Maybe a little later, but not much. The problem was there can be only one #1 and both Russia and China wanted it.
More like Mao wanted it. I’m not buying the idea that other Chinese leaders had any desire to lead the Communist bloc. To be fair Khrushchev was also a hothead and that had something to do with it. Without Mao, China would be lead by Liu Shaoqi, who’s politics was much more in line with Khrushchev. They’d probably get along fine. But I do agree falling out was inevitable. The Soviet Union was a super power next door whereas after the Vietnam War, it would become obvious the US was the lesser threat.
And that's not considering how the Soviets actually backed the KMT over the CCP most of the time until basically after WWII...
Also, as for today, remember the whole SCO kerfluffle between China and Russia over those breakaway republics, and that China didn't recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea...
That’s mostly because China cannot accept the precedent of Crimea unilaterally declaring independence. Also, China is rather fond of Ukraine.
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