The consolidation of Sino-Soviet friendship 1950-54

The consolidation of Sino-Soviet friendship 1950-54

1. The origins of the Korean War

   • Korean War was first test of the new alliance
     • Military campaign against South Korea was agreed between Stalin and the North's communist leader Kim Il-Sung
       • Negotiations kept secret from Mao
   • Stalin's priorities in the run up to the Korean War
     • Soviet troops mustn't meet US troops in battle - if they do it would risk nuclear attack - China must do most of the fighting
     • USSR do not want to be forced to fight in Korea under the terms of the Treaty of Friendship
     • USSR will not give military aid to China - too expensive
     • Must consolidate comm control in Korea - if not, US will take control of North Korea and attack Russia across the border
   • In essence - Stalin wanted to expand comm influence to South-East Asia without involving Russia in the war
     • Therefore he needed Mao to fight with minimalist Russian aid, he achieved this in the following ways:
       • Persuaded Kim Il-Sung to attack South Korea - promising Soviet backing
       • Following entry of UN troops, Mao feared North K would be defeated - leading to capitalist invasion of China
         • Forced Mao to enter war - Mao anticipated Soviet help under the terms of the Treaty of Friendship
       • Stalin refused to help - as China was fighting US forces - UN was not a capitalist nation - so terms of treaty did not apply

2. The Korean War 1950-1953

   • China's entry into Korean War was hugely significant
     • UN troops were held off, and after 3 years of fighting - war ended with reassertion of the division of Korea
       • Partial success for USSR - comm regime in North Korea had been consolidated - but they had failed to expand their influence in South-East Asia

3. Significance of the War for Sino-Soviet relations

   • Although Stalin manipulated Mao into entering war - the conflict consolidated the Sino-Soviet friendship
     • Huge cost of war increased China's dependence on the USSR
       • USSR refused to join the war as China's ally but agreed to sell China advanced military hardware
         • Post-Korean War China turned to USSR for aid - to help rebuild their shattered economy
   • For Russia - war had proved China's worth as an ally
     • Stalin acknowledged that China played crucial role in acting as a buffer between UN troops and Soviet border
   • Following the War - there were 2 further Sino-Soviet agreements, in the 1953 and 1954 deals, the USSR agreed to:
     • A significant package of aid for China's first 5 year plan - including a bigger loan than had been agreed in 1950
     • Help China build power plants
     • Hand over the Lushan Naval base to China - located on the border between the countries
     • Increase trade with China

4. Significance of the war for the USA

   • USA concerned by Korean war
     • Demonstrated potential power of an alliance between USSR and China
       • China's willingness to fight alongside other comm nations also made any kind of alliance with the USA impossible

5. Confrontation over Taiwan

   • After comm victory in Chinese civil war - Nationalists set up their own govt in Taiwan, which was extremely important to Mao for 2 reasons
     • He was concerned that Taiwan could be used as a US base in a future war between China and the US
     • Mao wanted to unite China under communist leadership
   • As a result - Mao launched 2 unsuccessful attempts to take over Taiwan by force
     • The first 1954-55 was significant because of the response from the superpowers
       • The USA
         • Congress moved quickly to defend Taiwan
           • September 54 - US military leaders advised Eisenhower to use nukes to defend Taiwan
             • Eisenhower refused - but in Dec 1954, US and Taiwan signed a Mutual Defence Treaty, guaranteeing Taiwan's independence
               • US response demonstrated ongoing hostility between US and China
       • The USSR
         • Khrushchev publicly agreed to retaliate against US if China was invaded or bombed by US forces
           • In private - made clear that he didn't want to be involved
             • Soviet response was significant as it showed that the USSR was unwilling to help China achieve its military goals
               • Also indicated that Khrushchev was worried that Mao's ill-judged foreign policy would lead to nuclear war