Mao’s Foreign Policies

1. Mao’s Foreign Policies

2. Chinese Civil War • Mao decided to lean towards the USSR because: • They were both socialist • The USSR had aided the CCP in the past • The U.S. had aided the Nationalists • The U.S. reacted by: • Not recognizing mainland China as the real China • Imposing trade restrictions on China • Vetoed attempts to replace Chiang with Mao in the Security Council of the UN • Supporting Taiwan

3. Sino-Soviet Alliance • In February 1950, the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance was signed giving China: • Monetary aid • Technical advisors • Machinery • Weapons

4. Korean War • Mao and the Chinese leadership had no direct diplomatic links with the U.S. and used the New York Times for information • They gained the impression that the Americans, after defeating the communists in Korea, would then turn on China • Mao wanted to avoid a war with the U.S., but was convinced the Americans would force him into a conflict and decided to fight on the side of the North Koreans in Korea rather than in China

5. Korean War • Chinese generals believed that the Soviet’s inaction in Korea meant that the balance of power had shifted • Stalin provided military equipment at high prices, but no troops. This caused Chinese resentment

6. Mao & Khrushchev • After Stalin’s death in 1953, Mao thought that he was the natural successor to Stalin as the leader of the communist world • However, such an idea was deeply offensive to Khrushchev • When Khrushchev denounced Stalin in 1956 Mao expected to be consulted, but wasn’t. He also disagreed with the policy

7. Mao’s Policy With Taiwan • Mao was alarmed by the formation of SEATO in 1954 (to contain the expansion of communism of China) and thought the U.S. was planning to keep separate Taiwan from the mainland • China began bombing some of the offshore islands (Quemoy and Matsu) owned by Taiwan. They thought this would make the Americans wary of committing themselves to Chiang in Taiwan • It had the opposite effect: Washington didn’t want to be seen as abandoning Taiwan

8. Mao’s Policy With Taiwan • In May 1957, the U.S. supplied the Nationalists on Taiwan with missiles capable of reaching the mainland and carrying nuclear warheads • In 1958, Mao again bombarded the two islands, and China was again threatened with nuclear weapons

9. SEATO Countries

10. China & Vietnam • China gave support and aid to Ho Chi Minh (North Vietnamese) in the war against France • They felt betrayed when the U.S. did not keep to the agreement by failing to hold promised elections in 1954 • Later they sent supplies and weapons to the North Vietnamese, as well as provided safe havens in China

11. Conflicts With the Soviets Add Up • Mao sought Russian to take Taiwan back, but Russia refused to provide offensive military aid to China, so they backed down • In addition, in 1959, Russia refused to provide China with a sample atomic bomb • In 1962, there was a border clash between China and India because they feared U.S./Soviet/Indian encirclement (India had good relations with both countries). Khrushchev didn’t support China because he was too busy with Cuba

12. Conflicts With the Soviets Add Up • Also that year, Mao criticized Khrushchev for giving way to Kennedy over the Cuban Missile Crisis • In 1963, China attacked the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as an attempt by the superpowers to consolidate their joint nuclear monopoly. China had not developed nukes yet and couldn’t test the ones they were developing, but the U.S. and USSR could keep theirs

13. Conflicts With the Soviets Add Up • In 1966, the Great Cultural Revolution began in China. Mao claimed that part of the purpose was to eradicate Soviet-style Communism in China • In 1968, Mao condemned the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia as being imperialistic • In 1969, Chinese border guards along the Ussuri River fired on their Russian counterparts over ownership of islands in the river

14. Ussuri River Conflict Usuri River

15. French for “to bring together” The U.S. and China wanted to establish cordial relations Rapprochement

16. Why Sino-American Rapprochement? • The U.S.: • Sought help in getting out of Vietnam • Realized their policy of containment in China had failed • Wished to be on good terms with a nuclear power • Wished to cause anxiety to the Soviets • Wanted to play off the fears of both the USSR and China • It was a popular move in the U.S.

17. Why Sino-American Rapprochement? • The Chinese wanted: • An American counterweight to Soviet hostility • Concessions on the status of Taiwan • Trade with the U.S. and its allies • The transfer of modern technology

18. Triangular Diplomacy • After continuing poor relations between China and Russia, Nixon and Kissinger realized that a wedge could be driven between the two communist giants and the communist movement weakened in the rest of the world • If Russia pushed America too hard, it might drive it into a closer relationship with China

19. Sino-American Rapprochement • In March 1969, the U.S. lifted restrictions on its citizens to visit China • In April, the trade embargo was eased • In April 1971, a U.S. table tennis team was invited to play in China

20. Sino-American Rapprochement • In October, the U.S. ended its veto on the entry of Communist China into the UN Security Council • In February 1972, Nixon became the first president to visit China • In December/January 1978/79, President Carter entered into full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China

21. Results of Sino-American Rapprochement • The Chinese achieved: • Security from the danger of a U.S.-Soviet or Soviet attack • Acceptance of a “One China” policy by the U.S. • Withdrawal of U.S. military installations from Taiwan • Some trade • The end of China’s diplomatic isolation from much of the Western world

22. Results of Sino-American Rapprochement • The U.S. achieved: • Chinese help in getting out of the Vietnam War • The weakening of the Soviet position in the world, making it more amenable to compromise