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Great Powers and Atomic Bombs are “Paper Tigers”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2009

Ralph L. Powell
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Extract

In terms of Western political science or military doctrine it seems somewhat irrational that the leaders of Communist China should refer to great powers as “paper tigers.” It appears even more illogical that they should call atomic bombs “paper tigers,” especially when they themselves place the highest priority on the development of a nuclear capability. Yet, since the first Chinese nuclear explosion on October 16, 1964, the official Communist Press has again referred to the United States, Great Britain and the “revisionists” (both Khrushchev and the present leaders of the Soviet Union) as “paper tigers.” This same metaphor has also been applied to “imperialism” and “all reactionaries,” as well as to nuclear weapons, air-power and sea-power.

Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 23 , September 1965 , pp. 55 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © The China Quarterly 1965

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References

1 For examples, see Peking Review, Vol. 17, No. 42, 10 16, 1964 (Special Supplement), p. iiGoogle Scholar, and No. 48, November 27, 1964, pp. 8–9; Survey of China Mainland Press (SCMP) (Hong Kong: U.S. Consulate General), No. 3387, 01 28, 1965, p. 29Google Scholar; No. 3388, January 29, 1965, p. 28, and No. 3412, March 9, 1965, pp. 35–36.

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11 “Man Is the Factor Which Decides the Outcome of War,” p. 3.

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29 “On Man As the Primary Factor,” p. 2.

30 “Slighting the Enemy Strategically and Taking Full Account of Him Tactically,” pp. 3, 5–6.

31 Imperialism and All Reactionaries Are Paper Tigers, p. 27.

32 Selected Works of Mao, Vol. IV, note on pp. 98–99; Piao, Lin, “The Victory of the Chinese People's Revolutionary War …” Red Flag, No. 19, 10 1, 1960, SCMM, No. 231, p. 13Google Scholar.

33 Current Digest of the Soviet Press, Vol. 14, No. 52, 01 28, 1963, p. 3Google Scholar.