Sino-American Relations, 1949-71

The 1971 detente in Sino-American relations is surely one of the great events of the decade and may emerge as a turning point in twentieth-century history. A series of events, culminating in President Nixon's acceptance of Premier Chou En-lai's invitation to visit China, signaled the end of one era and the beginning of another, whose shape will remain obscure for some time. The moment is therefore opportune for a re-examination of the history of Sino-American relations since 1949 and an evaluation of the impact on world politics of recent Chinese and American initiatives. Part One of this book presents three stimulating essays on the "Breakthrough of 1971": "America and The Impact of Nixon's China Policy," by Morton H. Halpern; "China's Foreign Policy Since the Cultural Revolution," by A.M. Halpern; and "The Men and Institutions Behind China's Foreign Policy," by Donald W. Klein. Part Two contains seventy-nine major documents of Sino-American relations. They have been selected by Roderick MacFarquhar, who places them in historical and political perspective in seven brilliant introductory essays. In his epilogue, MacFarquhar relates the political struggle in China in late 1971 to the Sino-American detente and suggests that many obstacles remain to be overcome before the two powers establish diplomatic relations.