On 15 July 1971, President Richard Milhous Nixon shocked the world by announcing that he would travel across the world to establish a detente with the People’s Republic of China after a quarter century of tension.
Though few Americans expected the announcement, it was far from an impulsive move by the president: not only had Nixon demonstrated hopes of making the trip within weeks of his inauguration, he had gone to great lengths to ensure the secrecy and success of the voyage. One such preparation included sending his trusted National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger, to Pakistan where, pretending to be ill, he boarded a plane to China to finalize details of the president’s trip. After everything was settled, Nixon left Washington for China on 21 February 1972.
The Trip
When Nixon arrived in China, he was greeted by a large crowd of supporters, then summoned almost immediately for a visit with Mao. The two men spent some time alone, but few matters of importance were discussed – Mao waved off Nixon’s attempts at serious conversation, and most of the time was spent poking fun at Kissinger. Because of Mao’s health problems, this would be the only time during this trip that he would meet with the president, though the two would meet again during some of Nixon’s later travels.
The remainder of Nixon’s week-long voyage was spent sight-seeing in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, and in meetings with the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. Nixon ensured that he was well-prepared for these meetings, finding the time to read numerous books and articles on a variety of subjects, but it was Zhou and Kissinger who finalized most of the agreements.
What it Meant for the World
The results of Nixon’s voyage to China were numerous. The economies of both countries received a significant boost, as Sino-American trade was resumed, and travel restrictions were eased a great deal. Both the American and Chinese governments issued the Shanghai Communiqué at the end of the visit, which made clear the foreign policies of both countries, and provided a foundation for future relations between the two powers.
Perhaps even more significant, though, were the implications that Nixon’s trip had for world politics. For example, by establishing a detente with China, Nixon had broken the Eastern Communist Bloc, and the Soviets now found themselves alone in the East. It was therefore significantly easier for Nixon to establish an anti-ballistic missile treaty and trade agreement with the Soviet Union than it would have otherwise been.
Furthermore, China had been leery of Japan and its intentions for some time, but with an ally as strong as the United States, Mao and his people could rest easy knowing that Japan would not be foolish enough to launch an attack.
Nixon’s desire to be remembered as a peacemaker is apparent throughout his presidency, but it is most obvious in his 1972 trip to China and what has come to be known as his "ping-pong diplomacy." Because of his hard work and determination, it really was “the week that changed the world.”
Sources
Perlstein, Rick. Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America. Toronto: Scribner, 2008.
Macmillan, Margaret. Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World. Toronto: Penguin, 2006.
