22 DEC-- This Day in US Military History

2014-12-22T09:54:38-05:00

1971 – The Soviet Union accuses China of backing U.S. policies in Vietnam, an accusation that illustrates the growing rift between the two communist superpowers.

China, which had previously taken a hard line toward negotiations between Hanoi and Washington, softened its position by endorsing a North Vietnamese peace plan for ending the war. Although the peace proposal was unacceptable to the United States, the fact that China advocated negotiations between Hanoi and Washington was significant. The Soviet Union, whose relations with China were already deteriorating, was highly suspicious of what they rightfully perceived as a “warming” in Sino-American relations. This suspicion only grew stronger in February 1972, when President Richard Nixon visited China.

http://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/december-22/

December 22

22 December 1775 - Congress commissions first naval officers: Esek Hopkins, Commander in Chief of the Fleet, Captains Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicolas Biddle, and John Hopkins. Lieutena...

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 24 at 2015 4:56 PM

2015-06-24T16:56:53-04:00

That is a very interesting picture to post with the "The Soviet Union accuses China of backing U.S. policies in Vietnam, an accusation that illustrates the growing rift between the two communist superpowers." The Chinese and Soviet leader smiling with and towards each other belies the competition that they shared even though they had similar ideologies.