Mao's decision to align with the United States during the late 1960s stemmed from a fear of a Soviet threat, leading to a complex pseudo-alliance aimed at countering a closer ideological enemy. Despite this strategic partnership, Mao remained committed to his radical domestic policies, unaware of the long-term implications that this relationship would have after his death in 1976. The shift in leadership that followed would leverage this alliance for different purposes, reshaping China's international stance.
