Changes

Chinese [[historical revisionism]] now refers to The Great Leap Forward as The '''Three Years of Disasters'''.  Mao's successor Deng Xiaoping claimed the death toll to be only 16 million, one-third the actual number of victims.<ref>''Mao: The Real Story'', by Alexander P. Pantsov with Steven I. Levine, pg. 472.</ref>  The Great Leap Forward remains the greatest prime example of the failure of socialist [[economic planning]].

Chinese [[historical revisionism]] now refers to The Great Leap Forward as The '''Three Years of Disasters'''.  Mao's successor Deng Xiaoping claimed the death toll to be only 16 million, one-third the actual number of victims.<ref>''Mao: The Real Story'', by Alexander P. Pantsov with Steven I. Levine, pg. 472.</ref>  The Great Leap Forward remains the greatest prime example of the failure of socialist [[economic planning]].

====Sino-Soviet split====

===Sino-Soviet split===

In the 1960s, Beijing competed with Moscow for political influence among communist parties and in the developing world generally.  The PRC broke its connection with the foreign policy leadership provided by Moscow after the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]].  Following the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and clashes in 1969 on the Sino-Soviet border, Chinese competition with the Soviet Union increasingly reflected concern over China's own strategic position.  

In the 1960s, Beijing competed with Moscow for political influence among communist parties and in the developing world generally.  The PRC broke its connection with the foreign policy leadership provided by Moscow after the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]].  Following the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and clashes in 1969 on the Sino-Soviet border, Chinese competition with the Soviet Union increasingly reflected concern over China's own strategic position.  

In late 1978, the Chinese also became concerned over Vietnam's efforts to establish open control over Laos and Cambodia, though it is because of Cambodian's brutality led to invasion. In response to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, China fought a brief border war with Vietnam (February–March 1979) with the stated purpose of "teaching Vietnam a lesson."  

In late 1978, the Chinese also became concerned over Vietnam's efforts to establish open control over Laos and Cambodia, though it is because of Cambodian's brutality that led to the invasion. In response to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, China fought a brief border war with Vietnam (February–March 1979) with the stated purpose of "teaching Vietnam a lesson."  

Chinese anxiety about Soviet strategic advances was heightened following the Soviet Union's December 1979 invasion of Afghanistan. Sharp differences between China and the Soviet Union persisted over Soviet support for Vietnam's continued occupation of Cambodia, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and Soviet troops along the Sino-Soviet border and in Mongolia—the so-called "three obstacles" to improved Sino-Soviet relations.  

Chinese anxiety about Soviet strategic advances was heightened following the Soviet Union's December 1979 invasion of Afghanistan. Sharp differences between China and the Soviet Union persisted over Soviet support for Vietnam's continued occupation of Cambodia, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and Soviet troops along the Sino-Soviet border and in Mongolia—the so-called "three obstacles" to improved Sino-Soviet relations.