Presidents at Peace: Nixon Goes to China
In 1972 President Richard Nixon visited the People's Republic of China (PRC), in a monumental diplomatic initiative that marked the first time that a U.S. president had visited there. At that time China considered the U.S. one of its foes, and the visit let to the end of 25 years of separation between the two sides.
Even before being elected president, Richard Nixon had talked of the need for better relations with the PRC. The U.S. did not maintain diplomatic relations with Communist China, because it had recognized the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan as the government of China. Early on in his first term, Nixon and his National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger began sending subtle overtures to the PRC government about opening up diplomatic relations. After a series of these overtures by both countries, Kissinger went on secret diplomatic missions to Beijing, where he met with Premier Zhou. On July 15, 1971, Nixon announced that he would visit the PRC the following year.
Nixon visited China from February 21 to 28, 1972. His visit allowed the American public to view images of China for the first time in over two decades. Throughout the week the President and his most senior advisers engaged in substantive discussions with the PRC, including a meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong, while First Lady Pat Nixon toured schools, factories and hospitals in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou with the large American press corps in tow. Nixon dubbed the visit "the week that changed the world."
The visit had tremendous results. A significant shift in the Cold War balance resulted, pitting the PRC with the U.S. against the Soviet Union. "Nixon going to China" has since become a metaphor for an unexpected or uncharacteristic action by a politician.
Nixon said that there were three objectives for the trip: (1) to embrace People's Republic of China for peaceful settlement of Taiwan,(2) peaceful settlement of the Vietnam War and (3) deterrence of the Soviet Union's sphere of Communist influence after the Sino-Soviet Split. Nixon's critics said that Nixon's diplomacy failed on all three accounts. Taiwan remained threatened by the People's Republic of China, Vietnam was soon captured by the PRC-aided North Vietnam Communists and the collapse of Soviet Union was mainly due to internal domestic economic causes of its unproductive economic system. But Nixon's visit opened the door to Sino-American foreign relations, and paved the way to the strong economic ties that bind the two countries today.
Even before being elected president, Richard Nixon had talked of the need for better relations with the PRC. The U.S. did not maintain diplomatic relations with Communist China, because it had recognized the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan as the government of China. Early on in his first term, Nixon and his National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger began sending subtle overtures to the PRC government about opening up diplomatic relations. After a series of these overtures by both countries, Kissinger went on secret diplomatic missions to Beijing, where he met with Premier Zhou. On July 15, 1971, Nixon announced that he would visit the PRC the following year.
Nixon visited China from February 21 to 28, 1972. His visit allowed the American public to view images of China for the first time in over two decades. Throughout the week the President and his most senior advisers engaged in substantive discussions with the PRC, including a meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong, while First Lady Pat Nixon toured schools, factories and hospitals in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou with the large American press corps in tow. Nixon dubbed the visit "the week that changed the world."
The visit had tremendous results. A significant shift in the Cold War balance resulted, pitting the PRC with the U.S. against the Soviet Union. "Nixon going to China" has since become a metaphor for an unexpected or uncharacteristic action by a politician.
Nixon said that there were three objectives for the trip: (1) to embrace People's Republic of China for peaceful settlement of Taiwan,(2) peaceful settlement of the Vietnam War and (3) deterrence of the Soviet Union's sphere of Communist influence after the Sino-Soviet Split. Nixon's critics said that Nixon's diplomacy failed on all three accounts. Taiwan remained threatened by the People's Republic of China, Vietnam was soon captured by the PRC-aided North Vietnam Communists and the collapse of Soviet Union was mainly due to internal domestic economic causes of its unproductive economic system. But Nixon's visit opened the door to Sino-American foreign relations, and paved the way to the strong economic ties that bind the two countries today.