Sino-Soviet Relations 1949-76

Question 1

Who was the leader of the Chinese revolution?

Answer 1

Mao Zedong

Question 2

What was the reaction of the USA and USSR to the Chinese communist revolution?

Answer 2

USA was fearful and anxious as to what the communist bloc would now do and if it would threaten them and their sphere of influence. The USSR despite not being great friends with China were pleased to see their neighbour was now communist and could be an allie.

Question 3

How did the the USSR regard China as a communist country?

Answer 3

Junior and inexperienced

Question 4

What was the name of the treaty between China and USSR in 1950?

Answer 4

Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance

Question 5

What were 4 main features of the 1950 China-USSR treaty that represented friendly relations?

Answer 5

1) Formal Alliance
2) $300 million of economic aid
3) Soviet Military Aid to China in case of a western attack
4) Manchuria given back to China of which non-Soviets and Chinese not permitted to enter

Question 6

What were 3 features of the 1950 China-USSR treaty that showed the two states weren’t best friends?

Answer 6

1) Mongolia (China believed this was theirs) remained Soviet state
2) No support for the Chinese takeover of Taiwan as they feared US
3) No joint revolutionary strategy to takeover SE Asia which Mao wanted to do in order to spread communism

Question 7

How did personalities lead to a Sino-Soviet Split?

Answer 7

It made trust and negotiations difficult due to the lack of respect and huge amounts of suspicion

Question 8

How did Mao perceive Khrushchev in relation to Stalin and why?

Answer 8

Junior and Weak following his adoption of a PC policy

Question 8

What did Mao call Khrushchev in terms of ideology?

Answer 8

Revisionist

Question 10

What was the significance and when was Khrushchev’s secret speech?

Answer 10

In 1956 Khrushchev publicly criticised the leadership and style of Stalin by denouncing it as over aggressive with the purges. Mao had adopted a similar personality cult and therefore felt insulted by Khrushchev.

Question 10

What was the significance and when was the first meeting between Mao and Khrushchev in Beijing?

Answer 10

In 1958 Khrushchev visited Beijing to discuss with Mao about politics. During the meeting Mao organised a photo shoot in a swimming pool, knowing that Khrushchev could not swim. It was a humiliation and lead to a personal division between the two leaders

Question 11

What was the significance and when was the second meeting between Mao and Khrushchev in Beijing?

Answer 11

In 1959 Khrushchev embarked upon his second meeting to Beijing where by upon arrival was not greeted with a guard of honour or microphone by Mao. In response, Khrushchev made racist remarks about Chinese names that Mao was greatly offended by. This was an indication of the lack of respect between the two leaders

Question 11

What was the Great Leap Forward campaign?

Answer 11

A domestic economic programme in China that Mao created. It was a huge failure and lead to a lot of deaths

Question 12

What was the significance and when did Khrushchev criticise Mao’s GLF?

Answer 12

In 1959, the criticism showcased the lack of respect. Mao also felt offended by the soviet leaders action as being rude

Question 12

How did Ideologies lead to the Sino-Soviet split?

Answer 12

They derailed the USSR and China relations and thus guided their national interests apart form eachother. Mao also believed that Khrushchev’s ideology was a sign of his mental weakness thereby also leading to a personal split

Question 13

What ideology did Mao pursue?

Answer 13

Global communist revolution

Question 14

What ideology did Khrushchev adopt?

Answer 14

Peaceful coexistence and improved relationships with the West

Question 15

When did China beat the USSR to the top of Everest and what did Mao do and consequently what did this lead to in terms of sink soviet relations?

Answer 15

In 1960 China beat the USRR to the top of Everest that Mao made into an incredible victory out of excessive propaganda that Khrushchev felt was childish and an attempt to undermine the USSR thereby leading to a sino-soviet split

Question 16

When did Mao criticise Khrushchev as being too weak and pathetic for his performance in the CMC and what did this lead to?

Answer 16

The 1963 criticism lead to Khrushchev to felt intimidated and and threatened and also disrespected thereby leading to a sino-soviet split

Question 17

What does “Chutzpah” mean and when did Mao use it also what did it lead to?

Answer 17

This was an approach taken by Mao in meetings and negotiations with the soviet leader that annoyed him by playing jokes and insulting him. This lead to a personal Sino Soviet split

Question 18

When was the Korean War?

Answer 18

1950-53

Question 20

Who were the two sides of the Korean War?

Answer 20

Soviet Union, China, North Korea

UN (mostly lead by USA) and the South Korea

Question 22

How did National interests lead to a Soviet-Soviet split?

Answer 22

Mongolia, China believed was theirs but USSR kept control
USSR denied Chinese requests to expand N.Korean influence
Border disputes > Ussuri River despite

Question 23

Gove 3 reasons as to why China got involved in the Korean War?

Answer 23

1) Fear of a communist roll back
2) Eager to portray China’s role as a powerful and determined communist force
3) Pay back the debt of loaned Korean soldiers in China’s revolution

Question 24

What happened and when was the Romanian party congress?

Answer 24

In 1960 Mao and Khrushcevh directly criticised their style of ideology. Mao felt that Khrushchev undermined the ideology through his approach to the USA

Question 25

How many casualties did China experience?

Answer 25

900,000

Question 26

Describe the Soviet intervention in the Korean War

Answer 26

Limited

Question 26

What were the results of the Korean War in terms of Sino-Soviet relations?

Answer 26

1) Brotherhood developed
2) Mao frustrated with lack of Soviet intervention as it showed self interest
3) Mao felt undermined as they had experienced many casualties and the USSR had promised military aid in 1950 treaty

Question 26

What was the significance of the USSR to limit its involvement in the Taiwan Straits in regards to the Sino-Soviet relationship?

Answer 26

It presents to Mao that Khrushchev was weak and that they now had contrasting national interests

Question 27

When were the two Taiwan Straits crisis’?

Answer 27

1954-55 and 1958

Question 28

When did Khrushchev propose the establishment of a long wave radio station and flotilla? And what did this lead to?

Answer 28

In 1957, it suggested to Mao a lack of trust between from the USSR in regards to China

Question 29

How many Soviet troops stationed along Chinese border in 1967 compared to 1970?

Answer 29

1967: 15million
1970: 30 million

Question 30

When was the Sino-Indonesian war?

Answer 30

1958-62

Question 31

Who did the USSR support in the Sino-Indonesian war, why and what did this lead to?

Answer 31

As a an attempt to present the USSR as respecters of Peaceful Coexistence so to improve relations with the West they supported Indonesia as China promoted global communist revolution. This lead to a clear split between the USSR and China

Question 32

How many Chinese and Soviets were killed in the Ussuri river dispute?

Answer 32

Chinese: 800
Soviets: 60 Soviets

Question 33

When was the Sino-Indian war?

Answer 33

1962

Question 34

Who did the USSR support in the Sino-Indian War? Why? And what did this lead to?

Answer 34

As a an attempt to present the USSR as respecters of Peaceful Coexistence so to improve relations with the West they supported India as China promoted global communist revolution. This lead to a clear split between the USSR and China

Question 35

When was AID from the 1950 Treaty ended and not resumed and what did this suggest?

Answer 35

1966, it suggested that they were now adopting separate ideologies and national interests and that a split had definitely occurred between the two states

Question 36

How much money did the USSR give to India in the Sino-Indian War?

Answer 36

$800 Million equivalent

Question 37

When was the Ussuri River Dispute?

Answer 37

1969

Question 38

What was the significance of the Ussuri River Dispute?

Answer 38

It was the first direct conflict between the USSR and China that cemented or gold plated the split between the two states