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

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