Normalisation of US-China Relations

• Context (IE): China and the US exchanged greetings on the anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between their countries in 1979.
• The process was completed under Chinese President Deng Xiaoping and US President Jimmy Carter.

Background of Normalisation of Sino-US Relations

• The capitalist US and the socialist USSR were engaged in the Cold War, both superpowers claiming ideological and economic superiority.
• While Russia backed the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the US pledged its support to Taiwan.
• This was in line with the US strategy of ‘containment’ (or the Truman Doctrine), aimed at limiting the spread of Communism.
• This led to divergence in the PRC and US relations.
• After a split between the allies USSR and China, beginning in the early 1960s, the US believed that China could be an ally against the USSR.
• China, too, was open to looking for new partners.
• Closer relations with China were also seen as damage control for the Vietnam War 1975.

Normalisation of Ties

• The US made an all-out effort to open communication with China (PRC).
• The US also contacted Romania and Poland – both communist countries and even Pakistan for the same.
• China raised American interference in Taiwan, and the US was invited to discuss it in Beijing.
• This culminated in Kissinger secretly visiting China while officially visiting Pakistan in 1971.
• Nixon’s official visit in 1972 became the first US President’s visit to China.
• The trip would also establish Liaison Offices in Beijing and Washington, which functioned as informal diplomatic posts.
• The 1972 Shanghai Communique was signed to acknowledge the desire for closer ties.
• Shanghai Communique also referred to Taiwan, saying, “The USA acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.”
• In 1974, Nixon resigned following the Watergate scandal (which broke out in 1972), and Chinese leadership changed.
• Thus, Normalisation could be completed in 1979.
• Following the normalisation of ties, the US Embassy in Taipei, Taiwan, was shifted to Beijing.
• Chinese President Deng also visited the US, becoming the first Chinese President.