Историческият контекст на „студения“ период в българо-китайските отношения (60-те години на XX век)
The Historical Context of the “cold” Period in the Bulgarian-Chinese Relations (60s of the XX Century)

Summary/Abstract: In this article Bulgarian-Chinese diplomatic relations are considered in the historical context of the 1960s, when the “indestructible Soviet-Chinese friendship” and the “solidarity” in the socialist camp still remained in the slogans from the 1950s. The increased interest the Chinese leaders expressed in the Balkans, especially after Romania and Albania distanced themselves from Kremlin policy, and Chinese “differentiated approach” tactics towards the countries of Eastern Europe, are traced in a chronological order, based on declassified archives of the State Security and confidential reports from the Bulgarian embassy in Beijing. Thisstudy pays special attention to the campaign against the “Chinese threat”, the “ideological treatment” of Bulgarian students in China, and the “stigmatization” of the Chinese Communist Party. The emphasis in this part of the study is on the “Chinese influence” in Bulgaria during this period. One of the most sensational trials in the 1960s – the trial against the group supporting Mao’s policies, the so-called “Gorunya Group”, which is associated with the most significant attempt at a coup against Todor Zhivkov, the only attempted military coup in the history of the Warsaw Pact, is discussed in the context of Sofia’s official pro-Soviet position, demonstrating its closest proximity to Moscow’s policy. The object of study in the third part of the article is the impact of the Cultural Revolution and the Beijing-Moscow confrontation on Bulgarian-Chinese relations. The conclusion summarizes the factors that led to the lack of government visits, the cessation of the cultural contacts and the educational exchange, the sharp decline in the bilateral trade, the recall of ambassadors and the freezing of bilateral relations at the highest state level.

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