He was the first US president to visit China after the founding of New China. Although China and the United States had not formally established diplomatic relations at this time, after he came to power, he actively talked with the Chinese government to ease Sino-US relations. He is the 37th President of the United States Nixon .
China and the United States are two major powers in the hostile camps. Why did Nixon ease Sino-US relations? Why did he threaten China during his visit to China? What happened again?
Nixon
After the founding of New China, as a socialist country , it has always been hostile to the Western capitalist country . This time, Nixon's visit to China is the first real dialogue between the two camps.
China has never established diplomatic relations with the United States, and there are many unavoidable problems. The issue that both sides are most concerned about is also the most unavoidable issue, which is Taiwan issue .
Taiwan has been China's territory since ancient times. After Chiang Kai-shek's group retreated to Taiwan, it has been advocating that Taiwan is a "country" in the international community. However, the Chinese leaders have never given up on unifying Taiwan, and they have never given up on the issue of Taiwan's sovereignty.
Nixon
But the United States has been acting as Taiwan's "umbrella" . Even this time Nixon's visit to China, they still did not give up this delusion in the historic moment of Sino-US relations.
Taiwan issue is a principled issue of the Chinese government. Nixon did not realize the importance of this issue before, and even tried to get away with it during the talks and gave a plan like this.
However, this self-deception was fiercely rejected by Premier Zhou. He told Nixon righteously that the Taiwan issue cannot be ambiguous, the Chinese people cannot deceive themselves, and the Chinese government cannot deceive themselves.
Seeing that the Taiwan issue could not be properly resolved at the negotiating table, Nixon used the usual style of the US government. If it could not be obtained at the negotiating table, he would use force to threaten it.
Nixon
But the Chinese government and the Chinese people have never been afraid of coercion by force. History is the best proof. Whether in Korean War or Vietnam War , the US government cannot get what it is at the negotiating table and even more on the battlefield.
Nixon told Premier Zhou that the number of nuclear weapons in the United States in is sufficient to destroy the earth dozens of times, and the threat and provocation of force in the words is very strong.
In the face of Nixon's provocation, Premier Zhou was not afraid. He replied calmly and calmly: "China's number of nuclear weapons is not large, but it is enough to destroy the earth once!"
Premier Zhou's attitude allowed Nixon to see the Chinese government's failure to fear power and not succumb to the threat of force, and also to see the Chinese government's determination on the Taiwan issue.
Nixon and Premier Zhou
After a confrontation at the negotiating table, Nixon had to admit the fact that " one-China principle ", "Taiwan is a part of China", and said that he would gradually withdraw the US military in Taiwan.
After Nixon was elected president of the United States, he actively talked with the Chinese government to ease Sino-US relations. Why did Nixon actively improve Sino-US relations? How did the Chinese leaders respond?
In 1968, Nixon successfully ran for president and was elected the 37th president of the United States. The international situation at this time suddenly changed, and China, as the largest socialist country in Asia, cannot be ignored by any president of the United States.
Unlike previous presidents' hostile attitude towards China, Nixon repeatedly expressed his intention to contact China after taking office, and improving Sino-US relations was also designated by him as one of the main tasks of US diplomacy.
Nixon
When Nixon visited other countries, he sent a message to China through countries that had established diplomatic relations with China, sending a good signal. In October 1969, Nixon withdrew the destroyer , which was patrolling the Taiwan Strait, and stopped dispatching the ship to patrol the Taiwan Strait.
. Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou and other leaders of other countries have keenly captured the changes in the US policy toward China. Faced with this historical opportunity, Chinese leaders have also grasped it firmly. Chinese leaders also sent important information to the world based on the goodwill signals sent by the US government.
First of all, the Chinese government agreed to the meeting with the US ambassador to Poland with the Chinese agency in Poland. On the occasion of the National Day the following year, Chairman Mao invited the famous American writer Snow to climb to the Tiananmen Gate Tower to watch the National Day ceremony. The next day, the " People's Daily " was published. Chairman Mao and Snow watched photos of the National Day ceremony at the Tiananmen Gate Tower.
Snow (left) and Chairman Mao (right)
1971, the Chinese government invited American players who were participating in the Table Tennis World Championships in Japan and a small group of American journalists to visit China. The famous "Table Pong Diplomacy" began to be staged here. This move had a great impact on changing Sino-US relations. It also first opened the door to exchanges between the two peoples. It is known as "small ball pushes big ball" .
In the face of the signal sent by the Chinese government, Nixon seized the opportunity and told the Chinese government that he was preparing to go to Beijing to have a meeting with the Chinese leaders. Before the meeting, he would let Secretary of State Kissinger take the lead and hold a preparatory meeting with senior Chinese officials.
The Chinese government quickly agreed to Nixon's suggestion.
On July 9, Kissinger arrived at Beijing Nanyuan Airport on an international flight. In the afternoon of the same day, Premier Zhou Enlai and Kissinger met at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse . This is also the first direct meeting between senior leaders of China and the United States since the founding of New China for more than 20 years.
Kissinger
Both sides exchanged and previewed on President Nixon's visit to China in the spring of 1972.
received an invitation from the Chinese government. On July 15, Nixon read it to the whole United States and the world in a live TV broadcast across the United States. Kissinger just signed the "Joint Announcement" with the Chinese government, and accepted the invitation from China during the live TV broadcast. This move shocked viewers all over the world.
After Nixon came to power, the US government was deeply trapped in the quagmire of the Vietnam War. In order to get rid of the predicament and to change the Soviet Union's offensive and defense situation, Nixon knew the importance of changing Sino-US relations. At this time, China also urgently needs to integrate into the international community, so that the whole world can understand and respect China.
Nixon
On February 21, 1972, Nixon's special plane "Air Force One" slowly landed at Beijing Airport. Premier Zhou and other leaders of other countries also reached the airport hall early. After Nixon's special plane was parked, Premier Zhou led the Chinese reception staff to the side of the special plane.
As the hatch opened, Nixon walked out of the hatch and waved to the person who came to pick him up. When he walked down the escalator and there were a few steps away from the ground, he took the initiative to stretch out his right hand. Seeing this, Premier Zhou also stretched out his right hand and walked briskly to Nixon. The two of them held their hands tightly together, and the reporters from China and the United States next to them quickly pressed the shutter of the camera in their hands to record this historic moment.
pictures originated from the Internet
This is the first meeting between socialist China and capitalist United States, two long-term hostile camps. The one-minute handshake between the two sides opened a new era and ended another era.
Chairman Mao and Nixon's hands were tightly held together. This was the first meeting and meeting between the top leaders of China and the United States. Why did Chairman Mao, who had just recovered from a serious illness, attach so much importance to Nixon? How do both parties express their sincerity?
The meeting between China and the United States reflects each other's sincerity everywhere. After Nixon arrived in Beijing, it was lunch time. Premier Zhou invited Nixon and his entourage to have lunch together.
When dining, Nixon, unlike other American officials, dined with knife and fork. He picked up the chopsticks on his hand and used them with chopsticks, and he was skillful in his movements without any discomfort.He told everyone present that after he confirmed his visit to China, he began to practice dining with chopsticks and had been persisting for a long time.
Nixon and Premier Zhou
And during the talks between the two sides, Premier Zhou habitually took off his coat after entering the venue. Before the staff around him could react, Nixon walked behind Premier Zhou with a smile and helped Premier Zhou take off his coat.
Nixon's various performances allowed Premier Zhou and other national leaders present to see his 's attention and sincerity in this visit to China.
It is precisely because of this that although Chairman Mao had just experienced a serious illness, he insisted on meeting Nixon before he had completely recovered. This is also Chairman Mao’s sincerity in order to express his sincerity and the Chinese government.
Chairman Mao and Kissinger
During the meeting between Chairman Mao and Nixon, the staff around him were worried that the Chairman's body would not be able to hold on, but as the conversation deepened, the Chairman's face improved. The originally scheduled meeting time of the medical staff based on the chairman's physical condition was extended to more than an hour before the end. Chairman Mao was obviously not satisfied, but his physical condition was unable to support him to continue. As the main reception leader of Nixon's visit to China, Premier Zhou has reflected China's sincerity in all aspects.
After Nixon and his accompanying staff arrived in China, all matters were arranged by Premier Zhou himself, which reflected the Chinese government's attention to Nixon's visit to China in every detail.
Nixon
Nixon visited China for seven days. During this period, Nixon and his party planned to visit Hangzhou. The two sides had disputes over which country Nixon took.
The US president visited other countries and used the presidential plane "Air Force One" . It will naturally not change when it comes to China to ensure the safety of the president. However, China has regulations that no aircraft from other countries is allowed to fly in China's airspace as long as it carries weapons.
In the end, the United States compromised, and this was also the first time the US president traveled was on a plane from another country. This is not only an aspect of Nixon's sincerity, but also an embodiment of the Chinese government's defense of sovereignty.
Nixon
February 28, after repeated consultations and negotiations, China and the United States finally issued " Joint Communiqué " in Shanghai. The two countries issued a joint statement on their position and their views on major issues, agreeing to use the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to deal with relations between countries. Neither side seeks hegemony in the Pacific region, and both sides hope to reduce international military conflicts.
Regarding the Taiwan issue, the Chinese government reiterated that The People's Republic of China is China's only legal government, Taiwan is a province of China and an inalienable part of China. Liberating Taiwan is China's internal affairs and other countries have no right to interfere.
The US side also realizes that the Taiwan issue is a key issue hindering the normalization of Sino-US relations. The US side said that Taiwan is part of China and the US side does not object to this position. At the same time, the communiqué confirmed that the US side will gradually reduce and withdraw US military armed forces and military facilities in Taiwan.
Nixon
Nixon's visit to China changed the world. After that, China-US relations quickly eased and a diplomatic relationship of respect was established.
The improvement of Sino-US relations has far-reaching significance to China. It not only improves Sino-US relations, but also improves China's relations with developed Western countries, providing a good international environment for future reform and opening up.
