The Diplomatic Recognition Dilemma: Exploring the PRC’s Impact on British-American Relations (1949-1950)

Abstract

The proclamation of a Communist government in China on October 1, 1949 deepened the ideological confrontation between East and West in the Cold War. As NATO allies, Britain and the United States were equally unaccepting of communist ideology and wary of its spread. Nevertheless, as early as January 1950, the British government of C. Attlee recognized Mao Zedong's government, becoming the first capitalist country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. At the same time, the United States refrained from recognizing the PRC for thirty years, and the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries occurred only in 1979. This article aims to compare the interests and motives of the two countries on the issue of diplomatic recognition of the PRC and assess the impact of British recognition of China on British-American relations.