Chapter 11: Sino-American Relations
1) Identify the key points made by Henry Kissinger regarding the reasons for China’s response in Korea
a)What is the message of the cartoonist here?
a). Link each of the above sources to one (or more) of the motives listed for why the USA wanted better relations with the PRC
a). Sources A, B and C are all extracts for Margaret MacMillan’s book Seize the Hour. Why key motives for the PRC’s interest in better relations with the USA are suggested by MacMillan?
a). According to Hsu, what were the key benefits for the Americans of better relations with China?
1) Identify the key points made by Henry Kissinger regarding the reasons for China’s response in Korea
- China did not want an American presence at a border that was a traditional invasion route into China
- specifically the base from which Japan had undertaken the occupation of Manchuria and the invasion of Northern China
- specifically the base from which Japan had undertaken the occupation of Manchuria and the invasion of Northern China
- China did not expect the reaction of America to China’s response in Korea
- The Chinese communist party came into power by violence, and, so far, have lived by violence
- Retains force by massive, forcible repression
- China does not disguise its expansionist ambitions
- Bitterly hateful of the USA, which it considers as a principle obstacle in the wqay of its path of conquest
a)What is the message of the cartoonist here?
- Chinese reforms are starving the people of Chia
- The rich, Mao, grow fat while the peasants stave under the pretence that they are getting better land and rights
- Communes, the idea of people equally sharing equiptment etc together is a very communist ideal
- To show that this idea is not working, proves communism cannot work and therefore capitalism (the american policy) is the correct pathway to take
- this encourages support for the American policy with the public
- this encourages support for the American policy with the public
- This is very useful as evidence of the public’s opinion because it is a children’s song, showing that it would be popular with the public. However, with the tight control over the public, this could just be another show of propaganda from the CCP instead of the actual opinion
- That Mao is rich and fat showing superiority over the rest of China
- He is worshiped as seen being carried
- godly status
- godly status
- He is an autocrat leading a tolitarian state, brainwashing the public to believe only Mao’s thoughts
a). Link each of the above sources to one (or more) of the motives listed for why the USA wanted better relations with the PRC
- USA was about to lose the vote at the UN - Margaret MacMillan
- America and China did not have any fundamental interests that need to collide in the eager sweep of history - Nixon’s Foreign Policy Report to Congress 1963
- Sino-American relations became a key to the Nixon Administration’s Soviet Strategy - Henry Kissinger
- Source B is a Nixon report to Congress, meaning everything that is said is what Congress, therefore America, wants to hear instead of the motives behind what the Nixon administration is doing
- Source C, is by Kissinger, therefore may also be limited in telling what the public wants to hear instead of what the government’s motives are
- However as both Nixon and Kissinger play very important roles in the relationship, direct quotes from them are very valuable as they are the premise of which the American government acts upon
a). Sources A, B and C are all extracts for Margaret MacMillan’s book Seize the Hour. Why key motives for the PRC’s interest in better relations with the USA are suggested by MacMillan?
- To be able to use America as a shield against the USSR
- To be able to use both US and USSR against each other
- The USA could act as a breake on the Japanese rearmament and expansion
- To help relauch Mao on an international stage
- Allow China to purchase American airliners, scientific instruments and chemical, industrial and agricultural products needed for China’s modernizations
- exchange of scholars, journalists, athletes, scientists and officials
a). According to Hsu, what were the key benefits for the Americans of better relations with China?
- reduced the possibility of war between Russia and China, therefore enhancing the prospects of world peace
- China would not intervene military in Vietnam or forcibly liberate Taiwan