Significance of the Rift between the Chinese Communist Regime and the Soviet Union

Abstract

China and Russia have had a difficult relationship for three centuries. Russia's objective is to attain a commun ized China subservient to her. Chinese Communists were di rected by her to incorporate themselves into the Chinese Na tionalist movement in the 1920's, and the first coalition be tween them failed. Following Japan's aggression against China in the 1930's, the Communists joined the National Government again. When Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek rejected Stalin's demands, the latter aided the Communists to seize the main land and gave them substantial assistance afterwards. The rift between Peiping and Moscow began in 1958 when Khrushchev adopted a "peaceful coexistence" policy vis-à-vis the West and also denied support to Mao for the latter's economic and mili tary adventures. Relations continue to deteriorate following the termination of Soviet aid. The fundamental cause of the split is ideological. Other issues are the struggle for leadership, territorial claims against Russia, and Peiping's dissatisfaction with Moscow's partiality towards neutralist countries. The implications of the rift are (1) the absence of Soviet influence on the mainland; (2) the ultimate downfall of the Peiping regime; (3) no likelihood of reconciliation between Moscow and Peiping; (4) Russia should welcome the Chinese people's efforts to restore their freedom; and (5) the United States should encourage the Chinese people to hasten the passing of the Peiping regime.