The Formation of China’s Foreign Policy in 1949-1969

Abstract

International relations are characterized by constant changes on the political stage. New agreements, econom-ic and national interests, changes in governments and regimes – all these factors shape interactions between states. This paper examines the foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) during its first two dec-ades, focusing on its variability and adaptation to the realities of the period. The study reveals that at the time of its establishment, the PRC was a key strategic ally of the USSR; however, by the 1970s, it had started coordinat-ing its actions with the United States, emerging as a partner in both political and economic spheres. This rapid shift in political trajectory shaped China’s interactions with the superpowers for the subsequent decades, up to the end of the Cold War. This period is of particular historical interest, as it allows tracking the dynamic evolu-tion of relations among major powers on the global stage and provides an opportunity to analyze the long-term consequences of specific actions taken by individual states in the past.