The Week That Changed the World

  Ping Pong Diplomacy:
A Rally For U.S.- China Relations

 The Week That Changed the World

“Our announcement will shake the world”
~Zhou 周恩来, 1972 

    On July 15, from Los Angeles and Beijing, Kissinger's secret trip and a Presidential invitation were both made public. ​​​​​​​

Nixon Announces China Visit. Source: AP

Nixon-Zhou Handshake. Source: CBR

    On February 21, 1972, Nixon stepped off Air Force One, was greeted by Zhou, and proceeded to meet with Mao.

“From the outset, Mao abjured any intention to conduct either a philosophical or strategic dialogue with Nixon”

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“Second, Mao wanted to convey that Nixon was a welcome visitor. The photograph had taken care of that”


“Third, Mao was eager to remove any threat from China to the United States”


“Fourth, Mao wanted to convey that he had encountered a challenge in pursuing the opening to America but that he had overcome it”


“Fifth, Mao favored accelerated bilateral cooperation and urged technical talks on the subject”

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“Sixth, he stressed his personal goodwill to Nixon, both personally and politically because he said he preferred dealing with right-wing governments on the grounds that they were more reliable."

~Henry Kissinger, On China

Arrival and Departure

Great Wall

Forbidden City

Hangzhou

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Beijing

Hangzhou

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Beijing

Hangzhou

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Beijing

Nixons visiting Great Wall. Source: The Guardian

After the first meeting with Mao, the two sides engaged in five days of dialogue, banquets, and sightseeing trips. 

“When the Premier arrived, our handshake was a symbolic gesture…since Secretary of State John Foster Dulles had refused to shake hands with Zhou at the Geneva Conference.” 
~Henry Kissinger, On China

Hangzhou

Shanghai

Hangzhou

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Beijing

Hangzhou

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Beijing

Hangzhou

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Beijing

Shanghai Communique. Source: Taiwan Documents Project

On February 27, The U.S. and China issued the Shanghai Communique. 

“There are essential differences between China and the United States in their social systems and foreign policies. However, the two sides agreed that countries, regardless of their social systems, should conduct their relations on the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, non-aggression against other states, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. International disputes should be settled on this basis, without resorting to the use or threat of force. The United States and the People's Republic of China are prepared to apply these principles to their mutual relations."

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~Shanghai Communique, 1972

"With these principles of international relations in mind the two sides stated that:

-- progress toward the normalization of relations between China and the United States is in the interests of all countries

-- both wish to reduce the danger of international military conflict

-- neither should seek hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region and each is opposed to efforts by any other country or group of countries to establish such hegemony

-- neither is prepared to negotiate on behalf of any third party or to enter into agreements or understandings with the other directed at other states.

Both sides are of the view that it would be against the interests of the peoples of the world for any major country to collude with another against other countries, or for major countries to divide up the world into spheres of interest."

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~Shanghai Communique, 1972

"The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves. With this prospect in mind, it affirms the ultimate objective of the withdrawal of all US forces and military installations from Taiwan. In the meantime, it will progressively reduce its forces and military installations on Taiwan as the tension in the area diminishes."

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~Shanghai Communique, 1972