assist greatly in are dangerous. Japan is an example of this. Its economical development was great under US until it wanted its independence by using the new found economical power against US. The result was well known and it had shown the kind of leverage and control US have over Japan in all these years ever since US occupied it. If given a choice in the matter after WWII and before the Korean War, of course Mao would take the approach of balance between the 2 superpower despite his communism belief. But did the 2 superpowers ever given him and China a choice to decide? Who took the decision of unify China out of Mao's hands? Who "forced" PRC's hand by using North Korea's ambition to unify the Koreas? Who split Korea that caused the invasion? Who ignored China's warning about crossing over the 38" line? Which superpower really gave a damn about China at that time? Who wanted to treat China as a friend and not as a tool then? Does this answer your question about the reality of "friendship" with a superpower as a weak, poor, and divided nation that China was after WWII?