![]() Washington, however, is committed by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. Officially, the US’s position on Taiwan remains one that reflects “strategic ambiguity.” It does not endorse Beijing’s claim to sovereignty over Taipei, nor does it regard the island as an independent country. He made it explicit that the US and China could face a military conflict “f the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence.” In January, China’s ambassador to Washington, Qin Gang (秦剛), warned that the Taiwan issue was “the biggest tinderbox” between the two countries. 10, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian (趙立堅), emphasized to his audience the phrase of “one China” - which in Beijing is called a “principle” but in Washington a “policy” - and said the document was “the political foundation for the normalization of China-US relations and the establishment of diplomatic ties.” Beijing, at the same time, was keen to remind Washington of what it sees as the biggest achievement of Nixon’s trip: the Shanghai communique and the status of the island of Taiwan. This month, as both countries mark the anniversary, Washington has been embroiled in a mind game with Moscow over whether Vladimir Putin is to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 4, the leaders of China and Russia declared: “there are no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation,’” in a clear message to the US. In Beijing, there’s an increasingly louder view that the US is in its terminal decline and China’s system is ultimately superior. ![]() In Washington, critics now question the wisdom of Nixon’s 1972 trip many see China as an economic threat and - like Russia - a geopolitical enemy. Half a century on, this event has lost its sparkle in both capitals. Years later, the visit inspired an opera. Life Magazine’s Hugh Sidey recalled the murmur of a fellow journalist next to him at the airport: “My God, it’s like the arrival of the king.” When he landed at Andrews air force base outside Washington after the week in China, Nixon received a hero’s welcome led by his vice-president, Spiro Agnew. The trip was hailed as much a diplomatic breakthrough as a TV spectacular. The US also reaffirmed “its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves.” 27, 1972, the US “acknowledged” 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 week-long visit concluded with the signing of the Shanghai communique. He continued: “ said, ‘We don’t have to solve difficult problems - he didn’t say Taiwan specifically, but that’s what he was referring to - immediately.’ So basically he was saying we can postpone the Taiwan issue while we get on with areas we agree on, for example balancing the Soviet Union.” US President Richard Nixon, left, toasts with China’s Prime Minister Zhou Enlai in February 1972 during a banquet in Beijing during his official visit to China.
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