China\'s Quest. The History of the Foreign Relations of the People\'s Republic of China - John Garver

Joining the Socialist Camp } 39

answer was the same:  no. This unspoken memory of the forced alienation
of parts of “China” under intense foreign pressure is a core part of Chinese
bitterness about China’s “humiliation.”

“Cleaning House Before Inviting Guests”

As founders of a new state, CCP leaders needed to decide when and how to
establish diplomatic relations with other states. Between late 1948 and early
1950, the CCP followed several principles in this regard: distinguishing
between friends and enemies, “making a fresh start,” and “cleaning house
before inviting guests.”^27 Distinguishing between friends and enemies meant
different treatment for the Soviet Union and “People’s Democracies” (East
European, North Korean, and North Vietnamese communist-ruled states)
on the one hand, and Western countries on the other hand. For the Soviet
Union and other socialist countries, new China would establish relations
quickly and without negotiations. For Western countries, and especially for
the United States, negotiations would be necessary to work out a new relation
based on equality and noninterference in China’s internal affairs. As Mao
instructed a Central Committee session in March 1949, “We should not be
in a hurry to solve [recognition with the United States] even for a fairly long

MONGOLIA

Becomes Russian protectorate 1911

and Soviet ally state 1921; independence

recognized by ROC in 1945 and rearmed

by PRC in 1950. PRC leaders request “return”

to China in 1950, 1954, 1956, and 1963.

MANCHURIA

Returned to China by 1943

Cairo and 1945 Yalta accords.

3rd power presence excluded by

secret codocils to 1950 treaty.

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC

OF CHINA

U.S.S.R.

Yellow

Sea

Lake

Baikal

Ulan Bator

Khabarovsk

Vladivostok

Haerbin

Dalian

Soviet commerical

rights

Shenyang

Luxun

(“Port Arthur”)

Soviet naval base

until 1955

Trans-Siberian

Railway

Chinese Eastern Railway

(old Soviet sphere of in“uence)

Southern Manchurian

Railway (old Japanese

sphere of in“uence)

Rail line opened 1956.

Soviet aid project.

Military defense

zone under Soviet

administration.

Railways; joint Sino-

Soviet ownership;

Soviet transit rights

in war time.

F IGU R E 2-1 Mongolia and Soviet Special Rights in China’s Northeast
Source: Chu-yuan Cheng, Economic Relations between Peking and Moscow: 1949–1963 (New York: Praeger, 1964),
pp. 28, 43.