Following end of WWII → Chinese civil war resumed → as Mao Zedong’s Chinese Communist Party (CCP) → fought against Chiang Kai-Shek’s GMD → for control over China
- CCP was victorious → China became communist state → October 1949
- US was concerned about implications of China turning communist
1946-1949 → US → pumped 2billion → aid → into China → mainly to support GMD nationalist under Chiang.
By Dec 1949 → GMD govt → defeated.
- they established themselves on island of Formosa(Taiwan) → which is off Chinese mainland.
- With victory of CCP → there was now massive new communist state on map
US → fearful → that communism → might start spreading → throughout Asia. Hence → refused to accept legitimacy → of CCP govt → continued to back GMD govt in Taiwan
Naturally → Soviets → delighted → with communist victory → in China
- they had support Mao and his movement → during Chinese civil war
- now they had powerful new ally against US
→ Feb 1950 → 2 communist powers → signed *Sino Soviet treaty of friendship, alliance, and mutual assistance
- came a month after Acheson’s announcement of US defensive perimeter
Sino Soviet treaty → set out various agreements
- about land and transport in East Asia
- also involved cumulative loan of 300 million from USSR → to help China rebuild after years of war