Lecture 5: Bandung Conference

“ the east wind prevailing over the west wind ”  Mao Zedong, Moscow, Nov. 18, 1957  Implied meaning: 1)The positive side in Chinese was overtaking the West, the negative side; 2)Asian Orientals were taking a lead over all westerners.  Mao ’ s confidence: Not only from China ’ s daring with America in Korea, Indochina & the Taiwan Strait, but from Beijing ’ s successful diplomatic outreach.

China ’ s top priorities in policy making in 1953  Getting prepared for the “ 1st Five Year Plan ” at home;  Reducing as much as possible the hostilities from abroad

On the outbreak of World War  Zhou: “ 3-year war with 2-year negotiations showed that another was has been put off ”  Mao: “ If it cannot even win the war in Korea, how can the US provoke another world war? ”

Beijing ’ s perceptions on the change of international condition  Mao: “ intermediate zones ” to “ second intermediate zone ” ; Washington ’ s first set of priorities is to control the intermediate zone between Japan & Britain.  Zhou: “ 2 dimensional ” confrontation to “ 4 dimensional ” : war versus peace; democracy versus anti-democracy; imperialist countries versus colonial nations; and between the imperialists.

Falling apart of capitalist nations W. relies on  “ vanguard ” nations and region: South Korea, Taiwan, Indochina & Philippines;  Core allies of West Europe  Japan & (West) Germany

Functions of “ Peaceful Coexistence ”  To win international sympathy and support;  Weapon to weaken US ties with its chief allies;  To enhance chances to defeat the Western isolation of China

Proofs to support China ’ s benevolent image  A backward country, thus having no capability to expand externally;  Economy was internally oriented, thus having no need to acquire external markets through either economic or military means;  Same experience with many non-Western countries in the age of imperialism, thus tolerating no more foreign bullies;  A nation was culturally conciliatory & tolerant.

Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence  Their first formal codification in treaty form was in an agreement between China and India in 1954, "Agreement on trade and intercourse between Tibet Region of China and India", signed at Peking on 29 April 1954;  Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Mutual non- aggression, Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, Equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

“ China must walk out of its door ”  6 meetings with Prime minister Nehru, India on June, )Repeatedly portrayed a ‘ peaceful ’ and benevolent China; 2)Building mutual trust is the key to reducing the fear level; 3)Working together to construct ‘ an example for the world proving that all nations can coexist peacefully  2 meetings with Premier U Nu, Burma reiterating the same points

Challenge for “ Walk-out ” diplomacy  US alliance building (SEATO) efforts in Asia;  US – Taiwan Mutual Defence pact;

Beijing ’ s actions  10 Oct., Beijing ’ s notification to UN condemned US ‘ armed intervention of China ’ s Taiwan ’ & claimed that China would ‘ liberate ’ the Dachen and Yijiangshan offshore islands;  Inviting Nehru & U Nu for a summit in Beijing: 4 long meetings on Oct. 1)China is very much in need of friends; 2)Beijing ’ s attitude in military action in the Taiwan Strait.

Zhou ’ s reports to Mao  ‘ political issues were discussed ’ : 2 clearly divided lines – anti-soviet & anti-Communist, anti-colonialism & world peace protection;  Taiwan issue  Dual citizenship  Economic cooperation  Classification of leaders

Achievements at Bandung Conference  Zhou ’ s announcement on 23 April ‘ the Chinese people don ’ t want war with the US; the Chinese government is willing to sit down and talk with the US government to discuss how to relax tensions in the Far East, in particular, the one in the Taiwan area ’.

Achievements at Bandung Conference  Afro-Asian states established diplomatic relations with PRC, including: Afghanistan (20 Jan., 1955) Nepal (1 Aug., 1955) Egypt (30 May, 1956) Syria (1 Aug., 1956) Yemen (24 Sept., 1956) Sri Lanka (7 Feb., 1957)

Leadership ’ s influence  Zhou: conciliatory & pragmatic  Mao: belligerent & idealistic