Shanghai Communiqué

The Joint Communique of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China, also known as the Shanghai Communiqué (1972), was an important diplomatic document issued by the United States of America and the People's Republic of China; on February 27, 1972 during the U.S. President Richard Nixon's visit to China. The document pledged that it was in the interest of all nations for the United States and China to work towards the normalization of their relations, although this would not occur until another joint communiqué seven years later.

The US and China also agreed that neither they nor any other power should "seek hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region". This was of particular importance to China, who shared a militarized border with the Soviet Union.

Regarding the political status of Taiwan, in the communiqué the United States acknowledged the One-China policy (but did not endorse the PRC's version of the policy) and agreed to cut back military installations on Taiwan. This ambiguity would continue to hinder efforts for complete normalization.

The Communique included wishes to expand the economic and cultural contacts between the two nations, although no concrete steps were mentioned.

ee also

*Three Communiques
*Sino-American relations

External links

* [http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/15/documents/us.china/ Text of the Shanghai Communique] on CNN