Shared fear of the USSR, the American exit from Vietnam and later economic interests brought China and the USA together.
Both sides wanted change by 1969. China feared the USSR. Nixon wanted to leave Vietnam with honour. He also wanted leverage over Moscow by playing the two communist powers against each other. This is called triangular diplomacy.
Signals multiplied. In April 1971, an American table tennis team visited China ("ping-pong diplomacy"). In July 1971, Henry Kissinger secretly visited Beijing. In October 1971, the People's Republic took China's seat at the UN.
In February 1972, Nixon visited China. The Shanghai Communique recorded differences openly. The USA acknowledged that Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait held that there was one China and Taiwan was part of it, and said it did not challenge that position. Both opposed any power seeking hegemony in Asia, a hint at the USSR.
Full diplomatic relations began on 1 January 1979 under President Carter and Deng Xiaoping. The USA ended its defence treaty with Taiwan but kept unofficial ties under the Taiwan Relations Act. By then, Deng's economic reforms gave China a strong economic reason for closer ties with the West.
- Ping-pong diplomacy
- April 1971.
- Kissinger's secret visit
- July 1971.
- Nixon in China
- February 1972: Shanghai Communique.
- Normalisation
- 1 January 1979.
Worked example: Weighing factors for rapprochement
An H1 essay asks how far security transformed Sino-American relations in the 1970s.
- Security: the Soviet threat after 1969 was the main driver for China.
- US interests: Vietnam and leverage over Moscow drove Nixon.
- Economics: Deng's reforms after 1978 added a reason for normalisation.
- Judgement: security started the process; economics deepened it later.
Watch out for this
Nixon's 1972 visit established full diplomatic relations.
Full relations came only on 1 January 1979. The 1972 visit and Shanghai Communique began the process.
Check your understanding
What did the USA acknowledge in the Shanghai Communique of 1972?
- That Chinese on both sides held there was one China, a position it did not challenge
- That Taiwan was an independent state
- That it would leave Asia