Establishment of China–US Diplomatic Relations

After Nixon’s 1972 visit to China and the Shanghai Communiqué, relations between the two countries began to normalize, and in 1973 they set up liaison offices in each other’s capitals. In 1978 the two sides negotiated on establishing diplomatic relations, with China insisting that the US meet three conditions regarding the Taiwan authorities: sever diplomatic relations, abrogate the treaty and withdraw troops. On 16 December 1978 China and the US simultaneously issued the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, announcing mutual recognition and diplomatic relations from 1 January 1979. The US recognized the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and acknowledged China’s position that there is but one China and that Taiwan is part of China. The two countries formally established relations on 1 January 1979. At the same time the US announced that it would sever so-called “diplomatic relations” with the Taiwan authorities, terminate the US–Taiwan Mutual Defense Treaty and withdraw US forces from Taiwan. The establishment of relations was a milestone, ending thirty years of abnormality. From January to February 1979 Deng Xiaoping visited the United States at its invitation, the first visit by a leader of the People’s Republic. In 1982 the two countries issued the August 17 Communiqué, in which the US pledged gradually to reduce arms sales to Taiwan. The Shanghai Communiqué, the Joint Communiqué on Establishing Diplomatic Relations and the August 17 Communiqué form the political foundation of China–US relations.