Assignments for International history in week10^11

Not until the late 1980s did we learn through newly released Chinese documents that it was Mao Zedong who personally ordered the publication of Nixon’s address

the United States was willing to develop relations with all countries in the world

The conventional interpretation of Beijing’s rapprochement with the United States emphasizes the role strategic/geopolitical considerations played. 

this chapter places the Sino-American rapprochement in the context of the fading status of Mao’s continuous revolution

Questions: 

1) Why did Mao Ze-dong decide to normalize relations with the United States? 

   With a geopolitics perspective, after the conflict with the Soviet in March 1969, Mao realized that there is no way to face the US and the Soviet simultaneously. Chen argued that China's security interest is one of reasons which changed Mao's diplomacy. In addition, with a rapprochement with the US, China gained a profound international status such as entering the UN. However, Chen also argued domestic condition of China and declining enterprise of Mao made him turn to the US. To Mao, defeating the imperialist US was an ultimate communism goal he (and CCP) made to legitimize CCP's rule and continuous revolution.

2) Discuss the significance of Sino-American rapprochement in the Cold War history.

    I think it without a doubt eased America's pressure against communism. And for China, it was a significant, brilliant move to harmonize relations with not only the US, but also Japan and Korea which are usually consider key allies of the US in Asia. Japan and PRC made official diplomatic relation in 1972, and President Park Chung-hee declared "623manifesto"in 1973, after the rapprochement within just two year. The following Deng's economic reform wouldn't happen if they hadn't made Sino-American rapprochement. I think it is a keystone of China foreign policy depending on state-to-state relation. Since then, China has developed its diplomatic strategy based on more practical interest rather than depending on ideology. Referring to Wallerstein's World-system theory, following other East-Asia countries, China became a part of international society which is led by the US.

My question

According to readings a few weeks ago, we can know that, comparing with pragmatic Stalin, Mao is a leader who is much stickier to communism ideology. And also after Stalin's death, China lead by Mao criticized that the Soviet had walked into revisionism, betraying communism. So wasn't it irony that Mao ended up repairing the relationship with the US, the most imperialist country in the world"? 

My comment

   At page242, Chen said that there are two important factors being ignored. This paragraph "...radically redefining their concept of imperialism by identifying..." doesn't convince me that the CCP was willing to make rapprochement because they no longer see the US as imperialist enemy. It's hypocritical to change ideological enemy that easy. Especially in nowadays, 2021, we can still find Chinese media criticize the US, repeating the word "the US imperialism". My personal argument is that both China and Russia have betrayed the communism, especially China betrayed it economically. (they even have a shopping celebration 11/11, which is totally capitalism.)  Return to the context; I disagree Chen's claim inferring China relocated their international position by redefining Soviet. Maybe CCP leaders and Chen did consider fact that way. To me, it didn't; it is a opposite causality. They label the Soviet as imperialist state so they can pardon themselves repairing relation with the US.      

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Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance  was wary of co-operating with China        

Secretary of Defense Harold Brown

Brzezinski was ready for closer ties with China

Yet Carter’s foreign policy agenda involved a commitment to replace power politics with ‘world order politics’, which meant focusing on economic and social themes rather than on military force. He intended opening a dialogue between the rich and poor nations, paying more attention to human rights and trying to restrict the global arms race

the Americans in April 1977 to end their military assistance to Ethiopia

Question

1) What caused the onset of the Second Cold War? 

    I think the mistrust after SALT I was signed and failure at advancing further deal about strategy warhead caused the onset. And also the Carte government's attempt to solve local disputes without Soviet's attendance also enraged the Soviet. By the term "world order politics", we can tell that what concerned Carte were local affairs in the Third World rather than relation with the Soviet.

2) Discuss the reasons why Reagan changed his policy toward the Soviet Union in the latter half of his presidency.

Because of Gordievsky, Reagan realized the Soviet Union secretly acknowledged and be afraid of America's assault. And I think also Gorbachev the new leader of Soviet was more open-minded to start conversations with the Western world.

My comment

During two presidents of one who is moderate while the other one who is tough against the Soviet, I think the US-Soviet relation was relatively steady than Kennedy's time. Maybe it can be referred to historical development when there were certain regulation and communication tunnel being built.