Changing dynamics of Soviet-China bilateral relations during Cold War:
Mao Zedong, also known as Chairman Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary who was the founder of the People’s Republic of China and has ruled as Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. They had won against the nationalists and On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong announced to the masses that a new China (People’s Republic of China) had been born. At the beginning of the Cold War, Americans were desperate to lose China, their best friend in Asia.
China was in chaos, exhausted by years of war. Mao Zedong needed outside help. In search of protection and financial help, he visited Moscow. He met Stalin, and it was from there that bilateral relations with Soviet China officially began.
They had signed the mutual defense treaty in February 1950. In June 1950, North Korea, supported by Soviet China, attacked South Korea.
The outbreak of the Korean War, which put the PRC and the United States on opposite sides of an international conflict, ended any chance of an agreement between the PRC and the United States.
The core foe was America. Chinese suffered a lot from that war that lasted for three years. when China entered the Korean War in Oct 1950, the U.S.would understand the People’s Republic of China as a serious threat to its key interest in Asia, and to the safety of Japan. throughout the Korean War, the Sino-Soviet alliance worked moderately well because the country provided China with air support, an excellent deal of military provide, and economic aid.
The bilateral relations between the Soviets and China were more strengthened when the commie aforesaid that China-Soviet is brothers. Stalin’s death in 1953, had a deep impact on Soviet-China relations.
Read More: https://youthdiplomacyforum.com/2022/06/10/the-us-war-in-afghanistan/
After Stalin, Khrushchev arises as a new Soviet leader. He and his team visited China to sustain the alliance. the scale and power of the Communist alignment created the new American administration more and more anxious. America was making an attempt their best to prevent the unfolding of Communism.
Then the crevice came in relations with Soviet-China in 1958, once Khrushchev needed to line up an extended approach station on the Chinese price to guide the Soviet submarines. They wanted to regulate China, Mao perceive their stance and he got angry with Khrushchev so the relations between the 2 Communists further worsen once Mao demanded a nuclear A-bomb from the Soviets.
Khrushchev’s plan to reach AN accommodation with the West, and also the USSR’s refusal to support China throughout its conflict with India within the half of 1959 and early 1960. In July 1960, the national capital proclaimed the abrupt removal of Soviet advisers and technical personnel from China. By the first 1960s, the Sino-Soviet dispute unfolds from ideology to state-to-state relations.
Tensions rose on the Sino-Soviet border. The Sino-Soviet alliance collapsed.
Khrushchev next visited Beijing, where he was accused of American stooge and from here the bilateral relations between Soviet-China had diverted. In August 1963, the Soviets signed a nuclear test ban treaty with America and Britain. This treaty was the early step in changing the world order. Tension along the huge Soviet-Chinese border increased in 1969.
Soviet’s premier (Kosygin) visited Beijing in October 1969 to stop the war and restore relations. But Mao had already given their hands to America.
Read More: https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-relations-china
the perception of a grave threat from the Soviet Union pushed Mao Zedong to lift existing conceptual restrictions in order to improve relations with the United States in the early 1970s. In 1971, the invitation of the American table tennis team to China and the visit of Henry Kissinger to China pave the way for better relations between America and China.
In February 1972, American president (Nixon) stepped to Beijing, changing the Cold War balance. Ultimately, the handshakes of both countries (China-America) ended the 22 years of hostility.
This article is written by Kashif Zahid, who is currently studying International Relations at the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad.
