[TMJC] SINO-US LECTURE NOTES

H1 History 8821 Theme 2: The Cold War in Asia, 1945 – 1991 Topic 1: Superpower Relations with China TMJC History Unit- Updated Jan 2022 SUPERPOWER RELATIONS WITH CHINA (1950 – 1979) SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS 1. Overview 2. Sample Prelim questions 3. Causes leading to Deterioration of Sino-American Relations (1949 – 1969) 4. Causes leading to improvement of Sino-American Relations: Détente & Era of Rapprochement (1970-1972) 5. Effect from Normalisation of relations from 1972 onwards Learning outcomes: • Evaluate the development of superpower relations with China during the Cold War. • Analyse the factors contributing to the involvement of external powers in Southeast Asia during the Cold War and their impact. 1. Overall Analysis & Evaluation Irreconcilable ideological orientations initially wrecked problems and hostility in the US-Sino relations, but it proved insufficient in the long run to prevent the PRC and the US to gradually form amicable ties with one another from 1969 to 1979 in search of common interests against their common foe, the USSR, due to growing security concerns. Hence, causing them to shelve their traditional ideological differences and accept the reality to work together for mutual benefits against the USSR and to boost their own national economy. Hence, this caused the Cold War to become a tripolar triangular power play amongst the 3 superpowers as they sought to outdo and outrival the other through the manipulation of one against the other. On the surface, both seemed to have benefitted equally in terms of security, strategic and economic gains. However, in reality, it is arguable that the PRC gained more because the strategically encircled PRC (US containment & USSR border threat) could thus improve its security and be in good terms with its ideological rival (USA), which then allowed it to make further political concessions in its favour of key issues like Taiwan and its UN membership. 2. Possible Questions • To what extent was the Korean War a turning point in Sino-American relations from 1950 to 1970? (ASRJC Prelim 2021) • ‘More similar than dissimilar.” How accurate is this description of the development of Sino Soviet relations as compared with that of Sino-American relations from 1950 to 1979? (SAJC Prelim 2021) • “Sino-Soviet relations between 1950 and 1979 were primarily influenced by Sino-American ties.” How far do you agree with this? (TJC Prelim 2021)

H1 History 8821 Theme 2: The Cold War in Asia, 1945 – 1991 Topic 1: Superpower Relations with China TMJC History Unit- Updated Jan 2022 3. Causes leading to Deterioration of Sino-American Relations (1949 – 1969) Prior to the Korean War o Roots of Sino-Us hostility before the Korean War (1945-1949) US’ support for the Kuomintang (KMT) in WW2 and Chinese Civil War - During the Asia Pacific War in WW2, the US had some direct contact with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and gave it some material assis