ABSTRACT
The US insistence on preserving its relationship with the Kuomintang (KMT) even following its retreat to Taiwan and the communist domination of the Chinese mainland has reinforced the ideological split between the two governments. This was deepened further by the intervention of the people’s volunteer army on the side of the Korean people’s army in the Korean war. Emphasising the pressure to be ideologically correct that prevailed during this period, Deng was essentially side-lined for a third time. It was only after Mao’s death that Deng was gradually ‘rescued’ by his lieutenants and made his way back to the political centre stage. Deng was also willing to sacrifice principles at the international level to help ensure the success of the domestic economy, via the four modernisations policy. This policy should effectively be regarded as the cornerstone of Deng’s international grand strategy, despite its domestic focus.
