Analyse how far the issue of Taiwan affected Sino–US relations during the Cold War.
Level
A Level
Year Examined
2022
Topic
International history, 1945–92
👑Complete Model Essay
Analyse how far the issue of Taiwan affected Sino–US relations during the Cold War.
The Impact of Taiwan on Sino-US Relations During the Cold War
The issue of Taiwan served as a major impediment to fostering amicable relations between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States during the Cold War. The existence of a rival Chinese government on Taiwan, coupled with the prevailing anti-communist sentiment in the US, exacerbated tensions and hindered the possibility of rapprochement. This essay will analyze the extent to which the Taiwan issue affected Sino-US relations throughout this period.
From the outset, the establishment of the communist PRC in 1949 created a diplomatic rift with the United States. The Truman administration faced severe domestic criticism for "losing" China to communism, which fueled anti-communist anxieties within the US. The presence of the exiled Nationalist government and army on Taiwan further solidified the belief that the communist victory was reversible. This belief was further reinforced by the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, which placed the PRC and the US on opposing sides. Truman's commitment to containing communist expansion led to the US policy of protecting Taiwan, effectively hindering any prospect of a Sino-US rapprochement.
The Taiwan Straits Crises of 1954 and 1958 further escalated tensions. The PRC's bombardment of Taiwanese islands, including Jinmen, Mazu, and the Dachen Islands, prompted the US to sign the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of China (ROC) in 1954, promising military support in case of a conflict with the PRC. The subsequent "Formosa Resolution" passed by Congress in 1955 granted President Eisenhower full authority to defend Taiwan and its offshore islands. While Chiang Kai-shek agreed to withdraw troops from Dachen, the US intervention solidified the division of China and deepened mistrust between the PRC and the US. This period marked a low point in Sino-US relations; with limited contact, trade, and diplomatic ties for over two decades.
The Sino-Soviet split in the 1960s presented an opportunity for a shift in dynamics. President Nixon, recognizing a chance to exploit this rift, initiated a policy of rapprochement with China. Nixon's 1972 visit to China, culminating in the Shanghai Communiqué, marked a turning point. The agreement acknowledged a shared interest in normalizing relations and pledged to avoid domination of the Asia-Pacific region by either power. This rapprochement, alarming to the Soviet Union, paved the way for détente and altered the global Cold War balance. While the US acknowledged the "One China" policy, it remained committed to Taiwan's security.
Despite the normalization of relations in 1979, the Taiwan issue remained a source of friction. The US continued arms sales to Taiwan, formalized by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which angered Beijing. Throughout the 1980s, differing interpretations of US commitments to limit arms sales, as outlined in the 1982 communiqué, further strained relations. The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 further damaged China's image in the US, while Taiwan's transition towards democracy garnered it more sympathy.
In conclusion, the Taiwan issue significantly impeded the development of a stable and amicable relationship between the US and the PRC. It served as a constant source of tension, fueling mistrust and hindering cooperation throughout the Cold War. While the rapprochement of the 1970s signaled a shift, the Taiwan issue remained a contentious point. Though the Cold War has ended, the Taiwan issue continues to cast a shadow over Sino-US relations, highlighting the enduring legacy of this historical period.
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The Impact of Taiwan on Sino-US Relations During the Cold War
This essay will analyze the extent to which the issue of Taiwan impacted Sino-US relations during the Cold War. The essay will explore the complex interplay of domestic politics, global tensions, and strategic interests that shaped the relationship between the two superpowers.
Early Tensions and the Korean War
The Cold War’s outset saw the Communist victory in China and the subsequent establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The US, under Truman, was accused of “losing” China. The presence of the exiled Nationalist government and army on Taiwan fueled anti-communist sentiment in the US, giving rise to hopes of reversing the communist victory.
The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, where the PRC and US were on opposing sides, completely ended any chance for agreement. The US, determined to prevent the Korean conflict from spreading south, solidified its commitment to protecting the Chiang Kai-shek government in Taiwan.
The Taiwan Straits Crisis and the Mutual Defense Treaty
Tensions escalated in 1954 when the PRC began bombarding islands in the Taiwan Strait. The US responded by signing the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan, committing to supporting the ROC in any conflict with the PRC. This was followed by the “Formosa Resolution” in 1955, granting President Eisenhower the authority to defend Taiwan and its surrounding islands.
Further crises erupted in 1958, with renewed PRC shelling of Nationalist outposts. The US once again intervened, sending ships into the Taiwan Strait. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, limited trade, no diplomatic ties, and few contacts characterized the US-China relationship.
Nixon’s Rapprochement and the “One China” Policy
President Nixon, capitalizing on the Sino-Soviet split, pursued a policy of détente with China, aiming to create a wedge between the Soviet Union and the PRC. This led to Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972 and the signing of the Shanghai Communiqué, which acknowledged the “One China” policy and paved the way for normalizing relations.
The US supported the PRC’s entry into the UN in 1971, but it came at the cost of Taiwan’s expulsion from the General Assembly. This demonstrated the strategic importance of the US-China relationship, even at the expense of Taiwan’s position on the world stage.
The Taiwan Relations Act and Continued Tensions
Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1979 with the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. However, the US continued to sell arms to Taiwan, almost derailing the normalization process. The Taiwan Relations Act, passed by Congress, authorized continued arms sales and reaffirmed the US commitment to Taiwan's security.
The Reagan administration’s 1982 communiqué with China sparked new tensions. Beijing believed the US had committed to reducing arms sales to Taiwan, but the US continued these sales, citing China’s military buildup. This conflict over arms sales highlighted the persistent underlying tension surrounding Taiwan.
The End of the Cold War and the Future of Taiwan
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 negatively impacted China’s image in the US and coincided with Taiwan’s democratic transition. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US’s need for Chinese cooperation lessened. Calls for a reassessment of US policy towards Taiwan gained momentum.
Conclusion
The issue of Taiwan significantly impacted Sino-US relations during the Cold War. From initial Cold War confrontations and the Taiwan Straits crisis to Nixon’s détente and the "One China" policy, the question of Taiwan consistently shaped the relationship. Despite the establishment of diplomatic relations, the underlying tension over Taiwan remained, particularly surrounding arms sales and the future of the island. This issue continues to define Sino-US relations today, highlighting the enduring strategic importance of Taiwan in the global context.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
Analyse how far the issue of Taiwan affected Sino–US relations during the Cold War.
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.