Abstract

This article is an attempt to revisit the story of the origins of the Sino-Soviet alliance on the basis of new evidence. Specifically, the article seeks to test Mao Zedong’s later claims that his experience of negotiating with Stalin left him bitter and disillusioned, and that the Soviet Union took advantage of China by imposing quasi-imperialist terms on the junior partner. The article argues that although tensions were evident in the course of the negotiations, the 1950 Treaty of Alliance was on balance a remarkable success for China and for Mao Zedong personally.