30th Anniversary of U.S.-China Formalizing Diplomatic Relations

 

1979: The United States and China Commenced Normal Diplomatic Relations
On January 1, the United States and China commenced normal diplomatic relations and soon thereafter Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping visited the United States to meet with U.S. officials and tour some of the companies with which China had begun to make deals. Later that year, the two countries signed a trade agreement that enabled Chinese products to receive temporary most favored nation (MFN) tariff status.

1979: Taiwan Relations Act Signed
President Carter enacted the Taiwan Relations Act, which committed the United States to “make available to Taiwan defensive articles and services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.” The Act also authorized the continuation of commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan, and established the American Institute in Taiwan, a private, nonprofit organization as the entity that would conduct those unofficial relations.

1980: Deng Xiaoping Launched Economic Reform and Opening
In an effort to jumpstart China’s stagnant economy and improve the lives of its citizens, Deng Xiaoping embarked on a major process of economic reforms. While the initial thrust of the reforms focused on the agricultural sector, China also opened the doors to foreign investment and business. Over the years, companies from the United States, Europe, and Japan began to flock to China to take advantage of the new opportunities. China also joined the IMF and World Bank.

1982: Third Communiqué Issued
After additional negotiations concerning coordinating positions regarding the Soviet Union and Taiwan, the United States and China released another joint communiqué by which the United States agreed to reduce gradually the quantity and quality of its arms sales to Taiwan, and China agreed to strive for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue. Both sides agreed that the people of the United States would continue to maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. Upon issuing the Third Communiqué, the Reagan Administration offered private assurances to Taiwan that it would continue to offer defensive support to the island, and that it would not pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations. The next year, Deng Xiaoping proposed the “one country, two systems” approach for reunification with both Hong Kong and Taiwan.

1984: President Reagan’s Visit to China
President Ronald Reagan became the third U.S. President to visit the PRC. The following year, Chinese President Li Xiannian became China’s first formal head of state to visit the United States.

1986: China Joined Multilateral Institutions
China joined the Asian Development Bank and applied for membership in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The United States did not initially support China’s entry into the latter two organizations because of reservations about the degree of openness of China’s economy.

1988: Peace Corps to Enter China
The United States and China reached an agreement to allow the U.S. Peace Corps to begin sending volunteers to China. The first group arrived in China to teach English in 1992.

1989: Temporary Hiatus in U.S.-China Relations
In the aftermath of the Chinese military crackdown on demonstrations in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in the spring, the United States and other nations imposed economic sanctions on China, and many U.S. citizens evacuated the country. President George H.W. Bush maintained communications with senior Chinese leaders, and twice sent Brent Scowcroft and Lawrence Eagleburger on secret missions to Beijing to reassure Deng Xiaoping and the Chinese leadership that the United States would maintain ties. Tensions continued into the next year, with criticisms aired from both sides, although diplomatic ties were never severed and China remained open to foreign trade.

1991: China Joined NPT, APEC
The Chinese Government agreed to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and reached a compromise formula with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) that allowed China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong to join as separate economies rather than separate states.

1992: Warming in U.S.-China Relations
The first high-level contacts in several years occurred when President George H.W. Bush and Chinese Premier Li Peng met on the sidelines of a U.N. conference. At the same time, President Bush maintained support for Taiwan by authorizing new arms sales and dispatching a Special Trade Representative to the island.

1993: Linkage of MFN to Human Rights
President Clinton tied the annual review of Most Favored Nation trading status to China’s record on human rights. When this status came up for renewal the next year, Clinton reversed this position and granted China MFN without requiring any changes regarding human rights.

1994: US Adjusted Its Taiwan Policy
On September 7, 1994, President Clinton announced several revisions in U.S.-Taiwan policy, raising the official level of its Taiwan Office. He permitted American representatives to hold direct meetings with their counterparts in Taiwan government offices on Taiwan. The adjustments also changed the name of Taiwan's unofficial office in the U.S. from "The Coordination Council for North American Affairs" to "The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States."

1995: Taiwan President Visited United States
After much debate, President Bill Clinton granted a visa to Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui so that he could enter the country as a private citizen to attend a reunion at his alma mater, Cornell University. This drew criticism from the PRC and added to rising tensions in the region.

1995: China Hosted International Women’s Conference
China played host to the U.N.’s Fourth World Conference on Women, and an associated conference of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), with First Lady Hilary Clinton in attendance. This was the largest and highest profile international event to be held in China to date.

1996: Difficulties in the Taiwan Strait
With presidential elections looming in Taiwan, the PRC conducted military exercises and ballistic missile tests in the Taiwan Strait, prompting stern warnings from the United States. As tensions rose, the United States sent two carrier battle groups into the Strait, which may have deterred further escalation. Lee Teng-hui was re-elected President in Taiwan’s first ever direct presidential election.

1997: Jiang Zemin’s Visit to the United States
Chinese President Jiang Zemin came to the United States, the first state visit by a Chinese leader in over a decade. The trip suggested that U.S.-China relations were getting back on track.

1998: President Clinton’s Visit to China
The year after Jiang Zemin came to the United States, President Bill Clinton paid a return trip to China for a summit meeting. During his visit, he stated that the United States held to a “three no’s policy” regarding Taiwan. By this he meant that the United States does not support Taiwan’s independence, “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” policies, or Taiwan’s membership in international organizations where statehood is required.

1999: Bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade
During NATO airstrikes on Serbia, U.S. planes accidentally bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, killing three and wounding twenty. This sparked a wave of anti-U.S. demonstrations throughout China, with multiple attacks on U.S. diplomatic properties, in particular the embassy in Beijing. Tensions eased after an apology from President Bill Clinton and the visit of a special envoy to Beijing.

2000: Permanent Normal Trade Status Granted
The annual debate over China’s trading status within the United States was ended when President Clinton decided to grant China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR, formerly MFN).

2001: China Entered the WTO
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji traveled to Washington in 1999 to finalize China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, but even though he made several concessions he failed to reach an agreement with the U.S. negotiators over the conditions for entry. After further talks the two sides finally came to an agreement and China was able to join the WTO on December 11, 2001. Separately, Taiwan joined the WTO as “Chinese Taipei” on January 1, 2002.

2001: Air-collision Incident
A Chinese F8 fighter collided with a U.S. Navy EP-3 reconnaissance plane over the South China Sea, causing the death of the Chinese pilot and the forced emergency landing on Hainan island by the American plane. This incident resulted in strained U.S.-China relations.

2001: President Bush Attended Shanghai APEC 2001
From October 18 to 20, 2001, US President George W. Bush attended Shanghai APEC 2001, his first visit abroad following September 11 terrorist attacks. President Bush and Chinese President Jiang Zemin held a 3-hour talk on China-US relations and Taiwan issue.

2002: Bush’s Visit to China and Jiang Zemin’s Visit to the United States
President Bush visited China in February 2002, honoring a commitment he had made at the time of APEC to visit China as soon as possible once the United States had begun to implement policies to deal with the terrorism of September 11. President Jiang Zemin met with President Bush in Crawford, Texas in October 2002, on the margins of the APEC summit in Mexico.

2003: President Bush’s Meetings with Chinese Leaders
President Bush first met Hu Jintao in his new capacity as PRC President on the margins of the G-8 Summit in Evian in June 2003. President Bush met again with President Hu before the annual Asian-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in Bangkok, Thailand October 19, 2003. Bush indicated the United States will not change its policy on Taiwan and will stick to backing the one-China policy in opposing independence for Taiwan. President Bush hosted Premier Wen Jiabao in Washington in December 2003.

2004: China Published Its Fifth White Paper on National Security
In December, China published its fifth white paper on national security, titled
“China’s National Defense in 2004.” The paper said that the Taiwan independence movement was the biggest threat to China’s sovereignty and to regional peace, and it vowed to prevent Taiwan independence at all costs. The paper also said that strengthening China’s naval warfare and air capabilities was a military priority.

2005: President Bush Visited China
President Bush met with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing in November. His visit to China was part of an overall Asia trip that began in Japan and included South Korea and Mongolia. His remarks in China emphasized a U.S. commitment to the spread of democracy and to universal human rights and freedoms.

2005: U.S.-China Senior Dialogue
In August, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick arrived in Beijing to initiate “a new senior dialogue on global issues” in which Beijing and Washington will take turns as hosts. The session was the first of what is expected to be a regular U.S.-China Senior Dialogue. In December, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick met in Washington D.C. with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo in the second session of the U.S.-China Senior Dialogue. The U.S.-China Senior Dialogue looks across the spectrum of the U.S.-China relationship, improving our ability to advance security and peace around the world.

2006: President Hu Jintao Visited the United States
In April, Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Washington for meetings with President Bush and other U.S. Government officials. Hu began his U.S. trip by visiting the State of Washington, touring the Boeing and Microsoft plants and having dinner at Bill Gates’ house.

2006: The U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue
On December 14 and 15, the United States and China held the first Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing, with the theme of "China's Development Road and China's Economic Development Strategy." The dialogue was co-chaired by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. and Vice Premier Wu Yi. Six U.S. Cabinet officers and other senior U.S. officials visited Beijing to promote increased access for U.S. exports and better U.S.-China trade ties.

2007: Dalai Lama Received the Congressional Gold Medal
On October 17, the Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony in the Capital Rotunda attended by President Bush and senior congressional leaders. China strongly protested the decision.

2007: U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates Visited China
On November 4, 2007, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit aimed at enhancing understanding and trust in China-U.S. military ties. Both sides reached consensus on a number of issues, including setting up an official military hotline.

2007: China Refused the USS Kitty Hawk Carrier’s Entry into Hong Kong
On November 21, a planned port visit by the USS Kitty Hawk carrier battle group to Hong Kong for Thanksgiving was abruptly cancelled without explanation by China. An announcement to reverse the decision was made at a Foreign Ministry press conference on November 22, 2007, but it was too late for the Kitty Hawk, which had by then bypassed Hong Kong and gone on to Japan.

2008: China hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games
From August 8-24, 2008, China hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. President George W. Bush attended the opening ceremony and watched the U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team compete against China.

2008: President Bush Visited China
From Aug 8-11, 2008, President Bush made his fourth visit to China, the most by a serving U.S. president. In China, President Bush attended the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games. He also attended church services in Beijing. President Bush met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other senior Chinese leaders for discussions on a wide range of issues including the way ahead on North Korean denuclearization.

2008: Dedication of New Embassies in Beijing and Washington D.C.
The new U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the second-largest US diplomatic post in the world, was dedicated in Beijing on August 8, 2008. President Bush and his father, former US President George H.W. Bush attended the dedication ceremony. The new complex of the Chinese Embassy to the United States in Washington, D.C. was unveiled on July 29, 2008. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte delivered remarks at the inauguration of the Chinese Embassy.