Zhou En-Lai and the Normalization of Relations with the United States
Abstract
It is highly ironic, and yet instructive, that the seeds for ending almost a quarter century of bitterness between China and the United States were sown in the late 1960s, during the height of the Cultural Revolution and after the election of the foremost anti-Communist of the 1950s, Richard M. Nixon, as President of the United States. The casual observer might have expected the situation to worsen, especially in light of continuing differences over Taiwan and Vietnam. Yet less than 3 years after his inauguration, Nixon made his now-famous trip to Beijing. What brought about this dramatic change? Why did ideology, so long the stumbling block between any improvement in U.S.-China relations, suddenly fade from the forefront of the dialogue. Quite simply, the international balance of power appeared to the Chinese leadership to be entering a period of uncertainty and change. Ideological considerations, never unimportant, took a back seat to a more basic vital interest -- survival of China as a nation. The case study of Zhou En-Lai and the normalization of relations with the United States is a classic example of balance-of-power diplomacy in action.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA441373
Entities
People
- John H. Mcdonald Jr.
Organizations
- National War College