The Sino-Soviet split
Completion requirements
- Improved Sino-American relations became a key to the Nixon administration’s Soviet strategy, Kissinger
- China now had ICBMs; it was dangerous to leave her isolated.
- Sino-Soviet split showed US global communism was not monolithic ‘deal with countries on basis of their actions not ideological formulas’ Nixon
- The weakening of the Cultural Revolution from 1968 produced more moderate policies in China
- Trade restrictions were relaxed by both countries in 1969, but further contact was delayed by US attacks in Indo-China.
- In 1971, ping-pong diplomacy began between the USA and the PRC; a US table tennis player apparently missed his bus at the world championships in Japan and was invited onto the Chinese bus.
- The main impact of improved US-China relations was further détente between the USA and the Soviet Union.
- Brezhnev (1964-82) was keen to reduce expenditure on arms and wanted to avoid complete isolation.