In Week 10 of class, we specifically focused on the relations between the Soviet Union and how the Chinese adopted communism into their life. We talked about how the Peoples’ Republic of China and the Soviet Union built their relationship up because of this shared interest in how to govern. We also focused on how this relationship had conflicts that caused ripples in both governments.
The excerpt “The Birth of the Peoples Republic” examines how the relationship between the Chinese and Russians was built up. China was worried about the building up of Japanese imperialism, so this relationship was crucial for the Chinese. They were worried about the Japanese having the same aggression they had in 1939 when they invaded China. This went for all other states that showed an act of charge; the Chinese felt the need to have a backbone for their country which would be the Soviet Union with their power. With both forces wanting to make peace and build off each other, treaties were made to build their relationships. “The two plenipotentiary representatives, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form.” They created a treaty that assured to use of all force to stop any outside aggression from other foreign actors. It also covered each government not joining alliances with countries competing against each other. Overall, this treaty started a prosperous relationship between the two communist powers.
A ripple in this relationship came from a secret speech from Nikita Khrushchev, who criticized Stalin. This speech was during the Cold War, which added to its importance, and it was the spark of the Sino-Soviet split. This split came from ideas that split the two communist parties two instead of working together. These views on communism made it to China, where the Chinese juggled with what to do because the expressed ideas rocked Sino-Soviet relations. The divergence in the Soviet Union led to its collapse, but Chinese scholars wanted to look at where it fell apart. This collapse was believed to have come from the 20th congress, leading to this massive division. The 20th congress was “The first historical turning point in the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations.” This congress established the fundamental disagreements that rocked the Sino-Soviet partnership. The exceptions we read from class examine Mao’s attitude towards this speech and its complexity. The document explores how Mao was displeased with the formulation of the 20th congress, a violent revolution that emulated how the Chinese disapproved of the revolutionary process in Russia. With the death of Stalin, the Stalinist ideals began to fade and opened up a new way of thinking for Mao. His view on science, politics, and more would change in the CCP because of the change in leadership. This death separated China and the Soviet Union, which led to the division between the two countries, with both having different viewpoints. Instead of being mirrors of each other, they both began to build their distinct views on how society should be, which started the shift.
“Treaty with the Soviet Union.” In The Search for Modern China: A Documentary Collection. Third ed. Edited by Janet Chen et. al. W. W. Norton & Company, 2014.
Shen, Zhihua, and Yafeng Xia. Mao and the Sino-Soviet Partnership, 1945-1959: A New History. The Harvard Cold War Studies Book Series. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2015
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