Under the bipolar system of the Cold War, the Sino-Soviet
alliance was one of the most influential bilateral relationships in
20th-century international relations. Its formation and dissolution not
only reorganized the power structure of the socialist...
Under the bipolar system of the Cold War, the Sino-Soviet
alliance was one of the most influential bilateral relationships in
20th-century international relations. Its formation and dissolution not
only reorganized the power structure of the socialist bloc but also
deeply influenced the trajectory of changes in the global Cold War
order. The signing of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance,
and Mutual Assistance in 1950 marked the official establishment of
the alliance, yet this alliance underwent a dramatic shift from a
'honeymoon period' to a complete rupture within just twenty years, and the 1969 Zhenbao Island clash pushed the two countries into a
military confrontation crisis. Alliances between regional powers and
global powers are supposed to be strong, and rational actors should
maintain the advantages provided by such alliances. However, in
practice, the Sino-Soviet alliance ended in just 2 decades. After the
Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance
was officially terminated in 1980, China proposed 'Independent
Autonomy' in 1982 and suggested a 'Non-alliance' policy in 1984.
This raises the question of whether China's autonomous policy was
related to the end of the Sino-Soviet alliance.
Existing research on the dissolution of the Sino-Soviet alliance
largely focuses on three major perspectives: first, ideological
differences; second, geopolitical rivalry; and third, the personal factors
of leaders. While these perspectives reveal important causes for the
alliance's dissolution, China's inherent need for strategic autonomy as
a sovereign state has not been adequately studied.
This paper, through declassified archives and cross-verification
with multilateral historical materials, and by reviewing four key
stages, 1)The rise of China's status and the 'honeymoon period' in
Sino-Soviet relations (1950-1956), 2) Sovereignty infringement and
deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations (1956-1960), 3) Official pursuit
of strategic autonomy and the end of the Sino-Soviet alliance
(1960-1979) reveals the evolutionary trajectory of China during the
Sino-Soviet alliance from "Sovereignty Compromise" to "Autonomous
Resistance". The argumentation process and logic are consistent with
the views proposed by Morrow (1991), and therefore this article also
serves as a case of Morrow's autonomy-safety trade-off model.
Stages 1 and 2, combined with historical analogies from China
(the War of Resistance against Japan, the Opium Wars), explain why China felt the need for strategic autonomy: in the early years of the
founding of the People's Republic of China, due to the international
situation and the need for economic and social reconstruction, it had
to rely on Soviet assistance. The treaty signed at the formation of
the Sino-Soviet alliance reflected China's partial exchange of
sovereignty. Moreover, having once become a semi-colonial and
semi-feudal society, China remained vigilant about its "subordinate
status." Proposals such as a joint fleet and long-wave radio stations
made China feel that its sovereignty was being violated, the Soviet
Union's bias towards India during the Sino-Indian border conflict,
and the suspension of Soviet nuclear technology assistance after
China shelled Kinmen all contributed. Under such long-term
subordination to Soviet authority, China recognised the importance of
"Strategic Autonomy."
Stage 3 explains how China pursued it, whether it was successful,
and its relationship with the end of the Sino-Soviet alliance. In
relations with American imperialism, the Soviet Communist Party
adopted a cautious détente strategy, advocating peaceful coexistence
with American imperialism. In contrast, the Chinese Communist Party
took a more radical stance, believing that war was inevitable and that
American imperialism was the primary enemy. China's declaration at
the 22nd Congress of the Soviet Communist Party to contest
leadership with the Soviet Union, as well as its political, military, and
other forms of support for Albania after breaking off relations with
the Soviet Union, reflected its pursuit of national strategic autonomy.
It was precisely because China continuously pursued strategic
autonomy that policy uniformity among allies was difficult to
reconcile, and differences and conflicts between the two countries
deepened. Until the armed conflict between China and the Soviet Union at Zhenbao Island, the alliance ultimately came to an end.
China's pursuit of strategic autonomy has been definitely
successful. China is no longer influenced by the Soviet Union and
openly expresses its own policies and viewpoints. By independently
choosing diplomatic partners and formulating its own development
strategies, China has gradually freed itself from dependence on any
major power, achieving a transformation from 'allied dependence' to
'strategic autonomy'. Therefore, the termination of the Sino-Soviet
alliance is, in essence, an inevitable result of China's pursuit of
strategic autonomy in the context of national development and
international interactions.
This article is based on Morrow's research on asymmetric
alliances and explores the end of the Sino-Soviet alliance from a
different perspective, offering a new way of understanding this period
of history. At the same time, this study helps to deeply understand
the changes in China's position in international affairs and reveals
China's firm pursuit of strategic autonomy in the face of complex
and ever-changing international relations. A thorough analysis of this
historical period can provide reference and insights for understanding
China's modern diplomatic decisions.