The China Factor in The China Factor in the Cold Warthe Cold War

The Common MisconceptionThe Common Misconception

All Communists want to destroy the free All Communists want to destroy the free world and establish world communism.world and establish world communism.

The USSR and China are Communist-ruled The USSR and China are Communist-ruled nations.nations.

Therefore, the Soviet Union and Therefore, the Soviet Union and Communist China must be united and Communist China must be united and working to destroy the free world and working to destroy the free world and establish world communism establish world communism (Schwartz).(Schwartz).

The RealityThe Reality

July 31, 1963July 31, 1963““The indisputable facts prove The indisputable facts prove

that the policy pursued by that the policy pursued by the Soviet Government is the Soviet Government is one of allying with the one of allying with the forces of war to oppose the forces of war to oppose the forces of peace, allying forces of peace, allying with imperialism to oppose with imperialism to oppose Socialism, allying with the Socialism, allying with the United States to oppose United States to oppose China, and allying with the China, and allying with the reactionaries of all reactionaries of all countries to oppose the countries to oppose the people of the world” people of the world” (Shwartz).(Shwartz).

August 2, 1963August 2, 1963 ““The leaders of China have The leaders of China have

shown to the whole world shown to the whole world that their policy leads to that their policy leads to the aggravation of the aggravation of international tensions, to international tensions, to further stepping up the further stepping up the arms race, to still further arms race, to still further expansion of its scope and expansion of its scope and scale scale (Shwartz).(Shwartz).

Chief Factors in the Development Chief Factors in the Development of Sino-Soviet Relationsof Sino-Soviet Relations

Common Allegiance to Marxism-Common Allegiance to Marxism-Leninism and the dream of a future Leninism and the dream of a future communist world.communist world.

The perception that a public feud The perception that a public feud between them would harm the image between them would harm the image of Communism.of Communism.

Common hatred and fear of the Common hatred and fear of the United States.United States.

The Korean WarThe Korean War The war was in the Common interest of both The war was in the Common interest of both

China and the USSR.China and the USSR. The threat pf possible Soviet intervention in the The threat pf possible Soviet intervention in the

war was a major factor in the decision of the US war was a major factor in the decision of the US and the UN to not carry the fight beyond Korea, and the UN to not carry the fight beyond Korea, into China into China (Shwartz)(Shwartz)..

Chinese participation in the conflict increased Chinese participation in the conflict increased China’s dependence upon the USSR for weapons, China’s dependence upon the USSR for weapons, munitions, and military aid.munitions, and military aid.

The heavy cost of war contributed to China’s The heavy cost of war contributed to China’s increasing economic dependence on the USSR.increasing economic dependence on the USSR.

Factors in the Deteriorating Sino-Factors in the Deteriorating Sino-Soviet AllianceSoviet Alliance

China was never invited to the Cominform or the China was never invited to the Cominform or the Comecon.Comecon.

USSR’s handling of the Cuban Missle Crisis, and USSR’s handling of the Cuban Missle Crisis, and willingness to sign agreements with America restricting willingness to sign agreements with America restricting nuclear testing.nuclear testing.

Conflict of ideology.Conflict of ideology. Krushchev’s secret speech attacking Stalin.Krushchev’s secret speech attacking Stalin. Personality clash between Krushchev and Mao Zedong.Personality clash between Krushchev and Mao Zedong. Longstanding national rivalries.Longstanding national rivalries. Differing levels of economic development.Differing levels of economic development. Rivalry for leadership of the Socialist Camp and the Rivalry for leadership of the Socialist Camp and the

emergence of China as a a major player on the world emergence of China as a a major player on the world stage.stage.

USSR’s adoption of a strict stance of neutrality in the USSR’s adoption of a strict stance of neutrality in the border conflicts between communist China and India.border conflicts between communist China and India.

Consequences of a Strained Consequences of a Strained RelationshipRelationship

The USSR reneged on their agreement to supply China with the The USSR reneged on their agreement to supply China with the technical data necessary to build an atomic bomb.technical data necessary to build an atomic bomb.

The USSR supported of an unsuccessful challenge to Mao’s The USSR supported of an unsuccessful challenge to Mao’s leadership by his defense minister leadership by his defense minister (Donaldson)(Donaldson)..

USSR curtailed its economic assistance and withdrew thousands USSR curtailed its economic assistance and withdrew thousands of specialists.of specialists.

An end to meetings between the two nations.An end to meetings between the two nations. Massive buildup of forces among their common border.Massive buildup of forces among their common border. ““Forever destroyed the Marxist myth that proletariat forces Forever destroyed the Marxist myth that proletariat forces

engage in international relations of a new type” engage in international relations of a new type” (Donaldson)(Donaldson).. ““Each party clearly regarded the other- and no longer the United Each party clearly regarded the other- and no longer the United

States- as its primary security threat” States- as its primary security threat” (Donaldson)(Donaldson).. Both sides turned to the United States for assistance against the Both sides turned to the United States for assistance against the

other.other. The three major powers began to visibly compete for influence The three major powers began to visibly compete for influence

upon emerging states in the developing world.upon emerging states in the developing world. The decline of rigid bipolarity and the emergence of triangular The decline of rigid bipolarity and the emergence of triangular

politics.politics.

China and AmericaChina and America The Americans are The Americans are

“paper tigers” “paper tigers” (Lafeber)(Lafeber).. Imperialist/ Imperialist/

conquering force.conquering force. China would China would

encourage wars of encourage wars of liberation throughout liberation throughout the newly emerging the newly emerging nationsnations (Donaldson) (Donaldson)..

Feared a communist Feared a communist dominated Far East.dominated Far East.

Restraining China by Restraining China by the threat of war will the threat of war will not work because of not work because of the lower value they the lower value they attach to human lifeattach to human life

(Lafeber)(Lafeber). . Wars of liberation are Wars of liberation are

not possible in areas not possible in areas the United States the United States considers vital to her considers vital to her interestsinterests (Lafeber) (Lafeber)..

The Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War President Johnson entered Vietnam to counter the “deepening President Johnson entered Vietnam to counter the “deepening

shadow of communist China” shadow of communist China” (Lafeber)(Lafeber), and because “the contest in , and because “the contest in Vietnam is part of a wider pattern of aggressive purposes” Vietnam is part of a wider pattern of aggressive purposes” (Lafeber).(Lafeber).

Johnson feared along war would leave Vietnam more open to Johnson feared along war would leave Vietnam more open to Chinese pressure, however, it was the Soviets that soon became Chinese pressure, however, it was the Soviets that soon became the most important source of support and aid for the Vietnamese the most important source of support and aid for the Vietnamese Communists Communists (Lafeber)(Lafeber)..

This greatly angered China.This greatly angered China. After Nixon came to power he embarked on a policy of carpet After Nixon came to power he embarked on a policy of carpet

bombing North Vietnam so “the Russians and Chinese would bombing North Vietnam so “the Russians and Chinese would understand they were dealing with a madman and so better force understand they were dealing with a madman and so better force North Vietnam into a settlement before the world was consumed North Vietnam into a settlement before the world was consumed in a larger war”in a larger war” (Lafeber) (Lafeber)..

After Vietnam invaded Cambodia to topple their pro-Chinese After Vietnam invaded Cambodia to topple their pro-Chinese government, China responded by invading Vietnam to punish government, China responded by invading Vietnam to punish them for their aggression.them for their aggression.

While Vietnam was indeed an ally of the USSR, she was not willing While Vietnam was indeed an ally of the USSR, she was not willing to risk war with China to come to the aid of an ally.to risk war with China to come to the aid of an ally.

By this time, China had become a thermonuclear power.By this time, China had become a thermonuclear power.

DeténteDeténte Came about, in part, as a result of the failure of the traditional US Came about, in part, as a result of the failure of the traditional US

policies of containment, as demonstrated through the Vietnam policies of containment, as demonstrated through the Vietnam War.War.

Also in the hopes that the USSR would pressure North Vietnam to Also in the hopes that the USSR would pressure North Vietnam to make peace.make peace.

Détente led to the realization that one Communist power could be Détente led to the realization that one Communist power could be played against another and that led to Nixon’s belief that an era of played against another and that led to Nixon’s belief that an era of confrontation was ending, and an era of negotiation beginning confrontation was ending, and an era of negotiation beginning (Lafeber)(Lafeber)..

Relations between the USA and China began to improve as both Relations between the USA and China began to improve as both Nixon and Mao used the other to check Soviet Power. In 1971 Nixon and Mao used the other to check Soviet Power. In 1971 Nixon became the first president to visit China.Nixon became the first president to visit China.

This put Nixon in the position to Visit Moscow. This put Nixon in the position to Visit Moscow. Both visits were great successes and helped ease the tensions Both visits were great successes and helped ease the tensions

amongst the Great Powers.amongst the Great Powers. ““Brezhnev designed his détente policy in part to ensure that it Brezhnev designed his détente policy in part to ensure that it

would remain in Nixon’s interests to deal with him instead of would remain in Nixon’s interests to deal with him instead of moving closer to Mao” moving closer to Mao” (Lafeber)(Lafeber)..

Steps Towards the Normalization of Steps Towards the Normalization of Relations Between USSR and ChinaRelations Between USSR and China

Elimination of Soviet troops in Elimination of Soviet troops in Afghanistan.Afghanistan.

Elimination of Vietnamese forces in Elimination of Vietnamese forces in Cambodia.Cambodia.

Demilitarization of the common Demilitarization of the common border.border.

Steps towards these goals led to the Steps towards these goals led to the first Sino-Soviet summit in 2O years, first Sino-Soviet summit in 2O years, in May 1989.in May 1989.

BibliographyBibliography

Donaldson, Robert H., and Joseph L. Nogee. Donaldson, Robert H., and Joseph L. Nogee. The The Foreign Policy of Russia: Changing Systems, Foreign Policy of Russia: Changing Systems, Enduring InterestsEnduring Interests. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2005.. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2005.

Lafeber, Walter. Lafeber, Walter. America, Russia, and the Cold War, America, Russia, and the Cold War, 1945-2006.1945-2006. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.

Schwartz, Harry. Schwartz, Harry. Tsars, Mandarins, and Tsars, Mandarins, and CommissarsCommissars. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co., . Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1964.1964.

Zagoria, Donald S. Zagoria, Donald S. The Sino-Soviet Conflict 1956-The Sino-Soviet Conflict 1956-1961.1961. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1962.1962.