Confrontation in Korea

October 1, 1949 witnessed the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central People’s Government of the PRC issued a public statement: “China is ready to establish diplomatic relations with all countries in the world on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and other principles.” On the same day, Premier and Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai sent a diplomatic note to every government in the world, informing them of the above statement. On October 2, the Soviet Union took the lead in terminating diplomatic relations with the Nationalist Government in Canton and giving diplomatic recognition to the Central People’s Government of the PRC. Afterward, Bulgaria, Romania, the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), Albania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Mongolia, the Democratic Republic of Germany, and many other countries also established diplomatic relations with the PRC.