How successful was Mao’s
foreign policy?
L/O – To identify Mao’s foreign policy aims and to evaluate
their successes and failures
China’s Place in the World
• Imperial China’s traditional self-image as centre of the Confucian
world culture. A ‘universalistic civilisation’ that had no need for
contact with ‘barbarian’ nations.
• Self-image destroyed by Western imperialism in 19th century.
National humiliation. Resurgence of nationalism after 1911
Revolution. KMT and CCP both wanted to restore China’s
independence.
• Achieved with victory of CCP in 1949 but raised new questions
for Mao. What part should Communist China play in the world?
Was it a member of the Communist world, the Third World or
the international community? Should it spread revolution in the
world or build ‘socialism in one country’? Should it rely on USSR?
Mao’s Foreign Policy Priorities
1. Economic Development – China needed peace in order to
promote socialist economic development and ensure national
survival.
2. Territorial Integrity – China needed to secure its control over
outlying provinces like Tibet and Taiwan. Feared hostile forces
on its borders in Vietnam/Korea.
3. National Identity – Maoism was not just about world
revolution but restoring the Chinese nation and re-dressing
past humiliations.
4. International Revolution – As a committed Marxist, Mao
believed that war with Capitalism was inevitable. Communist
revolutions should be encouraged world-wide.
Common Programme of PPCC – 1949
• Article 1 – ‘The PRC… opposes imperialism, feudalism and
bureaucratic capitalism and strives for independence,
democracy, peace, unity, prosperity and strength of China’.
• Article 2 – ‘The…PRC… must undertake…to liberate all the
territory of China, and to achieve the unification of China.’
• Article 11 – ‘The PRC…shall unite with…the USSR, all People’s
Democracies and all oppressed nations…and take its stand in
the camp of international peace and democracy, to oppose
imperialist aggression to defend lasting world peace.’
Changes in Foreign Policy
• 1949-53: Ensuring Territorial Integrity –
this period saw the PRC trying to
consolidate its security against US ‘neocolonialism’. 1950 Intervention in
Korea, support for Vietminh against
French, alliance with USSR.
• 1954-1960s: Building Socialism – China
sought alliances for regional stability.
Wanted peace to ‘build socialism’. 1955
Bandung Conference, ‘Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence’.
Changes in Foreign Policy
• 1960s: Spreading Socialism –
increased support for international
revolution, split with USSR, support
for national liberation movements in
Vietnam, Africa, Atomic Bomb 1964
• 1969-76: Détente with the USA –
conflict with USSR led to diplomacy
with USA, Nixon visits China 1972,
China admitted to UN 1971, less
support for world revolution, ‘Three
Worlds Theory’.
Mao’s Foreign Policy – Success?
1.
Economic Development – Failure = Split with USSR removed Soviet
support, trade & advisors in 1960, relied on foreign imports of food in
1960s. Success = Increased US and Western technology imports after
1972, Bandung Conference 1955 increased Chinese trade, Atomic Bomb
2.
Territorial Integrity – Success = integrated Tibet & Xinjiang, ensured
friendly North Korea and Vietnam, victory over India in 1962. Failure =
Korean War 1950 & Taiwan Straights Crisis 1955/58 only strengthened US
resolve to protect Taiwan, Sino-Soviet Border War 1969
3.
National Identity – Success = Korean War/Vietnam was victory over
imperialism, Triangular Diplomacy with USSR/USA ensured Chinese
independence during Cold War, rule over border regions strengthened.
Failure = GLF & Cultural Revolution caused chaos, undermined foreign P.
4.
International Revolution – Success = Support for revolutionary movements
worldwide i.e. Vietnam/Nepal/Philippines/Africa/Palestine, support for
Albania, attacks on Soviet ‘revisionism’, Mao’s 3 worlds theory. Failure =
rapprochement with USA led to decline in support for revolutionary
movements