The Alliance Between China and the Soviet Union Essay -- History, Sin

The alliance between the Peoples Republic of mainland China (PRC) and the Soviet Union was create as a result of mutual interests and the desire of both states to pursue their respective national and geopolitical imperatives. Although Chinese historical experience and Marxist political theory played a role in constructing these interests, the actions of the Chinese Community Party (CCP) reflect an overarching proclivity toward solidifying their power and securing the nascent republic. This essay will canvass the multifarious factors that influenced the Soviet alliance, including relations between the PRC, United States (US) and Soviet Union in addition to PRC foreign policy and its strategic objectives.Historical conceptions of Chinas culture and global position shaped the PRCs perspective. Central to this is Sino-centrism and its edict from heaven for dynastic China to spread civilisation (Xinning 2001 70). empurpled Chinas tribute system represented a Pax Sinica and the physica l manifestation of Sino-centrism, with its success affirming Chinese cultural superiority (Y. Zhang 2001 52). Instructive in this is Sino-centrisms similarity to, and conflict with American Manifest Destiny, itself an articulation that Anglo-Saxon Americans are Gods chosen people, with a superior culture and who are pre-ordained to spread civilisation to inferior peoples (Hollander 2009 169). The PRCs nationalism can be seen in part as a rejection of this competing airy mandate, linking Chinas decline to foreign intervention and the acceding to unequal treaties that saw the loss of peripheral territories considered intrinsic to historic China (Kissinger 2011 112). In this way, the PRCs formation as a modern nation state is the recrudescence of Sino-... ... bloc (Goldstein 1995 50). Hence, in allying with the Soviets the PRC were able to ameliorate the core issues that posed an existential threat to their republic.It is difficult to conclude anything other than that the alliance b etween the PRC and the Soviet Union was chiefly born out of necessity. Certainly, the common ideology and revolutionary reputation of the CCP allowed for a collective understanding that sometimes amalgamated into shared objectives. Even so, PRC actions suggest an appeasement rather than a genuine alignment with the Soviet Union. Accordingly, Beijing and Moscow appear reluctant allies, with a hint of the Prisoners Dilemma to their alliance each, though particularly the PRC, facing deleterious consequences by pursuing an independent path.In cooperating, the PRC were able to build their state and counterbalancing the perceived US threat.