What this lesson teaches
I can judge how China's and Japan's relations with the USA and the USSR changed during the Cold War.
Syllabus 8838, Theme II, Learning Outcomes. evaluate the development of China's and Japan's relations with the superpowers during the Cold War
Make a guess
After 1950 the USA refused to recognise the People's Republic of China. Why do you think the hostility lasted so long?
- Korea and Taiwan locked the two into direct conflict.
- Because China attacked American bases in Japan and the Philippines.
- Because of their different political ideologies alone.
Show the answer
Korea and Taiwan locked the two into direct conflict.
Their troops fought in Korea, and the USA protected Taiwan. Non-recognition and an embargo followed for two decades.
Korea and Taiwan locked China and the USA into two decades of hostility, non-recognition and trade embargo.
The Korean War made China and the USA direct enemies. American and Chinese troops fought each other for nearly three years.
Taiwan was the central issue. The USA protected the Nationalist government on Taiwan, signing a mutual defence treaty with it in 1954. During the Taiwan Strait crises of 1954-55 and 1958, China shelled offshore islands, and the USA threatened to use nuclear weapons.
The USA refused to recognise the People's Republic, kept China out of the UN, and imposed a trade embargo. It built alliances around China, including SEATO and treaties with Japan and South Korea.
To China, the USA was the leading imperialist power. Chinese support for North Vietnam in the 1960s kept the two countries on opposite sides. Ideology and security reinforced each other.
- US-Taiwan defence treaty
- 1954.
- Taiwan Strait crises
- 1954-55 and 1958.
- UN seat
- Held by Taiwan until 1971.
Real examples to use
Korea, from October 1950
Chinese troops entered the Korean War and fought American-led UN forces for nearly three years.
Defence treaty with Taiwan, 2 December 1954
The USA promised to help defend the Nationalist government on Taiwan, which made Taiwan the central quarrel with Beijing.
The 1958 crisis
China shelled the Nationalist-held offshore islands of Jinmen (Quemoy) and Matsu, and the USA backed Taiwan with its navy.
Worked example: Explaining hostility
Why were Sino-American relations so hostile from 1950 to 1969?
- Security: Korea and the Taiwan Strait crises.
- Ideology: China saw the USA as the leading imperialist; the USA saw China as a communist threat.
- Isolation: non-recognition, the UN seat and the embargo.
- Third parties: Vietnam kept them opposed.
Watch out for this
The USA and China were enemies only because of ideology.
Security, especially Taiwan and Korea, was at least as important. Hostility rested on concrete conflicts.
Check your understanding
Why was Taiwan the central issue in Sino-American relations?
- China had promised Taiwan to the USA in return for aid.
- Taiwan was a Soviet base that threatened the American fleet.
- The USA protected the Nationalist government that China wanted to defeat.
Show the answer
The USA protected the Nationalist government that China wanted to defeat.
Right. The USA signed a defence treaty with Taiwan in 1954.