Jimmy Carter: Memories in China of diplomatic relationships

Jimmy Carter: Memories in China of diplomatic relationships

The late former US President Jimmy Carter, who died on Sunday at the age of 100, is reminded in China for his work, which led to the end of decades of hostility and maintained diplomatic relationships with Beijing-but to the disadvantage of Taiwan. The diplomatic change in 1979 led to profound changes in relationships between the USA and China, the effects of which are still felt today, especially in view of the tensions across the street of Taiwan.

The normalization of relationships

For the Cold War's High Phase, the Carter Administration led months of secret negotiations with Chinese officials to normalize the relationships that were tense since the China Communist Party in 1949. Washington had recognized the Republic of China in Taipei as the sole lawful government of China for decades after the Kuomintang was defeated by the Communists in the civil war and had fled the island of Taiwan.

A proceeds to the People's Republic of China began during the Presidency of Richard Nixon, who made a historic trip to Beijing in 1972. However, Carter monitored the formal change of diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. On December 15, 1978, Carter announced that at the beginning of 1979 the United States would hire its diplomatic relations with the Republic of China in Taipei and recognize the People's Republic of China in Beijing as the sole right -wing government.

reactions to the diplomatic change

During this step in Beijing, the announcement in Taiwan met for horror, anger and a bitter feeling of abandonment and betrayal-which even led to violent anti-American demonstrations in Taipei. In addition, the United States terminated its mutual defense pact with Taiwan and pulled its military members from the island.

On January 1, 1979, the United States and the People's Republic of China officially established diplomatic relationships and opened messages in the two capitals. At the end of the month, Carter China's top leader Deng Xiaoping welcomed in the southern garden of the White House - the first visit to a Chinese communist leader in the USA.

carter and the dialogue for peace

"We expect normalization to help us to head for a world of diversity and peace," said Carter at the welcome ceremony. "Our two peoples were cut off for too long. Now we share the view of a fresh flow of trade, ideas and people from which both countries will benefit."

In his response, Deng Carter's "forward -looking decision", which had played a key role at the end of the "phase of inconvenience between us for 30 years". In the following years, bilateral relationships flourished, especially in the area of trade, investments as well as academic and cultural exchange. One area of the exchange that Carter promoted was the student exchange program.

criticism of the commitment strategy

In recent years, when bilateral relationships deteriorated, some critics in the United States have questioned the strategy of engagement with China. Under China's leader Xi Jinping, Beijing has carried out a strongly authoritarian turn and was increasingly enforced abroad, which destroyed the once widespread hope that China would move into the world in the direction of a more liberal political model after economic growth and integration.

In view of the escalating tensions and demands for a "decoupling", Carter remained a prudent voice and a firm supporter of a continued dialogue. On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the normalization of US Chinese relationships, Carter warned in the Washington Post that the critical relationship between the two nations is "in danger" and that "a modern Cold War between our two nations is not unthinkable" if the deep distrust continues.

Carter's legacy in China and Taiwan

After leaving the presidential office, Carter remained an important figure in US Chinese relationships. He visited China several times and was received by subsequent Chinese leaders, from Jiang Zemin to XI Jinping. Despite the tense relationships in recent years, Carter in China is considered a respected personality.

In Taiwan, on the other hand, Carter's legacy is more complicated. During his first visit to Taiwan in 1999, Carter faced many questions and criticism of his abrupt announcement to cancel the diplomatic relationships with Taipei 20 years earlier. During a speech in Taipei, he was confronted by the Taiwanese opposition politician Annette Lu, who accused him of having thrown back the democratization process in Taiwan and demanding an excuse.

Although Carter refused to apologize, he confirmed that his decision was "the right one". In a guest lecture at a university in Atlanta in 2018, Carter said that during the 1978 negotiations he had "a big discussion" with Deng about the status of Taiwan

The Taiwan Relations Act

After the diplomatic change, the US Congress said goodbye to the Taiwan Relations Act, which allows Washington to maintain close unofficial relationships with Taipei and to promote commercial, cultural and other exchange programs about the American Institute in Taiwan-the de facto US message in Taipei. The United States also obliges the United States to provide Taiwan "weapons of defensive character" in order to maintain an "sufficient self -defense ability", but do not specify how the USA would react in the event of a Chinese invasion of the island, which became known as a policy of "strategic ambiguity".

In recent years, in which relationships between China and the USA have greatly decreased, the Taiwan question has become an important source of tensions between the two countries.