WI: Nixon Arrested during trip to China?

Nixon-in-China-cropped-1170x460.jpg


Say some major cultural screw-up happens during Nixon's trip to China and Chairman Mao orders his entire diplomatic mission detained. (Say a member of his cadre attempts to tickle Mao or something)

How does the US State Department and World at Large React?
 
I mean, Maoist China just arrested another head of state, breaking a long string of diplomatic traditions dating back centuries. The PRC becomes a pariah state.
 
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China would have set itself back a LONG ways. If the President of the United States is detained, the VP will be in charge, and China will be releasing the president, OR ELSE. Even the USSR will be appalled.

That OR ELSE will likely very explicitly include whatever level of force is needed.
 
Acting President Agnew will be one pissed off dude, and even the people who hate Nixon will be 100% behind a massive reaction.

If it went sour enough, you could see NATO and maybe even the Warsaw Pact extend the Middle digit to China and recognize Taiwan as the only China or as an independent nation. Oh and forget trade relations. There are just some things you don't do.
 
Taiwan and its followers in the US China Lobby would say "Now do you see what we mean?", regarding recognition of the PRC.
 
The only way this could possibly happen is if a bunch of lunatic Red Guards(such as they were by 1972) somehow infiltrate one of the venues for Nixon's visit(like, maybe as security personnel), then throw off their cover, "arrest" Nixon(basically, just grabbing him), and try to drag him off somewhere to be put on "trial". But they wouldn't get more than a few feet from the buffet table before being mowed down by the legitimate security guards. Best case scenario for the kidnappers, Nixon gets killed in the crossfire, though of course that doesn't prevent them from either being killed at the scene, or executed weeks later after a trial.

Actually, I'd be willing to bet there were a few Red Guards who fantasized about doing just that. Thing is, any group crazy enough to try it probably wouldn't have the rational mindset to even begin putting the plan into action.
 
The only way this could possibly happen is if a bunch of lunatic Red Guards(such as they were by 1972) somehow infiltrate one of the venues for Nixon's visit(like, maybe as security personnel), then throw off their cover, "arrest" Nixon(basically, just grabbing him), and try to drag him off somewhere to be put on "trial". But they wouldn't get more than a few feet from the buffet table before being mowed down by the legitimate security guards. Best case scenario for the kidnappers, Nixon gets killed in the crossfire, though of course that doesn't prevent them from either being killed at the scene, or executed weeks later after a trial.

Actually, I'd be willing to bet there were a few Red Guards who fantasized about doing just that. Thing is, any group crazy enough to try it probably wouldn't have the rational mindset to even begin putting the plan into action.

Crazy people can implement rational plans towards an irrational goal. Look at 9/11, Oklahoma City, and more--carried out with much patience and planning, yet not necessarily rational.
 
Mao would have to be literally insane to order this. Nixon visiting China was China's best chance to gain a quasi-ally against the Soviet Union and break China's diplomatic isolation. Even worse, arresting the President of the United States would be an act of war. At the time the US had between 26,000-27,000 nukes in 1972, while China had only 75-180 (and I'm not sure that they even had the ability to strike the US). China would be destroyed if a war happened, and Mao knew it.

Also, a US diplomat would never tickle a head of state. I can't believe I have to point that out.
 
Not way that Mao or anyone even somehow reasonable leader of country would order arrest of head of another country and so breaking diblomacy rules. If China would do that there wouldn't be any friendly nation with China if it even had such. China would be pariah and Mao wouldn't last long. Even Chinese wouldn't respect him anymore and his days as leader would end quickly.
 

Loghain

Banned
The only way this could possibly happen is if a bunch of lunatic Red Guards(such as they were by 1972) somehow infiltrate one of the venues for Nixon's visit(like, maybe as security personnel), then throw off their cover, "arrest" Nixon(basically, just grabbing him), and try to drag him off somewhere to be put on "trial". But they wouldn't get more than a few feet from the buffet table before being mowed down by the legitimate security guards. Best case scenario for the kidnappers, Nixon gets killed in the crossfire, though of course that doesn't prevent them from either being killed at the scene, or executed weeks later after a trial.

Actually, I'd be willing to bet there were a few Red Guards who fantasized about doing just that. Thing is, any group crazy enough to try it probably wouldn't have the rational mindset to even begin putting the plan into action.

You know this is kinda realistic. Lets go with that.
So what would happened if Nixon is Killed in the crossfire ? i assume that even if China Fully cooperates and extradites those radicals to US for them to execute it would still be shitshow. but what exactly would happen ?
 
Say some major cultural screw-up happens during Nixon's trip to China and Chairman Mao orders his entire diplomatic mission detained. (Say a member of his cadre attempts to tickle Mao or something)

This make no sense what so ever !
Even if something like major cultural screw-up happens, Mao Zedong will look the other way and do as nothing ever happened !

Why ?
Mao Zedong China just escape a war With Soviet union, a war were Soviets wanted to use Nuclear weapons !
In 1968 started a border disputer between USSR and China over a tiny river island, As fanatic Red Guards stormed the island and start shooting Soviet border patrols
And situation went from worst to most unpalatable, as Politburo in Moscow decided to use military force and since Chinas Red Army is Bigger as Soviets red army the Soviet took the Nuclear option.
but there was one little problem: U.S. of A, how would the Nixon administration react on that ?
So in Washington D.C. started Soviets Diplomat a mind game with Americans at cocktail parties and meetings: "What would you do, if let say Soviet union start nuclear war with China ?"
Henry Kissinger realized what is this about a warrant from USA so soviet union could do what they want with China
He violently opposed this and declare whit loud voice "If Soviet union start nuclear war with China, We will stand on China side, also Nuclear !" (or something like that)
The Soviet Diplomat were perplex of this reaction, also the Communist Chinese Diplomats on that Diner party
While soviet Politburo canceled there plans for war with China in fear Nixon could nuclear counterstrike them.
the People's Republic of China invited the U.S. Table Tennis team and delegation of journalist to China, what let to diplomatic talks and "Nixon goes to china"
 
You know this is kinda realistic. Lets go with that.
So what would happened if Nixon is Killed in the crossfire ? i assume that even if China Fully cooperates and extradites those radicals to US for them to execute it would still be shitshow. but what exactly would happen ?


Mao orders a purge of anyone even remotely associated with the attack against Nixon. Hundreds of "ultra-leftists" are executed in the streets, and filmed by Chinese camera crews. Kissinger makes sure that the executions get wide showing on American news programs, and the news clips become classics of American TV, with everyone having their favourite("Ya see that one where the girl gets it right between the eyes? Pow!!") Right-wingers are torn between demanding that Mao himself be shot as well, and thinking "Those Commies sure know how to deal with their criminal scum!! Why can't we do that to some of these kids shooting cops on campuses??"

That's a slightly faecitious answer, although I'm not really sure it couldn't happen, unless there is some deep-set taboo in China against filming executions. Definitely, there woud be a huge purge of "leftists" in China.

EDIT: I should say that these purges are more likely to be carried out by Zhou En-lai(or people allied with him), then by Mao himself, though the Chairman would almost certainly give his blessing.
 
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