Chine CW Flashcards
(41 cards)
Unification of China
2200 years ago, rise of the imperialist “Middle Kingdom”
Peak of the middle kingdom
Under the Qing dynasty, 17th century
China’s population and GDP
17% of the world’s
name of the 19th century for China and why ?
The century of shame, falls behind the West with high internal tensions, unequal treaties with primarily the UK, Opium wars, lost to Japan in 1895
Declaration on the Republic
military revolution in 1911
Fall of the Republic
end of WWI
What happened after WWI ?
student led revolution in 1919 and two forces are born : nationalists and communists -> civil war paused during the Japenese invasion and WWII
What happened after WWII ?
the nationalists went to Taiwan in 49 -> creation of the People’s republic of China by the Communists. (second largest communist power)
Mao’s reasons for choosing the US
independence, allow them to reach an international status, important economic support
Mao’s reasons for not choosing the US
they supported the nationalists during the Civil War, ideological difference, containment made negotiation difficult
Mao’s reasons for choosing the USSR
Respect for Stalin, close ideology, needed protection for Western intervention
Mao’s reasons for not choosing the USSR
Hidden and mutual distrust, Stalin took two years to recognise Mao, China lost territory to the USSR in the 19th century.
Sino-Soviet Treaty
1950, 300 million dollars on loan, nuclear development aid, 10 thousand economy and military advisers, mutual military assistance. Kruchev affirmed later that treaty had been ‘an insult to the Chinese people.’ as they had to pay ‘down to the last bullet’.
How the US viewed the PRC before the Korean war
Not as a threat, ignored Taiwan
Why did China intervene in the Korean War ?
Wanted to be seen as the leader of Asian’s socialist revolutions, enhance the Sino-Soviet treaty, the US was blocking Taiwan, geographically too close.
China’s intervention in the Korean war
1 million Chinese troops disguised as ‘volunteers’ in order to save the DPRK (North Korea) without Soviet intervention
Successes of the Chinese intervention in the Korean War
Ensuring national security, 1st time a developing nation defeated a superpower, accessed international recognition and re-emerged as a major world power, role-model for non aligned countries, reinforced Mao’s position and opened negotiations with the USSR.
Failures of the Chinese intervention
More death on the Chinese side , new loans to be paid to the USSR, now a threat for the US, China was seen as an aggressor, postponed taking Taiwan.
Maoism
classless, egalitarian society without capitalism, feudalism or imperialism, focused on the peasants, wanted continuous revolution, helped other countries to attain communism (proletarian internationalism)
continuous revolution
the revolution did not stop in 49 but had to continues until all of hte imperialist influences on the mainland were destroyed
1/3 step of the application of Maoism
53-57 First Five-Year Plan : develop heavy industries in urban areas but it was not a success.
2/3 step of the application of Maoism
58-62 Great Leap Forward : develop rural production through the promotion of communes but it caused disorganization and the subsequent famine caused 38 millions deaths.
3/3 step of the application of Maoism
66-76 Cultural Revolution : purge China from its ‘neo-capitalist’ elements, challenged by the failures of The Great Leap Forward.
When did the PRC start to affirm itself as a third world nation ?
50’s and mid-50’s decolonization was almost complete in Asia and Africa. several treaties of mutual recognition or non-aggression pacts were signed -> non-aligned powers.
