1) Who was Mao Zedong?
Leader of China after Communist
revolution in 1949
2) Why was the relationship between Stalin &
Mao “not an easy one”?
Stalin had initially seen the Nationalists
(Guomindang) as a better barricade
against the Japanese expansion
3) What were the terms of the Sino-Soviet
Treaty of 1950? (5)
• Formal alliance between the 2 countries
• Economic aid for China
• Soviet military assistance in case of
attack from Japan & USA
• Military aid to help China develop its air
force
• Soviet promise to restore Chinese
sovereignty over Manchuria
4) For what 2 reasons did the Sino-Soviet Split
occur?
• Ideological Differences
• National Interests
5) Pick one of these reasons- and give 4 reasons
why it cause the split (4)
IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
NATIONAL INTERESTS
• Argued over the best way to pursue
Communism- China had had to
adapt it for a rural-based society
• Mao felt himself as senior to
Khrushchev following Stalin’s death
• Mao criticise Khrushchev’s pursuit
of better relations with the USA.
• Khrushchev’s policy of
‘Destalinisation’ was not received
favourably in China
• Khrushchev’s reconciliation with
Tito did not please Mao- saw it as
revisionism
• Arguments arose over USSR’s
refusal to reduce its ties with
mongolia
• USSR blocked China’s request to
expand its control in North Korea
• Border disputes couldn’t be ignoredSoviet army division doubled
between 1967-1970
• Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in
1968 had a profound effect on
Chinese perceptions of USSR
intervention.
6) What event demonstrated the border
tensions?
The Ussuri River Dispute
7) What was the “geopolitical” interpretation of
Rapprochement?
Chinese security interests could not be
adequately protected by sustaining its
hostility to the USA and its deterioriating
relationship with the USSR
8) What must also be considered?
IDEOLOGY- Mao saw the USSR as
representing “social imperialism” due to
its ‘reactionary’ attitude. This was
considered the greater threat.
9) What obstacles prevented Rapprochement?
(4)
• US Support for Taiwan
• The military situation in Vietnam
• Korea
• Dealing with the emerging world power
of Japan
10) What event led to Rapprochement?
• The World Table Tennis Championships“Ping Pong” Diplomacy!
11) What events followed this? (3)
• Trade & Travel restrictions were relaxed
• Kissinger, Nixon and Ford all visited
China.
• USA toned down its Far East Foreign
Policy
12) What were the consequences of
Rapprochement? (4)
• Caused tension between China and their
allies
• Restored Mao’s standing in China
• Embarrassed and undermined the USSR
• USA used this link to gain concessions
from the USSR- brought them to the
negotiating table.