Russia and China View the United States

Soviet Russia and Communist China see the United States in significantly different ways. The present divergence can be related to antecedents such as the enmity between the United States and the Chinese Communists before their seizure of power and the nonrecognition of the present regime by the United States. More important, the quest of the Peking re gime for national "unification"—including Taiwan—and for great-power status—both opposed by the United States—have no analogue in the Soviet Union. The significant differences between Chinese and Soviet perceptions arose after November 1957, when Peking and Moscow began to pursue conflicting strategies. Moscow rather uncertainly strove for a détente with the United States; Peking insisted on the continued need for "struggle" and "action." The differences were entirely in keeping with the broader Sino-Soviet gulf regarding the nature of thermonuclear war and the prospects of "peaceful coexist ence." Peking has been frustrated by Soviet failure to give military support to China against the United States and has amply publicized the inconsistencies of Soviet policy toward the United States. Neither the Soviet Union nor Communist China can compel the other to adopt its views and policies re garding the United States. To the United States, it matters greatly which of the two Communist powers and strategies emerges victorious.