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.

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.