What this lesson teaches
I can judge how China and Japan responded as the Cold War changed.
Syllabus 8838, Theme II, Learning Outcomes. evaluate the responses of China and Japan to the development of the Cold War
Make a guess
In the 1980s China named three obstacles to better relations with the USSR. What do you think happened in 1989?
- They fought a second, larger war along the border.
- Gorbachev met China's terms, and a summit normalised relations.
- China and the USSR became close allies again.
Show the answer
Gorbachev met China's terms, and a summit normalised relations.
Soviet troops left Afghanistan, cut back on the border and pressed Vietnam on Cambodia, so relations were restored.
China demanded the removal of three obstacles; Gorbachev met them, and the 1989 summit normalised relations.
In the early 1980s China named three obstacles to better relations with the USSR. These were Soviet troops on China's border and in Mongolia, the Soviet war in Afghanistan, and Soviet support for Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia.
China also wanted to balance between the superpowers rather than depend on the USA. Deng's "independent foreign policy" from 1982 aimed for a peaceful environment for economic growth.
Gorbachev moved to meet China's conditions. In a speech at Vladivostok in July 1986, he offered to reduce troops in the Far East and Mongolia. Soviet troops left Afghanistan by February 1989, and Vietnam withdrew from Cambodia in 1989.
In May 1989, Gorbachev visited Beijing, the first Soviet leader to do so for 30 years. The summit normalised relations, though it was overshadowed by the student protests in Tiananmen Square.
- Three obstacles
- Border troops and Mongolia, Afghanistan, Vietnam in Cambodia.
- Vladivostok speech
- July 1986.
- Sino-Soviet summit
- May 1989, Beijing.
Real examples to use
Vladivostok, 28 July 1986
Gorbachev offered to discuss China's three obstacles and to cut Soviet forces in Asia, including in Mongolia.
Obstacles removed, 1989
The last Soviet troops left Afghanistan on 15 February 1989, and the last Vietnamese troops left Cambodia on 26 September 1989.
Beijing summit, May 1989
Gorbachev became the first Soviet leader to visit China in 30 years, and relations were normalised while students filled Tiananmen Square.
Worked example: Explaining normalisation
Why did Sino-Soviet relations improve in the 1980s?
- Security: Gorbachev removed the three obstacles.
- Economics: both needed calm borders to focus on reform.
- Superpower relations: improving Soviet-American ties reduced the USSR's need to confront China.
- Result: the May 1989 summit.
Watch out for this
China and the USSR became close allies again in 1989.
They normalised relations as neighbours, not as allies. China kept an independent foreign policy.
Check your understanding
Which was one of China's three obstacles to better relations with the USSR?
- Soviet support for Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia
- Soviet membership of the UN Security Council
- Soviet trade with Japan and South Korea
Show the answer
Soviet support for Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia
Right. The others were the border troops and Afghanistan.