Stalin's death in 1953 had a deep impact in China. Despite Mao's misgivings, he had long respected Stalin's iron authority. Nikita Khrushchev soon emerged from the Kremlin power struggle as the new Soviet leader. Khrushchev and his Politburo visited China to maintain the Beijing-Moscow alliance -- a move that made the new Eisenhower administration in Washington increasingly anxious. As part of its policy to contain communism, the United States financed a military buildup on Taiwan -- home for the Chinese Nationalists.

But Mao did not give way to the American show of strength. His forces shelled the Nationalist-held islands of Quemoy and Matsu. The rising U.S.-Chinese tensions concerned Khrushchev -- who told Beijing that war with imperialism was no longer inevitable.
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