Mao Zedong

1
Mao Zedong

• Foreign Policy
• The Soviet Union

2
Triangular issues

• USA, the Soviet Union and China
• The revolution, in addition to building communism
  in the country, was also about returning China to
  its pre-eminence as a world power

3
Zhou Enlai

• Zhou Enlai key figure in Chinas diplomatic
  relations throughout the period
• Zhou widely respected and trusted internationally

4
International Revolution

• Mao differed deeply from the Comintern on his
  views of the international communist revolution
• Chinese interests first
• Other revolutions must be embedded in local
  conditions cultural, social and economic
• Conflicts in the leadership Maoist vs. Leninist
  dimension

5
The Soviet Union Mao and Stalin

• Mao and China as minor partners
• Stalin - Mao was just the leader of another
  communist state
• Mao - no way he would subvert his interests to
  Stalin
• Relations so tense, that later in 1959,
  Khrushchev comments China would have gone with US
  if option available

6
Treaty of Alliance and Mutual Assistance

• Despite personal issues treaty signed 1950 (see
  documents)
• Major benefit of the treaty Soviet Union would
  support China in any future conflict with Japan
• Credits were also given to China but at a much
  lower level than those given by the USA to other
  east Asian states.

7
Tensions with the Soviet Union

• Limited support from the USSR before 1949
• Conflicting views of the relationship after 1949
• Unequal nature of the treaty
• Differing views of communism that emerged

8
So why treaty with the Soviet Union?

• NO CHOICE
• Americans supporting Taiwan
• GMD were rebuilding their forces
• Anti-communist regimes been installed with
  American support Vietnam and South Korea

9
The Korean War

• 25 June 1950 27 July 1953 (ceasefire)
• Proxy-war US Western allies vs. PRC USSR
• North Korea (Communist) vs. South Korea (US, UK,
  Philippines UN)
• US called conflict a police action to avoid
  Congressional declaration of war

10
The Korean War

• Showed different objectives of Soviet and Chinese
  foreign policies
• USSR buffer states
• China hostile regimes on borders
• China need stay close to USSR but not reciprocal

11
Impact of the Korean War

• Chinese leaders saw China not able defend itself
• Pengs argument professional apolitical Soviet
  style military needed
• China isolated through the American backed embargo

12
Khrushchev

• Increased ideological gap when Khrushchev leader
• Mao considered USSR non-revolutionary line
• Mao resented that Khrushchev assumed leadership
  of the communist world
• Khrushchevs attack on Stalins personality cult
• After 1956, increasing criticism

13
The Nuclear Issue

• Sputnik 1958
• Mao delighted USSR should use its new power to
  give total support for revolutionary movements
• Khrushchev refused to risk nuclear conflict

14
Quemoy and Matsu

• Islands of Quemoy and Matsu
• Chinese looking for Soviet support
• None given, further alienating the 2 powers

15
The Invasion of Tibet

• 1959 the Chinese army invaded Tibet
• Soviets refused support
• Withdrew support for Chinas nuclear programme

16
The Low Point

• 1960 Soviet technical advisers were withdrawn
  from China
• 1962 the Soviets supported India in its conflict
  with China