PRC under Deng Xiaoping - 24. Foreign Policy 1976-97

Question 1

What was China’s Diplomatic Relationship with other nations between 1976-1997?

Answer 1

• 1979 full diplomatic relations restored with USA – cultural + educational exchanges, USA provided intelligence information on USSR + non-lethal military equipment to develop nuclear programme
• New leadership – Deng Xiaoping with his Open Door Policy and USSR + Gorbachev with their Glasnost and Perestroika
• C – Relations with USSR due to China invading Vietnam 1979 in retaliation to Vietnam (USSR ally) invading Chinese ally Cambodia.

Question 2

What was China’s economic foreign policy like between 1976-1997?

Answer 2

• Japan – re-established links with PRC with 1978 trade deal with Japanese business supporting Chinese technology transfer, by 1990s Japan became largest importer of Chinese goods
• UN Security Council – China became one of 10 nations with a permanent seat on the UNSC, they had the power to veto any decisions made + maintain neutral benefitting FP
• Deng’s ‘One country, two systems’ policy allowing areas of China to continue to economically grow without constrant like the rest of the country e.g. SEZ Shenzen

Question 3

What was the situation like with China’s territorial claims from 1976-1997?

Answer 3

• Regained control over Hong Kong – Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984 meant China again committed to the One country 2 systems policy – autonomy
• Macau returned to China from Portugal rule in 1999 in a similar way Hong Kong had been returned
• C – Tiawan still maintained independence with limited influence from China – Tiawan Relations Act with USA promised to defend Tiawan