How did China relationship with the Soviet Union and the United States change during the cold war

China became a communist state in 1949, after the victory of the Chinese Communist Party led by Chairman Mao Zedong in the long civil war against the Nationalists of Chiang Kai-shek. The construction of socialism in the People´s Republic of China followed the Stalinist model in both the economy and in politics. The communist giants built an alliance that lasted until the late 1950s-early 1960s. After the death of Stalin in 1953, many tensions and differences arose between the Chinese leadership and the new Soviet leadership of Nikita Khrushchev. In 1959 and 1960, the split was consummated.

The two communist giants became bitter rivals; they competed for primacy in the global communist movement, communist parties or movements had to choose one side, either Moscow or Beijing.  Geopolitical differences were at play, too. In 1969 both countries fought a brief war and the Russian army entered Chinese territory. Soviet leaders even played with the idea of delivering a nuclear strike on the PRC. They stayed rivals until the end of the Cold War.

Regarding the United States, the PRC had a bad and hostile relationship with the USA since its foundation. Washington had supported the Nationalists during the civil war, and after the Korean War, renewed its alliance with and support for Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek who had escaped to Taiwan. The US had a defensive treaty with Taiwan and issued star warnings to Beijing during the Cold War. But in 1971-972, a breakthrough occured in Sino-American relations. President Richard Nixon visited China, met its leaders and built a better , more cooperative relationship. In 1979, the US and the PRC established diplomatic relations, the US broke with Taiwan. This friendhsip was used by each part for its own purposes and particularly vis-a-vis the Soviet Union.

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