The SinoSoviet split, 1958–69- The significance of Russian demands in 1958 and the clash of personalities between Khrushchev and Mao Flashcards
when was the treaty of friendship, alliance and mutual existence signed
1950
when did Khrushchev replace Stalin as leader of the USSR?
1953
when and what was the secret speech?
1956- Khrushchev savaged Stalin’s rule - attacked the cult personality (threatens mao’s authority)
why were relations between china and the soviet union strained by 1958? (3)
a soviet rejection of China’s peasant based vision of communism, Mao’s belief that the USSR was attempting to impose unequal agreements like the tsars, Mao’s rejection of de-stalinisation and peaceful coexistence
what did Khrushchev put an idea forward for between China and the Soviet Union
joint pacific naval fleet
why was the joint pacific naval fleet a point of disagreement
Mao wanted a soviet fleet headed by chinese officers, but Khrushchev wanted the fleet to be headed by soviet officers
what else did Khrushchev include in the demands
longwave radio station based in china to control Russia’s submarine fleet, he also wanted permission for soviet navy to carry out repairs in Chinese ports- sailors leave on Chinese territory
what did Mao interpret the demands as
attempted violation of Chinese sovereignty - trying to exert influence over china
what did Mao see Khrushchev’s moves as
great power chauvinism, also Mao had been waiting years for weapon development (like nuclear weapons) and though K was stalling – though K did not trust him with nuclear weapons
how did Mao show disrespect towards Khrushchev
blowing smoke in his face- saw himself as superior
where had Chiang Kai Shek gone after the GMD lost the civil war
Taiwan
what did Mao believe was china’s destiny?
to take over Taiwan and reunite it with the mainland under communist control
what did the USA recognise as the legitimate government of china since 1949
Taiwan, not the PRC
what did Mao fear about Taiwan
that it could be used as springboards for a GMD invasion of mainland china
what did Mao order in 1958 in regards to Taiwan
a bombardment of the islands- led to the Taiwan crisis
what did the Taiwan crisis mean for Sino-soviet relations
Khrushchev didn’t want to threaten the USA (war)– Mao saw him as a coward and a traitor
what did Khrushchev’s support for peaceful coexistence with capitalism mean for Mao
personality clash- Mao wanted worldwide revolution
what did Khrushchev think of mao
he was hot-headed and unaware of the practical effects of the ideas he advocated
why did Mao accuse Khrushchev of revisionism
he reopened relations with Yugoslavia (which had been terminated due to its co-operation with the west) he also granted other soviet nations the right to interpret Marxism in different ways
what did Mao perceive as a weakness of Khrushchev
his keenness to establish unity throughout the soviet union– not hardline and honest to communism
how was Mao held up as a god-like figure?
in 1961 his followers collated his speeches into the little red book
how can Mao’s disregard for Khrushchev be seen in his visit to China in 1958?
He was put in a hotel with no air-con, Mao arranged a meeting in a swimming pool but Khrushchev could not swim (Mao was an excellent swimmer)
what signified a full split in sino-soviet relations
the great leap forward
how much had the agricultural economy grown in the first five year plan and what did Mao blame
only 3%- blamed china’s dependence of Soviet methods
what methods did Mao advocate
forceful collectivisation and communes
What bold claim by Mao threatened the ideological dominance of the USSR
that through the use of communes china was going to realise communism, and avoid the detours and pitfalls suffered by the soviet union
when was soviet economic assistance withdrawn from china
1959
what did mao place at the core of the great leap forward
the empowering of the masses
what did Khrushchev fear about giving Mao nuclear weapons
that USA would also arm its allies
what was any criticism of the great leap forward seen as
(supporting) soviet revisionism
who was Peng Dehuai?
veteran revolutionary and minister for efence that had taken a tour of PRC in 1959 and found out the impact of the Great leap forward
what did Peng do in the Lushan meeting in 1959?
put his concerns to Mao about what he saw- Mao was furious and accused peng was attacking his leadership
what happened to Peng
due to a visit to the soviet union he was accused of giving them information and he was dismissed
when did Khrushchev end all economic assitance to china
1960
what did the withdrawal of economic assistance lead to
soviet experts left china, taking blueprints with them, soviet aided factories closed and joint projects were discontinued
what did Mao say Khrushchev was by the early 1960s
a redundant old boot that should be thrown away and forgotten about
what did Khrushchev call mao in 1961
an Asian hitler and a living corpse
