U.S.-China Relations

Maoist Era ( ) zMain foreign policy makers yMao Zedong (CCP and PRC Chairman) yZhou Enlai (Premier and Foreign Minister)

Cold War zAlliance with Soviet Union in 1950s yMao Zedong: ``lean on one side” zAlliance with ``Third World” in 1960s yReplaced ROC in United Nations in 1971 zNormalize with United States in 1970s zAlliance with United States in 1980s

Break the Ice in 1970s zPRC-USA adversary in 1950s and 1960s zGrowing threat from Soviet Union zMao said to Edgar Snow in 1970: ``If Nixon would come I’ll talk with him” z``Ping-pong diplomacy” in 1971

Nixon in China (1972)

Ford in China (1975)

Deng Xiaoping’s Strategies zOne Focus yeconomic modernization zTwo themes: ``peace and development” yrelatively peaceful world is favorable for domestic economic construction ytrade, investment, and economic cooperation

Diplomatic Relation (1979) z : ``Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America" z : P.R. China and the U.S. formally established diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level

Deng Xiaoping visits US

Post-Cold War zPRC perceives a world with ``only one superpower but many great powers” zPRC’s principal national interest defined as economic modernization zPRC diplomacy seeks to maintain conditions conducive to continued economic growth

Trade Partners in 2012

PRC Strategies since 1996 zReassure neighbors that China’s development doesn’t pose threat but offers opportunities zPartner (but not ally) with major powers (U.S., Russia, European Union, Japan, etc.)

Great Power Partnerships zStable relations w/o targeting 3rd party zPromote extensive economic relations zDownplay disagreements on domestic issues in the interest of working together on matters of shared concern zRoutine official visits, especially military exchange & summit meetings

Cooperative Partnership z“Constructive strategic partnership”(1997) zCooperative working relationship ytrade and investment yUN security council yexport controls of military technology yfight against international terrorism ycontain tensions in Korea and South Asia

Taiwan Issue zMost sensitive issue in PRC-US relations z3 US-PRC Joint Communiqués y1972 y1978 y1982 zTaiwan Relations Act y1979

Taiwan Issue zVisits to US by high officials from Taiwan yDoes it violate 1978 Communiqué? zArms sale to Taiwan yDoes it violate 1982 Communiqué?

Communiqué zThe U.S. side declared: The United States acknowledges ythat all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China ythat Taiwan is a part of China

Communiqué zReaffirm the principles agreed on by the two sides in the Shanghai Communiqué zUS recognizes the Government of the PRC as the sole legal Government of China. zWithin this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan

Diplomatic Relation (1979) zThe U.S. announced ythe severance of its diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan) ythe withdrawal of its troops from Taiwan ythe ceasing of the U.S.-R.O.C. Joint Defense Treaty zwithin 1979

Communiqué zP.R.C-U.S. Communiqué: U.S. ydoes not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan yarms sales to Taiwan will not exceed the level of those supplied in recent years yintends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution

Tests of the Partnership zUS bombed PRC embassy in Belgrade in 1999 zMid-air collision of US and Chinese military planes in 2001 zHuman rights in China yPolitical dissidents yReligious freedom