🎉 Fun Fact Before We Begin: Did you know, once upon a time, leaders of two of the most powerful nations met for talks, and one ended up in a tight pair of shorts in a swimming pool? You’re about to learn more! 🩳🏊‍♂️

• Setting: A major conference gathering the world’s Communist leaders.

• Special Guest: Mao, China’s head honcho. He didn’t travel much—this was only his second trip abroad!

  Main Points of Drama:

  • Mao's Disappointment: He was hoping to see Yugoslavian leader Josip Tito, but Tito was a no-show.

  • Mao's Challenge to USSR: Mao wasn’t pleased with the USSR’s ‘revisionism’. Imagine telling your BFF they've lost their way! In essence:

    • Mao's Theory: Don’t work with “class enemies” a.k.a Western Capitalists. He thought USSR was trying to get chummy with the West, just to make China feel left out. 🤷

  • Star Performer: Deng Xiaoping, representing China. His main act?

    • Bold Claim: True revolution? It needs some force! And that means smashing Capitalism with a violent uprising.
    • Mic Drop Moment: Many felt Deng out-debated the top Soviet thinker, Mikhail Suslov.

  • End Result: China portrayed themselves as the real MVPs of international revolutionary Communism.

Setting: Mao's swimming pool in Beijing, during a sweltering summer.

Main Points of Drama

• Uncomfortable Khrushchev: No AC, lots of mosquitoes, and... a pool meeting? Mao was a swim champ. Khrushchev? Not so much. Imagine the leader of the USSR needing a floaty and wearing tight shorts! 😂

• Deng's Take: He used this chance to again critique Soviet policy. Among his claims were that the Soviets had betrayed the international Communist movement, saw themselves as the only true Marxist-Leninists, and even sent spies into China!