WWII & Making of Modern Asia/Pacific: China

Since 1949, China's foreign relations were heavily influenced by Mao's principle of “leaning to one side,” which involved strengthening the alliance with the Soviet Union. This strategy was initially effective in consolidating Communist power but soon led to deep hostility with the United States, particularly during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The Cold War context further intensified these tensions, as China and the U.S. found themselves on opposite sides of the global ideological divide. However, U.S.-China relations entered a new phase in the early 1970s as the U.S. began to shift its foreign policy, recognizing the strategic importance of engaging with China in the context of the Cold War. This shift was driven by a shared fear of the Soviet Union, leading to President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972, which marked the beginning of the normalization of diplomatic relations. Despite close cooperation on certain geostrategic issues, the relationship was complicated by the unresolved status of Taiwan. The formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979 marked a significant milestone, setting the stage for future interactions between the two powers.

From Mao to Deng: China’s Changing Relations with the United States | Wilson Center

Rapprochement with China, 1972 | Office of the Historian, Foreign Service Institute, United States Department of State

Timeline: U.S.-China Relations | Council on Foreign Relations

U.S.-China Relations Since 1949 - Asia for Educators | Columbia University