No Nixon visit to China

Richard Nixon's visit to China represented, at least in my mind, one of the Greatest Foreign Policy triumphs of the 20th Century, which almost makes up for all of Nixon's other well-documented problems.

However, what would have happened had this trip not taken place? What if the US had continued to recognize Taiwan as the legitimate government of China and how would US-PRC relations look today, and the world order for that matter?
 
Well China can't be enemies with both the US and Soviet Union so after Mao dies it'll would have to patch up with Moscow, at least reaching an accommodation similar to Yugoslavia's relations with USSR.

There would be a massive demilitarization of the then most heavily armed border in the world, freeing up a million Chinese troops for demobilization and half a million Soviets. The Sino-Vietnam war of 1979-1989 would never happen. China would have to accept Soviet military build up in Vietnam and no Chinese support to the Mujahideens in Afghanistan.

These prospects would probably be worrying enough that Carter or Reagan would have to open up China to keep a check on Moscow, which was Nixon's main motivation in the first place.
 
To be fair, Nixon was not the only one to propose reopening of relations with China. Many Democrats, including his two 1968 rivals, saw it as necessary. Only Nixon had the Right credibility to make it seem brilliant in the Churchill/Disraeli mold and not appeasement. Why would you recognize the RoC as "China" when the PRC controls the mainland and is militarily (and eventually economically) superior in every way?
 

Germaniac

Donor
If there's one thing Nixon's known for it's class.
I've been waiting days for a Nixon thread to say that...
 

Germaniac

Donor
Futurama man...

Anyway Nixon was not the only person who wanted to go to china. Had a democrat however tried to go there would have been hell to pay and a huge right reaction saying the dems were communists
 
Top