Foreign policy of China: Taiwan, India, Tibet, Korean War, Sino-Soviet Split

By Anne Schmidt

Major Themes

• Relation to the West• Relation to the Soviet Union• Reasserting Chinese control over their

territory– India Border disputes– Taiwan, Tibet etc

• China’s foreign policy tends to be quite aggressive.

West• Long been subject to pressure from USA + Europe

(economic etc, also due to weak emperor)• One of Mao’s main goals was to reach an equal

economic level as the Western Countries• Cold War influences, being Communist, China feared US• Foreign countries pressured China (USSR, US, Taiwan

etc)• Foreigners Expelled under Social Reforms (1950s)– Businesses made to register– Then controlled and finally nationalised and expelled

• More open towards west later on (complete change in course) because USSR became threat

Sino-Soviet Treaty• Very close to Soviet Union – their example in many

ways• Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship: 14th Feb 1950

(Expired 1979)• Advisors and Economic help by Soviet Union – but

help was limited, reluctant and paid with interest• Idea that China should become something like a

satellite state (similar to Poland and Hungary) • Returning of the Manchuria territory– Ice free port– Return of the territory (for china) for USSR occupation of

Communist

Sino Soviet Split• Change in Government (from Stalin to Khrushchev)

tensioned situation• China did not like the opening towards US (fear of

Democratic + Foreign influences)• China attacked island before the coast of Taiwan – Soviet

Union did not back them• Supporters of North Korea, but were split (split intensified

due to Korean War)• Eventually, USSR called back their advisors and economic

help• Cuban Missile Crisis – fear of US (and policies by Khruschev)• Later he moved away from USSR, and more towards US

Regaining Control

• Historically, China was the main power in the region – other kingdoms had to pay respect

• After the young emperor, respect was lost – foreign, e.g. British influence in India, Tibet, Hong Kong, etc

Taiwan

• Tensions as remaining Guomindang (Chinese Nationalist Party) fled there

• China claims Taiwan as part of their Territory (due to influence of different dynasties)

• First Taiwan Strait Crisis 1954-1955 – China attacked Taiwan, expected support from Soviet

Union (Split)– Short armed conflict– America had put Taiwan strait as neutral territory

• Second Taiwan Strait Crisis 1958– Continuation of the First Taiwan Strait Crisis– China attacked again

Tibet

• Also the claim that it belongs to China– Tradition / history of paying tribunes to the

Chinese emperor• Not been unified under Guomindang• 1951 Seventeen point agreement between

China and Tibet politicians • Tibet an autonomous region of China• Immediate social changes (land distribution)

India

• Border dispute with India, due to historic claims• Border set up by Britain in 1913-14, not accepted by

China (MacMahon Line, seen as sign of Imperialism• Border disputed were quieter, then erupted in Sino-

Indian war 1962 – China declared victory• Area three times the size of Taiwan in dispute –

Chinese took control over the area, and set up an Line of Actual Control (LAC) (in Jammu, Kashmir)

• No major clashes during 70s and 80s – yearly peace talks starting in 1981

Case Study: Korean War

• 1950-1953, between Communist in the North and other is the South

• North eventually supported by China • North invades South(from 24th June 1950)• South supported by US and UN members• People involved: Joseph McCarthy (1908 – 57)– Used conflict to exploit communist issue in US

congress

Causes

• Many causes, and many countries involved in causing the war– US and Soviet influence – Cold War caused Korean

War– Seoul (South) and Pyongyang (North) – indigenous

conflict between Koreans

Effects

• Neither side won, and Korea still divided after war (Cease fire: 27th June 1953)

• Death toll: over 2 mill Koreans• Expansion of nuclear weapons in all countries

involved• DMZ along 38th parallel – 140 miles long, 2.5 miles

wide– Heavily fortified demilitarised zone– Became wildlife refuge

• Vietnam War + Afghanistan said to be partly caused by ‘lesson’ learned in Korea