Relations Between the Soviet Union and China Hostile Essay

What were the turning-point events that kept relations between the Soviet Union and China hostile for over 20 years? There were many disputes between China and Russia between the 1950s and 1960s. The disputes may be caused by ideological differences, self-interest, personalities of the leaders, or domestic problems. Mao and Stalin had ideological differences. Although Mao and Stalin’s ideologies are based on Marxism, Stalin believed Mao using the peasants as the basis for revolution is not the right interpretation of Marxism. Stalin thought workers in cities should be the basis to lead the revolution. Also, Stalin feared Mao compete against him in the Communist world, so Stalin wanted a weak China and the USSR will then dominate Asia. He made his policies through self-interests. Thus, Stalin wanted Mao to cooperate with Chiang Kai-shek instead of carrying out a revolution. Therefore Mao believed Stalin was not a true revolutionary. The Sino-Soviet Treaty Alliance is another example, which the Soviets acted through self-interest. The treaty, which was the first treaty between China and Russia, offered the Chinese Soviet expertise and low interest aid. However, it was signed after two months of negotiation and the Chinese was received poor treatment. Plus, the Chinese would have to repay Soviets’ aid with interests. Moreover, the Chinese traditional buildings were replaced with Soviet style buildings and Socialist sciences were prioritized over the western, which was far more effective than the Socialist sciences. Mao was not happy about Stalin’s actions in the Korean War. Stalin encouraged China to send troops into Korea. China sent one million soldiers to Korea and Russia gave China material assistance but China paid $1.35 billion for the Soviet equipment. Between 1953 and 1956, there were tensions and suspicions in Mao and Stalin’s relationship. Stalin might have purposely delay the end of the Korean War in order to weaken China. After Stalin’s death, tension between Russia and China has relaxed. Soviet leaders tried to make the treaties fairer for China. During the leadership years of Khrushchev, tension has eased between China and the USSR. However, tension rose again at the conference of Communist Parties. Mao called Russia to abandon revisionism, which supports Western Capitalists. Mao also believed the USSR is trying to isolate China. Deng believed capitalism had to be crushed in violent revolution. Khrushchev’s visit to Beijing in order to ease the tension caused by the conference was unsuccessful. Khrushchev’s hotel, which was infested by mosquitos, had no A/C in the summer. Also, Khrushchev who was bad at swimming was invited to swim with Mao. It was humiliating for Khrushchev because he had to wear tight swimming shorts and a swim ring. Meanwhile, Deng used this opportunity to criticize the Sovi ets. He said the Soviets had betrayed the Communist movement and had sent spies disguised as technical advisers to China. Next, a series of events caused China and Russia’s relation to deteriorate. The Taiwan crisis resulted the Soviets withdrawing their economic advisers and cancelled commercial contracts with China. Then the Soviets denounced the faulty design of The Great Leap Forward, which made Mao infuriated. Therefore, Mao would now aid any communist countries that do not agree with the USSR. An example of this would be China aiding Albania. In 1961, the USSR withdrew aid from Albania. Then China replaced the Soviet aid to Albania. This led to more hostilities between the two communist countries. Khrushchev and Mao also had different views on nuclear weapons. Mao did not fear nuclear war because he believed war is unavoidable in the revolutionary struggle. On the other hand, Khrushchev want wanted to co-exist with the US. The Test-ban Treaty was signed in 1963, in which the USSR and US agreed to stop nuclear tests. Mao saw this as the USSR siding with the imperialist powers. Also, China called the USSR for help on the development of nuclear weapons, but the Soviets rejected. After Khrushchev left office in 1964, the Soviets continued isolating China. The Soviets criticized the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Also the Soviets used this opportunity to criticize China on its development of worldwide opium trade, receiving assistance from West Germany on nuclear research, and so on. China and Russia also had disputes on border. In 1969, they started fighting because of border disputes and Mao was prepared for nuclear war. In the end nuclear weapons was not used, but the dispute had threatened to turn into a full-scale war. The Vietnam War had also caused the disputes between China and Russia because they all wanted Vietnam to be influenced by their ideologies. In the end, USSR won and the Soviet-Vietnamese Treaty of Peace and Friendship was formed. In conclusion, mainly because of self-interest and different ideological views, Russia and China had conflicts on the Conference of Communist Parties in 1957, Taiwan, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, the Vietnam War, and border issues. Because of these serious of events, China and Russia relations were hostile over 20 years.