Sino US Relations Flashcards
What were the Ideological and political differences (reasons for ) no official relations between US & China prior to 1969 (5 points)
Ideological and political differences
1) China becomes communist
In the aftermath of the Chinese civil war after Mao Zedong proclaimed the birth of the People’s Republic of China (a communist state) in October 1949, the US only formally recognized and supported the Nationalist Republic of China located in Taiwan and was unwilling to recognize the People’s Republic of China (Mao regime)
2) Invasion of Tibet
In October 1950, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) PLA invaded Tibet as part of Mao’s aim to control the mainland and to reunify former Chinese territories. The US condemned the PRC for what it saw as expansionism and for the terror that followed in Tibet.
2) Involvement of China in the Korean War
China’s intervention in the Korean War following the US’s army push over the 38th parallel into the North, and the resulting three-year war that followed led to open conflict between the USA and the PRC exacerbated the animosity between China and the US. Richard Nixon in a speech in December 1953 accused China of being the cause of trouble in Asia and argued that if they didn’t turn communism they won’t be war in Korea.
3) Chinese-USA tensions were intensified by the appointment of staunch anti-communists such as John Foster Dulles as sec. of state who at the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords refused to shake the hand of the Chinese foreign minister, Zhou Enlai
4) animosity continued to build to the extent that In 1960 when Mao accused Khrushchev of being soft on capitalism, he also proclaimed that the United States was China’s number one enemy.
5) - China and the USA also supported different sides of various proxy wars, most notably, VIETNAM. (heightened tension)
Significance: the culmination of all these incidents heightened the extent to which US and China were adversaries
State two causes that led to the rapprochement (establishment) of Sino US relations from 1969 onwards
1) Role of Nixon
2) Breakdown of Sino Soviet relations (in the Brezhnev era)
Describe the view that the breakdown of Sino Soviet relations led to the rapprochement (establishment) of Sino US relations from 1969 onwards
1) With tension already prevalent from the Sino soviet split in 1961, when Leonid Brezhnev succeeded Krushchev in 1964, tension mounted from 1964 and 1969, as there were 4000+ incidents of Chinese & Soviet troops firing at each other across the 7000 kilometers border shared by the two countries. This was further heightened by the Brezhnev doctrine put forth in 1968 declared that the Soviet Union would intervene—including militarily—in any communist countries where socialist rule (according to USSR’s ideals) was under threat.
Significance:
Mao perceived it as a threat to China’s sovereignty & territorial integrity
Notable incident: Sio Soviet Border conflict of 1969
Mao wanted to create a situation where he had leverage in his congress, so he launched a small controlled clash with the USSR on the Damansky, a small island located in the middle of the Ussuri river, which was claimed by both countries. On March 2, Chinese forces ambushed Soviet troops killing 54 and wounding 95, however, rather than retreating Soviets sent in reinforcements, including tanks. The battle continued throughout march until Chinese forces retreated and withdrew. Out of fear of an assassination attempt on the congress. Chinese party congress leaders took refuge in nuclear safehouses. Although the original conflict zone was abandoned, in August 1969, the Soviets actually invaded part of China using the Kazakhstan border, as a result of the surprise, Chinese defenses were useless against Soviet technology. Both sides realigned their nuclear missiles to face each other. The USSR even secretly asked the USA what the US would do in the event of a Soviet nuclear attack on China! However, Eventually, a ceasefire was reached.
Signifianceof conflict:
In the aftermath of the conflict, Sino-Soviet relations became increasingly belligerent. The conflict marked the lowest point in relations. It forced China to consider better relations with the USA as a way to offset the Soviet threat.
Describe the view that Nixons rise to power led the rapprochement (establishment) of Sino US relations from 1969 onwards
1) Common Political objective
Both Mao and Nixon were adverse to Soviet expansion troubled by Brezhnev doctrine (affirmed by Soviet actios in Czechoslovakia in 1968) and Soviet nuclear strength.Nixon’s and Mao’s interests aligned. Thus, in January 1969, Nixon’s administration took office, signaling a change in the anti-communist strategies of the USA. Two months later, the National Security Advisor Kissinger went to meet Ayub Khan, the president of Pakistan at that time, and Ceausescu, a Romanian communist politician at the time as Nixon looked to normalize relations with soviet aligned states. Nixon also allowed for Americans to visit China, and loosened sanctions on Chinese grain exports (this signified that the USA would NOT be neutral if the USSR invaded China.)
– signaled the change in US position regarding communist
Though Publicly, Mao criticized America’s actions in Vietnam and criticized America’s actions, especially those in Vietnam, privately he was happy by the turn of events and the way the USSR was being backed into a corner
What direct catalyst was the change in Sino US relations under the Nixon administration
The true trigger for change in relations between the USA and China was not diplomatic or strategic, as it came through “ping pong diplomacy”. Sporting events in April 1971 at the world champ at the World Table Tennis Championships tournament in Japan, a young American ping-pong (table tennis) player boarded the bus transporting the Chinese national team and was engaged in conversation with a Chinese player. The US team subsequently received an invitation to play in Beijing and was granted visas to travel to China.
Significance: The event transformed US’s and China’s public relations and paved the way for President Richard Nixon’s visit to Beijing in 1972 and has been seen as a key turning point in relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.
Discuss 3 impact of Sino US relations
1) Gave China recongition in the UN
Amid the Sino-Soviet split and Vietnam War, s President Richard Nixon sent Kissinger (national security advisor) secret to China in July 1971 to visit Zhou Enlai. Kissinger offered a NUMBER of enticements to China, including full UN recognition and On 25 October 1971, the UN officially recognize the People’s Republic of China (under Mao) and gave them veto power
Significance: fostered and normalized relations that led created trade opportunities between US & China and helped Nixon visited China in February 1972 (In 1972 China sent Pandas to the USA as a sign of friendship.The US responded by sending musk oxen. )
Keynote: rapprochement with China was most arguably Nixon’s highest achievement and most important job.
2) further alienated the Soviets from China as Mao sought to keep the US as an ally. Relations were also influenced by the fact that China needed the USA in order to improve its technological .The Chinese Air Force was unequipped and lacked the new technology for improved fighter planes.
3) In the aftermath of Nixon and Mao’s rule, Sino US relations continued, and US was enabled to relate with both Nationalists in Twaian and the People’s republic of China. For example, though on January 1 1979 the US officially recognized the PRC as a legitimate government of China which left the Taiwan government (Nationalists) unrecognized due to China’s one party policy, in that same year the US also passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, allowing them to engage with the nationalists without formally recognizing their government.
Significance: enabled the US to keep dialogue and relations with the two states in China
How did Nixon and Mao leave office?
1974 saw the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s resignation which thus stalled the agreements, along with Mao’s death.
