US-Sino Relations
Diplomatic relations between China and the United States have developed in six major stages since the 1840s.
Stage One - 1844 to 1899
The beginning of the first stage is marked by the signing of the Wang Xia Treaty in 1844. This was an example of one of the unequal treaties that China was forced to sign that benefitted foreign powers such as the United States. However, this deal with the US was unlike the other unequal treaties with France and Great Britain because it did not directly interfere with Chinese land or politics. In 1862, the United States established a new policy, initiated by American envoy Anson Burlingame, under the name of “Cooperation with China”. China also began to work with the US to resolve its conflicts with other western nations. China was ruled by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) and this American policy led to great trust of the US by the Qing Government. As a result, the United State’s influence in the China expanded. This set the stage for increasingly good diplomatic relations between the two large, and soon to be powerful nations.
Stage Two - 1899 to 1930s
Stage two began when the United States established its Open Door Policy. This stated that China was to trade equally with all nations and was essentially aimed to control the influence of powerful nations such as the USSR from gaining complete control over China’s resources.
“the drawing in of external support to restrain Japan and Russia's expansion was an important part of China's foreign relations at the beginning of the twentieth century” - Huang Renwei
The United States then implemented their Nine Power Treaty of 1922 which helped stop the expansion of Japanese control over China. This phase of diplomatic relations ended with the US’s Stimson Doctrine of Non-Recognition in 1932. This stated that the United States opposed the Japan’s forceful expansion into Manchuria (Northern China), but did not want to commit themselves militarily to fight against Japan for China.
Stage Three - 1937 to 1949
During the late 30s and 1940s, China faced a civil war as well as resisting Japan’s aggressive expansion into its territory. The United States also gave up its Open Door Policy and became major allies with China against Japan. Moreover, during World War II, the US saw the strategic importance of China in their war against Japan in the Pacific and began to establish relations with China’s Communist Party, the CPC. They worked hard to develop diplomacy with the CPC because America understood that communism would eventually be implemented throughout all of China. However, with the start of the Cold War in 1945 and the United States’ new policy of Containment, an effort to stop the spread of communism, America discommunicated with the CPC and began to offer financial support to only China’s Nationalist Government. The Cold War marked the end of US-Sino Diplomatic Relations for about two decades.
Stage Four - 1950 to 1972
The Cold War period of the 50s and 60s. Diplomatic relations between the US and China essentially evaporated. Additionally, China’s alliance with the USSR in February of 1950 caused the US to work to build up Japan as their strategic center in the East Asian region.
Stage Five - 1972 to 1989
In 1972, Richard Nixon’s visit to China was the beginning of the re-establishment of diplomacy between the two nations. The conflicts that arose out of the Cold War quickly ended and this became a period of reconciliation between China and America. Nixon’s signing of the Shanghai Communiqué also led to the normalization of relations with China. This visit proved to make historical changes in China’s foreign policy with the US and set the stage for an even more positive future.
Stage Six - 1989 to 1997
This started with the Tiananmen Incident of 1989 which resulted in America intervening in Chinese politics. Sino-American relations began to decline as other conflicts surrounding Taiwan were brought to the forefront of their diplomacy. Even with the end of the Cold War, China and the United States continued to have ideological problems that caused a decline in their foreign relations. However, both the United States’ and China’s policymakers realize the importance of stabilizing and normalizing their relations.
[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
Diplomatic relations between China and the United States have developed in six major stages since the 1840s.
Stage One - 1844 to 1899
The beginning of the first stage is marked by the signing of the Wang Xia Treaty in 1844. This was an example of one of the unequal treaties that China was forced to sign that benefitted foreign powers such as the United States. However, this deal with the US was unlike the other unequal treaties with France and Great Britain because it did not directly interfere with Chinese land or politics. In 1862, the United States established a new policy, initiated by American envoy Anson Burlingame, under the name of “Cooperation with China”. China also began to work with the US to resolve its conflicts with other western nations. China was ruled by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) and this American policy led to great trust of the US by the Qing Government. As a result, the United State’s influence in the China expanded. This set the stage for increasingly good diplomatic relations between the two large, and soon to be powerful nations.
Stage Two - 1899 to 1930s
Stage two began when the United States established its Open Door Policy. This stated that China was to trade equally with all nations and was essentially aimed to control the influence of powerful nations such as the USSR from gaining complete control over China’s resources.
“the drawing in of external support to restrain Japan and Russia's expansion was an important part of China's foreign relations at the beginning of the twentieth century” - Huang Renwei
The United States then implemented their Nine Power Treaty of 1922 which helped stop the expansion of Japanese control over China. This phase of diplomatic relations ended with the US’s Stimson Doctrine of Non-Recognition in 1932. This stated that the United States opposed the Japan’s forceful expansion into Manchuria (Northern China), but did not want to commit themselves militarily to fight against Japan for China.
Stage Three - 1937 to 1949
During the late 30s and 1940s, China faced a civil war as well as resisting Japan’s aggressive expansion into its territory. The United States also gave up its Open Door Policy and became major allies with China against Japan. Moreover, during World War II, the US saw the strategic importance of China in their war against Japan in the Pacific and began to establish relations with China’s Communist Party, the CPC. They worked hard to develop diplomacy with the CPC because America understood that communism would eventually be implemented throughout all of China. However, with the start of the Cold War in 1945 and the United States’ new policy of Containment, an effort to stop the spread of communism, America discommunicated with the CPC and began to offer financial support to only China’s Nationalist Government. The Cold War marked the end of US-Sino Diplomatic Relations for about two decades.
Stage Four - 1950 to 1972
The Cold War period of the 50s and 60s. Diplomatic relations between the US and China essentially evaporated. Additionally, China’s alliance with the USSR in February of 1950 caused the US to work to build up Japan as their strategic center in the East Asian region.
Stage Five - 1972 to 1989
In 1972, Richard Nixon’s visit to China was the beginning of the re-establishment of diplomacy between the two nations. The conflicts that arose out of the Cold War quickly ended and this became a period of reconciliation between China and America. Nixon’s signing of the Shanghai Communiqué also led to the normalization of relations with China. This visit proved to make historical changes in China’s foreign policy with the US and set the stage for an even more positive future.
Stage Six - 1989 to 1997
This started with the Tiananmen Incident of 1989 which resulted in America intervening in Chinese politics. Sino-American relations began to decline as other conflicts surrounding Taiwan were brought to the forefront of their diplomacy. Even with the end of the Cold War, China and the United States continued to have ideological problems that caused a decline in their foreign relations. However, both the United States’ and China’s policymakers realize the importance of stabilizing and normalizing their relations.
[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]