Journal of East China Normal University (Philosoph ›› 2011, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (6): 27-37.

• 冷战史研究 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Mao Zedong and the Eastern Information Bureau: The Transfer of Leadership in Asian Revolution

SHEN Zhi-Hua   

  • Online:2011-11-15 Published:2011-11-29
  • Contact: SHEN Zhi-Hua
  • About author: SHEN Zhi-Hua

Abstract: When the Communist Information Bureau was established in October 1947, Stalin had no plan to set up such a Communist international organization in Asia. On the eve of the total victory of Chinese revolution, Mao Zedong started to talk about establishing an Eastern Information Bureau with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Although Stalin proposed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should lead Asian revolution and agreed in principle to the idea of an Eastern Information Bureau, he was not in favor of immediate action. After hearing Moscow’s opinion, the CCP started to train Communist cadres coming from Asian countries. After entering the Korean War, the CCP gained actual leadership of Asian revolution. Although Eastern Information Bureau was not formally established, the CCP assumed the leadership in guiding revolution in Asia through opening MarxistLeninist academy and special schools to bring Asian Communist representatives to Beijing. In particular, the CCP gradually played a more dominant role in the Korea issue. After the Korean War, China and the Soviet Union advocated a peaceful coexistence policy toward the West. The issue of Eastern Information Bureau was no longer approached. China remained the center of Asian revolution until the early 1960 s.