Lecture 9

The Demise of Sino-Soviet Alliance

Accumulated Tension

Feb. 1956, CPSU 20th Congress Criticizing Stalin and his personality

cult without consult Beijing in advance

Mao’s Reaction Mid-March to early April 1956, a

series of meetings Mao: “exposed the problems”, “made

a mess” Stalin’s mistakes during the Chinese

Communist revolution: Wang Ming’s policy; Chinese Civil War;

Sino-Soviet Treaty; Korean War.

Mao’s Evaluation on Stalin

A “great Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader”;

“70-30 ratio” methodology – achievements should account for 70% of Stalin’s career & mistakes for only 30%

Why did Mao defend Stalin?

Defending CCP’s own experience of building socialism in China;

Learning to establish a highly centralized economic planning system;

Accelerating China’s economic development;

Consolidating his leadership.

Mao’s Meeting with Soviet Ambassador (March 31, 1956)

Proper tone for criticizing Stalin; Warning Khrushchev not to repeat the

same mistake, hoping a new pattern of Sino-Soviet relations;

Greater voice on questions concerning not only bilateral relations, but international Communist movement.

Beijing’s management of thePolish & Hungarian crisis (Late 1956)

Both crises resulting from Soviet “big-power chauvinism”;

Polish Crisis ---- anti-Soviet; Hungarian Crisis ---- anti-Communist.

Chinese Leaders’ Reflection on Soviet’s Behavior

Summer of 1957, anti-rightist movement ;

Criticizing Zhou Enlai’s viewpoint of balanced economic development;

Zhou’s comments on Soviet according to his Soviet, Poland & Hungary visit from Jan. 7 to 18, 1957.

Divergence between Mao & Khrushchev

Mao: Should not be frightened by nuclear war started by imperialists;

Khrushchev: necessity & possibility of “peaceful coexistence” with Western imperialist countries.

From Tension to Crisis

China’s domestic situation: Great Leap Forward; Zhou Enlai’s self-criticism;

Soviet’s Comments on the Great Leap Forward

Khrushchev and his colleague were confused;

Thousands of Soviet advisers issued warnings;

2 Important Events: Long-wave radio transmission center &

a receiving station:Mao: China would pay all the expenses &

would retain exclusive ownership of the station.

A joint submarine flotilla:Mao: not interested in creating a Sino-

Soviet “military cooperative”.

Khrushchev’s China Trip(July 31 – Aug. 3, 1958)

Khrushchev’s explanation; Mao’s reaction: “big-power

chauvinism” did exist in the Soviet’s attitude toward China;

Results: Agreement-signing, but Sino-Soviet psychological rift persisted & intensified.

1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis:Shelling Jinmen (Quemoy)

At the end of July 1958, Beijing decided to begin large-scale shelling of Jinmen without informing Khrushchev;

Aug. 23, began shelling; Early Sept., Gromyko visited Beijing, Mao:

attracting world’s attention to the Taiwan question & to divert US strength from other part of the world (Esp. the Middle East).

Sept. 8, Soviet issued a statement to show its solidarity with the Chinese.

China’s Situation in 1959:

Negative effects of The Great Leap Forward; March, anti-Chinese & anti-communist

rebellion in Tibet; June, Soviet cannot provide Beijing with

atomic prototype & technical data for producing the bomb according to US-Soviet Geneva negotiation;

July, Lushan Conference, Peng Dehuai’s “anti-party plot”;

Aug. Sino-India border conflict.

Khrushchev’s Speech at China’s National Day Banquet (1959)

40-minute speech; Emphasizing the “Camp David” spirit; Hoping to contribute to the relaxation

of tensions between East & West; Unwise to use military means to test

the stability of the capitalist system. Mao’s reflection: Khrushchev’s speech

meant to insult him & revolutionary China.

Sino-Soviet Vitriolic Debate(Sept. 30 – Oct. 4, 1959)

K. delivered Eisenhower’s request on releasing 5 American POWs;

Taiwan Issue; Sino-India border conflict; Tibet Rebellion; About Peng Dehuai’s criticism.

K.’s Speech at Vladivostokon Oct. 6, 1959

“brotherly solidarity” between Moscow & Beijing as a cornerstone for world peace.

“it was unwise to behave like a bellicose cock & to long for war.”

Breakdown

July 1960, K. recalled all Soviet experts from China and drastically reduced material & military aid to Beijing;

Disastrous aftermath of the Great Leap Forward;

Events:

1962, Mao initiated Sino-Soviet polemic debate;

Wang Jiaxiang & “3 reconciliation & 1 reduction”;

Nov. 1964, Zhou’s Moscow trip; Prelude of “Great Proletarian Cultural

Revolution”.