“China’s relations with the USSR and the US were largely shaped by increasing mistrust and suspicion.” Discuss with reference to the period between 1947 and 1979.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement. Candidates may offer equal coverage of China’s relations with the USSR and the US, or they may emphasize their discussion of one of them; however, both aspects will be a feature of the response. A comparative approach may or may not be used. Candidates may refer, for example, to Mao’s condemnation of Khrushchev’s policies as “revisionism”, Soviet criticism of the Great Leap Forward, the lack of mutual support during the Sino–Indian dispute and Cuban Missile Crisis or the escalation of suspicion following the Ussuri River border conflict (1969). Alternatively, there may be reference to the expansion of the policy of containment into Asia and the growing concern over American involvement in Korea and also Vietnam, although this was resolved through détente. Reference may also be made to improved relations between the US and China after Nixon’s visit in 1972 and the subsequent inclusion of the People’s Republic of China in the UN, as well as the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the US and China. Candidates may also mention the Chinese concerns over the outbreak of the Soviet-Afghan War in December 1979. Candidates may agree, partly agree or disagree with the statement.

The question required candidates to offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that China’s relations with the USSR and the USA were largely shaped by increasing mistrust and suspicion and to discuss this with reference to the time period 1947-1979. Several answers were seen to this question with candidates often demonstrating good knowledge of the Sino-Soviet and Sino-US relations during the period 1947-1979. Most responses covered the span of the time frame with reference made to the second phase of the Chinese Civil War through to the Sino-Soviet split and the improved Sino-US relations, easing the path for the PRC’s entry to the United Nations and the normalization of diplomatic relations with the USA.