The shock of 9/11 and the financial crisis of 2008 meant that structural tensions between the US and China could be hidden under the carpet throughout the 2000s. Meanwhile, to his secretary of state, Condoleeza Rice, China was a “potential threat”. But this would not last.Ĭhina’s defence expenditure was growing fast and when George W Bush started his race to the White House, he described China as “a competitor, not a strategic partner”. This was enough for a military crisis in the Taiwan Strait in 1995-96 and the US bombing of China’s embassy in Belgrade in 1999 – declared involuntary by the Americans – not to destroy Nixon’s and others’ diplomatic efforts. With a passionate speech in March 2000, Bill Clinton sought to convince the US Congress that supporting the PRC’s entry into the World Trade Organisation was the right thing to do for those leaders who believed in “a future of greater openness and freedom for the people of China in a future of greater prosperity for the American people”. Indeed, a positive peak was reached during the 1990s. If the US-China train did not derail, it was because, at the time, the US continued to prioritise economic interests. Despite the shock to the world, Bush bypassed what Kissinger described as “the bureaucracy and his own ban on high-level exchanges”, writing a secret letter to Deng addressing him as lao pengyou – old friend – in memory of the years Bush had spent as liaison officer in Beijing. Most strikingly, the relationship made it through the repression of Tiananmen Square’s protests in 1989. This was characterised by spirited support for Taiwan, which in the early days meant representatives such as vice-president (and later president), George H W Bush, and the former national security adviser Henry Kissinger had to conduct some diplomacy of reparation. First, it made it through the administration of Ronald Reagan from 1980 to 1988. The relationship has since survived two crucial passages. A few years after Nixon’s China trip, “ normalisation” was achieved by Jimmy Carter and Deng Xiaoping, and the US finally moved its embassy from Taiwan to Beijing. ![]() The Nixon-Mao meeting was just the beginning of a durable, stable relationship. Strategic interests of the two great powers were as aligned at the time as they clash nowadays. ![]() But the US’s long-term objective was to bring the most populous country into a rising global economic order. Washington was keen to gain a new heavyweight partner to counter Moscow. Official visit met with General Secretary Brezhnev, President Podgorny, and Premier Kosygin.China needed protection from the USSR. Met with President Katzir and Prime Minister Rabin.Īttended North Atlantic Council meeting, and met separately with King Baudonin and Queen Fabiola, Prime Minister Tindemans and with German Chancellor Schmidt, British Prime Minister Wilson, and Italian Prime Minister Rumor. Met afterward with interim President Poher, Italian Prime Minister Leone, British Prime Minister Wilson, West German Chancellor Brandt, Danish Prime Minister Hartling, Soviet President Podgorny, and Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka. Met with President Eldjarn and Prime Minister Johanneson, and French President Pompidou.Īttended memorial services for former President Pompidou. Official visit met with First Secretary Gierek. Official visit met with Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. State visit met with Premier Kosygin and General Secretary Brezhnev. Informal visit met with Chancellor Kreisky. State visit met with Governor General Michener and Prime Minister Trudeau addressed Parliament. State visit met with Chairman Mao Tse-tung and Premier Chou En-lai. State visit met with Prime Minister Lynch.Īttended memorial services for former President De Gaulle.ĭiscussed international monetary problems with French President Pompidou and Portuguese Prime Minister Caetano. Met informally with Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Heath. State visit met with Generalissimo Franco. Official visit met with President Saragat visited NATO Southern Command. Official visit met with President Diaz Ordaz. Informal meeting with Prime Minister Wilson. Official visit met with President Ceausescu. State visit met with President Yahya Khan. State visit met with Acting President Hidayatullah. Met with President Thieu and visited U.S. State visit met with King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Met with President Saragat, Prime Minister Rumor, and other officials. ![]() Informal visit held conversations with Prime Minister Wilson. Attended 23d meeting of North Atlantic Council met with King Baudouin I.
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