Since China had been bullied, invaded, semi-colonized, and even occupied during most of his formative years, he was deeply suspicious that any foreign country – even a “fraternal” Communist ally – could ever be relied upon to leave China alone, much less actually help it. As a result, the Party leadership became steeped in suspicion and distrust toward the outside world, especially toward the so-called “great powers.”
在中国前国家主席毛泽东还大权在握之时，最令他本人感到骄傲的一句名言就是“自力更生”，当旧中国遭受列强威胁恐吓，入侵，半殖民地化，乃至在他青年时期还遭受占领的年月里，毛泽东就开始深深怀疑外国政权——甚至连共产主义“同志”也包括在内——是否会愿意让中国独立自主，更别说帮助中国了。中共领导层也因此逐渐变得多疑，对外界充满了不信任，尤其是对那些所谓的“超级大国”。