President Richard Nixon’s unexpected trip to China in 1972 marked a strategic shift in U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. Despite his strong anti-communist stance, Nixon’s handshake with Mao Zedong symbolized an unlikely alliance calibrated to offset Soviet power. But in Nixon’s talks with Mao, Taiwan remained a thorny issue. For decades, the U.S. had backed Taiwan as the rightful Chinese government, rejecting Mao’s claim over the island. Nixon eventually sidestepped a resolution, acknowledging China’s position without fully committing. This strategic ambiguity became the foundation of U.S. policy, leading to the Taiwan Relations Act after diplomatic ties with Taiwan were severed under President Carter. Today, the legacy of Nixon’s gamble endures as tensions over Taiwan escalate. China’s military posturing and the U.S.’s precarious balancing act have raised fears of a potential conflict with global consequences.
Our interviewee Jane Perlez hosts “Face-Off: The U.S. vs. China.” Its second season is available on Apple and Spotify.
View transcript here.
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