplomatic recognition to China and withdraw it from Taiwan?
1978.
Why did the new US-China relationship cause problems for China with its allies?
Because they accused China of betraying the world proletarian revolution.
How did the rapprochement affect the Soviet Union?
It applied pressure because it was now a 2 vs 1 situation.
How did the rapprochement affect Détente?
It helped bring the Soviet Union to the negotiating table from a position of weakness and forced them to make concessions.
What was Détente?
The more permanent relaxation of superpower relations in the 70s. It produced agreements on trade, arms limitations and human rights.
