An Improbable Journey: Nixon Goes to China

[Hawk1981]

President Nixon's trip to China in 1972 was so unlikely and dramatic that the expression "Nixon Goes to China" has become a political metaphor. Nixon was arguably the only United States politician at the time who had the 'Cold Warrior', right-wing, advocate of Taiwan, and anti-communist credentials who could get away with such a bold move.

Early in his administration, Nixon and Henry Kissinger, his National Security Advisor, had discussed pursuing the idea of rapprochement with the People's Republic of China (PRC). Since the 1940s the United States had only recognized the Nationalist Chinese in Taiwan as being the legitimate Chinese government. The PRC and the United States had fought during the Korean conflict and the US policy was to contain the mainland Chinese and curtail their influence.

In 1971, United States foreign relations was in a rut. The mainland Chinese were isolated and hostile, the Russians were rebuffing overtures to meet and the war in Vietnam was stalemated, with the North Vietnamese unwilling to change their negotiating stance and the American people turning against supporting the conflict. Meeting with the PRC offered a number of tantalizing possibilities.

A thaw in relations with mainland China could provide flexibility on the world scene and add leverage in the relationship with the Soviet Union. If the relationships with the PRC and the Soviets were handled tactfully and care was taken not to turn Russia into a more bitter enemy, the meeting with the Chinese could stir up enough Russian paranoia that was already on edge from recent border conflicts with the Chinese, that could lead to better relations with the Soviet Union. Most importantly, better relations with the People's Republic and the Soviet Union could convince them that their interests were more in common with the US and leverage would be brought on North Vietnam to conclude a settlement that would allow the US to extricate itself from the conflict.

There were risks for the US and for the PRC. Taiwan and their "China Lobby" friends in the US would never be happy with an agreement with the PRC and the likelihood of eventual recognition over the claims of Taiwan. Negotiations without consulting the Japanese was not viewed favorably in Tokyo. The PRC needed to mollify both the North Vietnamese who felt betrayed, and the concerns of the North Koreans who would begin their slide into deeper isolation.

 

[Hawk1981]

The meeting occurred, and the relationship with the People's Republic began to thaw. A new balance was applied to the Cold War with the Soviet Union and the PRC competing for better relations with the US. Nixon would visit the Soviet Union a short time after his visit with the Chinese resulting in a new arms limitation agreement. The PRC agreed to a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. The US would eventually concede that there was a one China policy recognizing the People's Republic. Leverage was applied to North Vietnam resulting in agreement that allowed the US to exit the conflict "with honor".

Nixon summed up the visit with his greeting to Chairman Mao when he said, "You are one who sees when an opportunity comes, and then knows that you must seize the hour and seize the day."

 

[Mac-7]

President Nixon's trip to China in 1972 was so unlikely and dramatic that the expression "Nixon Goes to China" has become a political metaphor. Nixon was arguably the only United States politician at the time who had the 'Cold Warrior', right-wing, advocate of Taiwan, and anti-communist credentials who could get away with such a bold move.

Early in his administration, Nixon and Henry Kissinger, his National Security Advisor, had discussed pursuing the idea of rapprochement with the People's Republic of China (PRC). Since the 1940s the United States had only recognized the Nationalist Chinese in Taiwan as being the legitimate Chinese government. The PRC and the United States had fought during the Korean conflict and the US policy was to contain the mainland Chinese and curtail their influence.

In 1971, United States foreign relations was in a rut. The mainland Chinese were isolated and hostile, the Russians were rebuffing overtures to meet and the war in Vietnam was stalemated, with the North Vietnamese unwilling to change their negotiating stance and the American people turning against supporting the conflict. Meeting with the PRC offered a number of tantalizing possibilities.

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A thaw in relations with mainland China could provide flexibility on the world scene and add leverage in the relationship with the Soviet Union. If the relationships with the PRC and the Soviets were handled tactfully and care was taken not to turn Russia into a more bitter enemy, the meeting with the Chinese could stir up enough Russian paranoia that was already on edge from recent border conflicts with the Chinese, that could lead to better relations with the Soviet Union. Most importantly, better relations with the People's Republic and the Soviet Union could convince them that their interests were more in common with the US and leverage would be brought on North Vietnam to conclude a settlement that would allow the US to extricate itself from the conflict.

There were risks for the US and for the PRC. Taiwan and their "China Lobby" friends in the US would never be happy with an agreement with the PRC and the likelihood of eventual recognition over the claims of Taiwan. Negotiations without consulting the Japanese was not viewed favorably in Tokyo. The PRC needed to mollify both the North Vietnamese who felt betrayed, and the concerns of the North Koreans who would begin their slide into deeper isolation.

The opening of communist china may be the biggest blunder in American history

Many gullible Americans in Washington dc thought that in time china would mellow and become like America

but instead America is becoming like china

 

[wamose]

Nixon's collusion with China was almost as bad as Clintons signing of NAFTA and his sellout of American intellectual property to China, They both suck.

 

[miketx]

I first heard about it in a star trek movie. The evil Klingons wanted to meet with kirk and only kirk. Kirk said something like why do I have to go? and Spock said Only Nixon could go to China.

J/K I heard about it when it happened.

 

[whitehall]

Was it really such a "bold move" or was the media already trying to set up Nixon? You almost gotta laugh that the Moon landing happened during the Nixon administration but President Nixon is never mentioned. Instead what we get in the pop history page is JFK's "dream".