Exploration Pack 2: Nixon in China
I think what really struck me the most while working through this exploration pack was the parallel between my own interpretation of the Nixon visit to China as it was taught to me and how it was orchestrated. I think that my essential duping due to how the visit was presented to me in other history classes shows the great lengths that Nixon went to in order to create a narrative about his visit to China and extend its sentimental meaning far past the actual outcomes of the visit.
If you look at the surrounding conditions of the visit it is pretty clear that no monumental friendship was going to be formed between the two countries but rather an understanding may be reached. As just prior to Nixon’s visit in 1972, the US had been lobbying an international audience to not allow the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), or rather known as Red China at the time, to replace Taiwan in the UN. This admittance of the PRC and removal of Taiwan happened in 1971, after decades of lobbying from both China and the US for their respective causes, this just led to the massive tension between the countries regarding Taiwan. This was the other large reason that a major friendship was not going to formed by Nixon’s visit, the Chinese detested the Americans involvement in the conflict with Taiwan. These two factors combined with the fact that previous to Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to China there had been no previous direct contact between the US and China it is quite astounding how good of a narrative Nixon was able to create surrounding his visit.
When you look at what was actually accomplished from Nixon’s week in China you may feel a little underwhelmed considering the spectacle that it was made out to be. The sentimental performance put on by Nixon to convince the American populous of the beginning of a friendship between the US and China differs heavily from the rational geopolitics that was being conducted by Henry Kissinger behind the scene. Both nations agreed to the visit not because they were pining for each other’s friendship but rather they both wanted to focus on a common enemy rather than squabbling with each other, this enemy was the Soviet Union. The tensions between the USSR and China had been mounting, with even an armed interaction occurring on their border so this goal of hindering the influence of the USSR was beneficial to both parties. This sort of agreement between the two nations to subvert USSR actions was the only real action of political substance that came out of the visit, but the cultural and sentimental effects of Nixon’s visit cannot be ignored. While they do seem superficial Nixon’s efforts did open the door for more US and China negotiations down the line and helped open up the relationship for future administrations, the significance of this was not lost on Nixon and he was very cognizant of the history he was making, which may have added to his efforts of romanticizing his visit.
Bibliography:
Richard Nixon and Zhou Enlai, “Toasts at a Banquet Honoring the Premier“, February 25, 1972.
Madsen, Richard. China and the American Dream: A Moral Inquiry. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995.
