Background
As early as 1967, Nixon, who was not president at the time, had already expressed his opinion that it was not applicable for the US to exclude China outside of the family of nations forever. Since China was the largest populated country in the world, he strongly suggested mending the discrepancies between the two countries. Starting in 1969, when Nixon became president, he and Kissinger began diminishing the restrictions imposed on China. Then in April of 1971, the US table tennis team was welcomed to visit China; this led to scheduling the secret trip to China with Kissinger and his assistant, Winston Lord. In July of 1971, President Nixon's national security advisor, Henry Kissinger, formulated a confidential visit to Beijing during a visit to Pakistan, which set the basis for Nixon's trip to China.
In early July, Kissinger claimed to be resting near Pakistan in order to nurse an illness; in reality, this was a distraction used so he and Winston Lord could travel to Beijing. In the afternoon, Winston and Kissinger met for an extravagant lunch with Chou En-lai, who was second in command in China to Mao Tse-Tung. After spending a few days together, Chou referred to Kissinger as “one of the most impressive foreign statesmen” he’d ever encountered. After Kissinger met with Premier Chou, and on July 15, 1971, Nixon promised that he would make a trip to the People’s Republic of China in the next year.
As early as 1967, Nixon, who was not president at the time, had already expressed his opinion that it was not applicable for the US to exclude China outside of the family of nations forever. Since China was the largest populated country in the world, he strongly suggested mending the discrepancies between the two countries. Starting in 1969, when Nixon became president, he and Kissinger began diminishing the restrictions imposed on China. Then in April of 1971, the US table tennis team was welcomed to visit China; this led to scheduling the secret trip to China with Kissinger and his assistant, Winston Lord. In July of 1971, President Nixon's national security advisor, Henry Kissinger, formulated a confidential visit to Beijing during a visit to Pakistan, which set the basis for Nixon's trip to China.
In early July, Kissinger claimed to be resting near Pakistan in order to nurse an illness; in reality, this was a distraction used so he and Winston Lord could travel to Beijing. In the afternoon, Winston and Kissinger met for an extravagant lunch with Chou En-lai, who was second in command in China to Mao Tse-Tung. After spending a few days together, Chou referred to Kissinger as “one of the most impressive foreign statesmen” he’d ever encountered. After Kissinger met with Premier Chou, and on July 15, 1971, Nixon promised that he would make a trip to the People’s Republic of China in the next year.
The Meeting
On the morning of February 21, 1972, the president, along with Kissinger and Secretary of State William Rogers, boarded a plane to China. Surprisingly, when the plane landed, there was not a huge crowd of people waiting to greet them. As they got off the plane, Nixon went over to shake Chou’s hand; then, a short reception followed in the Beijing airport. Within a few hours of arrival, Kissinger and Nixon went to meet the top Chinese leader, Mao Zedong. Although Mao had been in the hospital nine days prior to Nixon’s arrival, he insisted on meeting with the American president along with Kissinger and Winston Lord. With nurses by his side at all times, Mao was able to speak with them for a couple hours. Over the next few days, several meetings took place with Chou and many problems were resolved. During his visit, Nixon was even able to journey to the Great Wall of China with Zhou Enlai.
Results
After 25 years of estrangement between the US and the PRC, Nixon was the first president to visit the PRC. The president’s visit lasted one week, February 21 to 28, 1972. On February 28, 1972, the Shanghai Communiqué was made between the PRC and the US in order to serve as the foundation for all Sino-American relations. This document suggested that the United States and China would work towards stabilizing all relations between the two countries. Also, the US agreed to limit the number of military troops that were in Taiwan at the time. Later, in 1979 and 1982, the second and third joint communiqués were added to help finalize all these ideas. Thus, President Nixon’s visit to the People’s Republic of China paved a huge step in making mends between the US and the PRC.
On the morning of February 21, 1972, the president, along with Kissinger and Secretary of State William Rogers, boarded a plane to China. Surprisingly, when the plane landed, there was not a huge crowd of people waiting to greet them. As they got off the plane, Nixon went over to shake Chou’s hand; then, a short reception followed in the Beijing airport. Within a few hours of arrival, Kissinger and Nixon went to meet the top Chinese leader, Mao Zedong. Although Mao had been in the hospital nine days prior to Nixon’s arrival, he insisted on meeting with the American president along with Kissinger and Winston Lord. With nurses by his side at all times, Mao was able to speak with them for a couple hours. Over the next few days, several meetings took place with Chou and many problems were resolved. During his visit, Nixon was even able to journey to the Great Wall of China with Zhou Enlai.
Results
After 25 years of estrangement between the US and the PRC, Nixon was the first president to visit the PRC. The president’s visit lasted one week, February 21 to 28, 1972. On February 28, 1972, the Shanghai Communiqué was made between the PRC and the US in order to serve as the foundation for all Sino-American relations. This document suggested that the United States and China would work towards stabilizing all relations between the two countries. Also, the US agreed to limit the number of military troops that were in Taiwan at the time. Later, in 1979 and 1982, the second and third joint communiqués were added to help finalize all these ideas. Thus, President Nixon’s visit to the People’s Republic of China paved a huge step in making mends between the US and the PRC.
“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word crisis. One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity.”
― Richard M. Nixon
Ted, Vaill. "Henry Kissinger's Secret Trip to China - LA Progressive." LA Progressive. 6 Apr. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.laprogressive.com/henry-kissinger/>.
Warner, Geoffrey. "Nixon, Kissinger and the Rapprochement with China, 1969–1972." 1 July 2007. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. <http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=1aa6ceeb-dfb3-459b-8d07-88d4d836d65c@sessionmgr4002&vid=13&hid=4101>.
"Shanghai Communiqué (First Joint Communiqué of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China)." Taiwan Documents Project. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://www.taiwandocuments.org/communique01.htm>.