The Impact of the Taiwan Issue on Sino�US Relations in the Cold War
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Analyse how far the issue of Taiwan affected Sino–US relations during the Cold War.
ESSAY
Throughout the Cold War era, the issue of Taiwan played a significant role in shaping the Sino-US relations. The establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) under communist rule in 1949 immediately strained relations with the United States, which found itself supporting the exiled Nationalist Government on Taiwan led by Chiang Kai-shek. This was exacerbated by the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, where the PRC and the US were on opposing sides, intensifying hostilities and preventing any opportunity for rapprochement.
The US policy of protecting Taiwan was further solidified by the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of China in 1954, promising support in case of conflict with the PRC. The 'Formosa Resolution' passed by the US Congress in 1955 gave President Eisenhower broad authority to defend Taiwan, reinforcing the US commitment to Taiwan's security. Subsequent military clashes between the PRC and Taiwan, such as the shelling of Nationalist outposts in the Taiwan Straits in 1958, led to further US intervention, marking a prolonged period of tension and limited contact between the two nations.
However, the dynamics began to shift with President Nixon's visit to China in 1972, which aimed to exploit the Sino-Soviet split and establish a strategic balance in the region. The Shanghai Communiqué signed during Nixon's visit laid the groundwork for normalization of relations between the US and China, marking a significant thaw in the Cold War tensions. This move not only reshaped the geopolitical landscape but also paved the way for detente with the Soviet Union.
The normalization of relations in 1979 with the Joint Communiqué marked a turning point, establishing the 'One China' policy while also acknowledging the US commitment to Taiwan's security through arms sales. The subsequent Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 further solidified US support for Taiwan, authorizing continued arms sales and demonstrating Washington's enduring commitment to Taiwan's defense.
Despite these developments, tensions resurfaced in the 1980s over arms sales to Taiwan as outlined in the communiqué between the US and China, reflecting the complexities surrounding the Taiwan issue. The student protests in China in 1989, alongside Taiwan's transition towards democracy, further impacted perceptions in the US. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the changing global dynamics, calls for reevaluating US policy towards Taiwan gained momentum, reflecting the evolving nature of Sino-US relations beyond the Cold War framework.
In conclusion, the issue of Taiwan was a critical factor in shaping Sino-US relations during the Cold War, marked by periods of intense conflict, competition, and eventual detente and normalization. The complexities surrounding Taiwan's status and the delicate balancing act between US commitments to Taiwan and the need for engagement with the PRC underscored the intricate nature of diplomacy and strategic calculations during this period.
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Analyse how far the issue of Taiwan affected Sino–US relations during the Cold War.
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The ability of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States to find common ground when the communist state was established was impeded by both domestic politics and global tensions. Truman’s administration was accused of having ‘lost’ China. The fact that there was an exiled Nationalist Government and army on Taiwan increased the feeling among US anti-communists that the outcome of the struggle could be reversed.
The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 in which the PRC and the United States were on opposing sides ended any opportunity for an agreement between the PRC and the United States. Truman wished to prevent the Korean conflict from spreading south and this led to the US policy of protecting the Chiang Kai-shek government in Taiwan.
In 1954 the PRC began to bombard Jinmen, Mazu, and the Dachen Islands in the Taiwan Straits, and the United States signed the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of China (ROC). It promised support if the ROC engaged in a broader conflict with the PRC. In January 1955, the US Congress passed the ‘Formosa Resolution’ which gave President Eisenhower total authority to defend Taiwan and the off-shore islands. However, Chiang Kai-shek agreed to withdraw his troops from Dachen.
In 1958, the PRC shelled Nationalist outposts on Jinmen and Mazu Islands and the United States again intervened by sending ships into the Taiwan Straits. For more than twenty years after the Chinese revolution of 1949, there were few contacts, limited trade, and no diplomatic ties between the two countries.
President Nixon wanted to take advantage of the Sino–Soviet split to drive a deeper wedge between the Soviet Union and the PRC wanted an ally. In October 1971, the UN voted to give the PRC a place on the UN Security Council which was supported by the United States although it voted against Taiwan’s expulsion from the General Assembly. In 1972 Nixon met with Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. The Shanghai Communiqué pledged that it was in the interest of all nations for the United States and China to work towards the normalisation of their relations. The United States and China also agreed that neither they nor any other power should seek to dominate the Asia-Pacific region. The Soviets were very concerned about Nixon’s visit as two major enemies seemed to have resolved their differences. The rapprochement with China altered the Cold War context and made possible the détente with the Soviet Union.
In 1979, the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations normalised relations with the PRC, the ‘One China’ policy, but President Carter signalled that the United States would continue to sell arms to Taiwan, which almost derailed the normalisation process. Congress in the Taiwan Relations Act of April 1979 authorised continued arms sales to Taiwan and stated a US political commitment to the island’s security.
In August 1982, the Reagan administration agreed to a communiqué with China that Beijing believed included a US commitment to reduce the quantity and quality of US arms provided to Taiwan and then stop arms sales. The communiqué caused tension between the two countries as US continued arms sales were justified because China continued to acquire military capabilities.
The student protests in 1989 badly hurt the PRC’s reputation in the United States at the same time as Taiwan had begun the transition towards democracy. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the need for China’s help had gone and US politicians began calling for positive changes in the Taiwan policy.