Political relations between the Italian and the Chinese Communist parties (Pci and Ccp) were influenced by the Sino-Soviet split (1960). From 1963 onwards, pro-Chinese groups broke away or were expelled from the Pci, as they aligned with Moscow in the dispute. However, there were still some members within the Party who sympathized with Maoism. During the 1970s, Alberto Jacoviello and Maria Antonietta Macciocchi faced heavy criticism for sup¬porting the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The party’s official newspaper, «l’Unità», became a platform for intense discussion on the topic. Despite their controversial stance on China, these individuals played a crucial part in improving relations between the Pci and Ccp. As they were left out of the official narrative of the bilateral relations, this article aims to reeva¬luate their role as Beijing correspondents for «l’Unità» and as mediators with the Chinese.
