How did the strategic idea of dividing the three worlds come out?
In the 1970s, the international situation changed rapidly, and a new situation appeared in China’s foreign relations. In 1974, Mao Zedong made a new judgment on the international pattern and put forward a strategic idea of dividing the three worlds.
From a "middle zone" to "two middle zones"
The strategic thought of dividing the three worlds contains profound thinking and long-term exploration of the international pattern, which comes from the theory of "middle zone"
Regarding the division of international pattern, Mao Zedong first put forward a theory of "middle zone". After World War II, the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union deteriorated, and a full-scale civil war broke out between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. It was impossible for Mao Zedong to put China on the road of new democracy through peaceful and democratic means. At the critical moment of the situation transformation, Mao Zedong put forward the theory of "two camps" and "one middle ground" in the summer of 1946. He believes that the post-war world is divided into a peaceful and democratic camp headed by the socialist Soviet Union and a reactionary camp headed by American imperialist forces; There is a vast middle zone between the United States and the Soviet Union, which is composed of many capitalist countries and colonial and semi-colonial countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. The realistic problem facing the world after the war is that the United States is trying to control and invade countries in the middle zone, including China. This theory makes a unique division of various international political forces, points out China’s position in the world, and clarifies the relationship between friends and enemies of the China Revolution in the world. Since then, when the China Revolution is about to win, this theory naturally leads to the conclusion of "one-sided" to the socialist Soviet Union.
Since then, with the changes in the international situation and surrounding environment, Mao Zedong has put forward the strategy of "two intermediate zones". In the early 1960s, the international movements of countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America against imperialism and colonialism, striving for and safeguarding national independence continued to rise, and the internal contradictions in the capitalist world continued to develop. Judging from China’s foreign relations, Sino-US relations continue to be tense, and Sino-Soviet relations are on the verge of rupture. From the end of 1963 to the beginning of 1964, Mao Zedong put forward the strategy of striving for "two intermediate zones". He divided the "middle zone" into two parts, one part refers to the underdeveloped countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and the other part refers to capitalist countries and eastern European countries except the United States. Mao Zedong pointed out that these two parts are opposed to American control, while eastern European countries are opposed to Soviet control. Mao Zedong believes that in the process of confronting the two great powers, China should unite the two middle areas as much as possible. The strategy of "two intermediate zones" has relieved China’s external pressure to some extent. In 1964, China and France broke through the barriers of different ideologies and social systems and formally established diplomatic relations. During this period, China’s relations with African and Arab countries have also developed significantly.
The changes in Sino-US relations have caused a chain reaction.
In the early 1970s, the foundation of tripartite relations between China, the United States and the Soviet Union changed significantly, and the trend towards multipolarity in the world gradually emerged. Mao Zedong began to re-examine the new international situation and China’s foreign relations, and put forward the strategic idea of "three worlds" division.
Since the late 1960s, new changes have taken place in the international pattern. First of all, the balance of power between the United States and the Soviet Union has changed, from the dominance of the United States to a balance of power, and the position of the United States among Western allies has also weakened. Secondly, western Europe and Japan are gradually reviving, and the centrifugal tendency of eastern European countries towards the Soviet Union is also developing. Finally, China has gradually become an independent and important political force on the international stage, and the power and influence of other Asian, African and Latin American countries have also further increased. During this period, China’s foreign relations have undergone major changes. On the one hand, the border conflict between China and the Soviet Union in 1969 and the nuclear threat of the Soviet Union since then made Mao Zedong deeply feel the seriousness of national security issues. On the other hand, China and the United States began to ease their relations out of consideration for their respective national security. In the spring of 1971, "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" kicked off the relaxation of Sino-US relations. In February of the following year, President Nixon visited Beijing, and the process of Sino-American reconciliation started. In October 1971, the 26th United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to restore China’s lawful seat in the United Nations, and then the climax of the establishment of diplomatic relations between countries and China appeared. With the relaxation of Sino-US relations, the Soviet Union has become the biggest and most direct threat to China. In 1973, Mao Zedong put forward the strategic idea of "one line" and "one large area", hoping to establish a United front from Japan through Europe to the United States.
With the rapid development of international situation and China’s foreign relations, Mao Zedong put forward the strategic idea of dividing three worlds. In February 1974, when talking with Zambian President kaunda, Mao Zedong first put forward the strategic idea of dividing the three worlds. He pointed out: "I think the United States and the Soviet Union are the first world. The centrists, Japan, Europe, Australia and Canada, are the second world. We are the third world. " He also said: "The third world has a large population. Asia is a third world except Japan. All of Africa is the third world, and Latin America is also the third world. " According to the division of Mao Zedong, China belongs to the third world, so it is necessary to strengthen unity with third world countries and strive for unity with second world countries; Among the two superpowers in the first world, they mainly develop relations with the United States and concentrate on opposing the hegemonism of the Soviet Union.
On April 6, 1974, at the proposal of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping led a delegation from China to attend the sixth special session of the United Nations General Assembly. This is the first time that a People’s Republic of China (PRC) leader has attended a United Nations meeting, which has attracted worldwide attention. On April 10th, in his speech at the conference, Deng Xiaoping comprehensively expounded Mao Zedong’s strategic thought on dividing the three worlds and China’s foreign policy. He emphasized that China is a socialist country and a developing country, and China belongs to the third world. The government of China and the people of China firmly support all the oppressed people and nations in their struggle for and maintenance of national independence, development of national economy and opposition to colonialism, imperialism and hegemonism. China is not and will never be a superpower. This has actually repositioned China’s international role and further clarified China’s corresponding international responsibilities.
Compared with the "two intermediate zones" strategy in the 1960s, the most obvious difference in the strategic thinking of the three worlds is to treat the Soviet Union at the same level as the United States. This change is based on the changes in the relations between China, the United States and the Soviet Union, uniting with the party that poses less threat to China and concentrating on preventing the main threat from China. In terms of ideological methods, the criteria for dividing the three worlds are no longer based on the nature of class and society, but mainly on comprehensive national strength. It enables people to clearly see the position of countries in the world in international political and economic relations.
Expanded the stage of China’s diplomatic activities.
The strategic thought of dividing the three worlds is the result of Mao Zedong’s long-term deliberation, which has great significance and far-reaching influence on China’s foreign strategy and foreign relations.
The strategic thought of dividing the three worlds is based on Mao Zedong’s scientific judgment on the international situation and accurate understanding of the international pattern. It is saturated with Mao Zedong’s long-term political experience in international struggle and is the development of Mao Zedong’s United front theory under the new situation. The strategic thought of dividing the three worlds reveals the main characteristics of the development of the world situation at that time and the basic pattern of the strength comparison among countries in the world, and determines China’s international status and strategic goals from the historical, realistic and strategic significance. This thought has long been the theoretical basis and main basis of China’s foreign strategy, and its role and influence continued until the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the disappearance of bipolar confrontation and the overall change of the original international pattern.
Under the guidance of Mao Zedong’s strategic thought of dividing three worlds, China’s diplomatic work has made a comprehensive breakthrough. China broke through the pattern of "two camps", implemented the policy of "one line" and "one large area", persisted in opposing the hegemonism and the threat of war of superpowers, worked hard to normalize Sino-US relations, actively improved relations with second world countries, and vigorously developed friendly cooperation with third world countries and other types of countries. From 1970 to 1976, China successively established diplomatic relations with 61 countries, and more than 110 countries established diplomatic relations with China, including most countries in the world at that time. This completely broke the diplomatic deadlock caused by China’s isolation and containment for a long time, greatly improved the international environment in China, and greatly expanded the scope of China’s diplomatic activities. At the same time, it also ensures that China can smoothly implement reform and opening up and participate in international affairs more extensively in the near future.
Author: Sun Yanling
Source: study times.