Support for Revolutionary Movements
Korean War (1950-1953)
- Mao's Decision to Intervene
- Mao sent the People's Volunteer Army to support North Korea, fearing a US invasion of China.
- This marked China's emergence as a major player in the Cold War.
- Impact on the Cold War
- The war solidified the division of Korea and intensified US-China hostility.
- It also strained US resources and influenced American foreign policy in Asia.
Mao's intervention in Korea was driven by both ideological commitment to communism and strategic concerns about US presence near China's borders.
Vietnam War (1955-1975)
- Support for North Vietnam
- China provided military and economic aid to Ho Chi Minh's forces.
- This support was crucial in sustaining the North Vietnamese war effort.
- Impact on the Cold War
- China's involvement prolonged the conflict and complicated US strategy in Southeast Asia.
- It also highlighted the global reach of the Cold War, as superpowers and their allies became entangled in regional conflicts.
Mao's rapprochement with the USA was a strategic masterstroke, leveraging the Sino-Soviet split to China's advantage and reshaping the Cold War balance of power.
Political Context: Key Events and Crises
Korean War (1950-1953)
- Mao's Role
- Mao's decision to send Chinese troops into Korea was pivotal.
- It demonstrated China's commitment to supporting communist allies and resisting US influence in Asia.
- Impact on the Cold War
- The war solidified the division of Korea and intensified US-China hostility.
- It also marked China's emergence as a major player in the Cold War.
Students often overlook the strategic motivations behind Mao's intervention in Korea, focusing solely on ideological factors. It's crucial to recognize that Mao also sought to protect China's borders and assert its regional influence.
First and Second Taiwan Strait Crises (1954-1955, 1958)
- Mao's Objectives
- Mao sought to pressure the US and assert China's claim over Taiwan.
- The crises involved artillery bombardments of islands controlled by the Republic of China (Taiwan).
- Impact on the Cold War
- The crises highlighted the volatility of US-China relations and the potential for conflict in the region.
- They also underscored the strategic importance of Taiwan in the Cold War.
When analyzing the Taiwan Strait Crises, consider how Mao's actions were both a test of US resolve and a demonstration of China's commitment to reunification.
Sino-Soviet Schism
- Causes
- Ideological Differences: Mao criticized Khrushchev's policies, including de-Stalinization and peaceful coexistence with the West.
- Border Disputes: Tensions escalated over territorial disagreements along the Sino-Soviet border.
- Impact on the Cold War


