Ping Pong Diplomacy:
A Rally For U.S.- China Relations
Sino-Soviet Split
"Foreign Friends: Soviet Union". Source: Chineseposters.net. 1950.
The Soviet Union was a natural ally of the People's Republic of China after its establishment in 1949.
Both governments shared a communist ideology and the USSR provided logistical and economic support for China's First Five Year Plan.
"Soviet assistance to these projects has been a vital factor in the industrial development of Communist China since 1950. Without Soviet equipment and technical aid, the progress which has been made under the First Five Year Plan would have been impossible."
- Central Intelligence Agency Report. June 13, 1955
The Red Iceberg. Source: "Traces of Mind Control" project, Bryn Mawr College.
U.S Propaganda Pamphlet. Source: Catholic Catechetical Guild Educational Society. 1949
During the mid 1900's, the Soviet Union and its allies were viewed as the enemies of America.
Trade embargoes were placed upon China, and the United States instructed its allies to sever diplomatic ties with China.
However, in the early 1960's, relations between China and the Soviet Union started to crumble.
Chairman Mao Zedong was slighted by China's treatment as an inferior nation and disliked Khrushchev's criticism of the Stalin regime.
"Khrushchev and his group are very naïve. He does not understand Marxism-Leninism and is easily fooled by imperialism.
He does not understand China, to an extreme extent. He doesn’t research [China] and believes a whole bunch of incorrect information. He gives irresponsible talks. If he doesn’t correct [his mistakes], in a few years he’ll be completely bankrupt."
- Draft of speech written by Mao Zedong. December, 1959.
Entering the 1970's, Sino-Soviet relations were at a breaking point. This prompted both China and the United States to approach the idea of opening formal communication.
The United States wanted to discuss resolutions to the Vietnam War with China. China wanted support from the United States because of its resistance to the Soviet Union.