Chinese Political Thought: Mao Tse-Tung and Liu Shao-chi

A proper examination of the world political situation makes it necessary to consider the fact of the increasing importance of Commu­ nist China in world affairs. It seems that this big and ancient country expects to be considered not only as the most important country of Asia, not to say of the communist world, but as one of the great powers of the second half of this century. Being one of the largest countries in the world, with a larger popu­ lation than that of the United States and the Soviet Union combined (the two recognized powers of this era), China plays a significant role in world affairs at the same time that she tries to challenge the leader­ ship of communism. As the years have passed and Communist China has been kept out of the United Nations, her attitude has changed to such a point that one fears the possibility of her forming a new organi­ zation that may evolve in rivalry with the work of the United Nations. Therefore, there is a deservedly great concern about the way China conducts her international policy. Under these circumstances, it goes without saying that it is important to ascertain the kind of political thought that has motivated Commu­ nist leaders in China, and the ultimate goal of their revolutionary movement, which has been for some time now responsible for dangerous situations in the Far East and in other areas of the world.