Thirty-five years after former US President Richard Nixon's
visit to China, the principles of the Shanghai Communique remain the touchstone of
US-China relations, a leading US expert said.
"In one very important respect the Communique provided an
example of how the two sides should handle disagreements," David M.
Lampton, director of China Studies at Johns Hopkins University,
said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
"It identified common points between China and the United
States, and each side also honestly expressed the differences that
remained," he added.
On Feb. 21, 1972, Nixon arrived in Beijing for a week-long
"ice-breaking" tour. On Feb. 28, the last day of his visit, the two
sides signed a joint communique, known as the Shanghai
Communique.
"The Communique also was based on an understanding of the One
China principle, the need to carefully handle the Taiwan issue,"
noted Lampton, who is a former president of the National Committee
on US- China Relations.
"These remain the basic conditions for effectively managing
US-China relations to this day," he said.
In Lampton's opinion, the most impressive improvement in
US-China relations since the Shanghai Communique is that "the two
sides have had a peaceful, though not entirely calm, relationship
for 35 years."
Firstly, China and the United States have benefited enormously
from pursuing their common interests, he said, while the second
level of the communique's importance is seen in the positive
changes in cultural relations and economic ties.
Finally, the scope of US-China relations has expanded greatly
since then, he added.
"Today it is a relationship knitted together at every level of
our two societies and governmental systems. Moreover, the US-China
relationship is knitted together by our common membership in global
organizations," said Lampton.
The lesson of Nixon's trip, he noted, is that, in order to
succeed, US-China relations must be based on common long-term
interests.
"Nixon's early statement to Chairman Mao that it was common
interests that brought us together remains true-- and it is common
interests that will keep us together," said the expert.
He said there are differences and some similarities between the
China policy of Nixon's administration and the current
administration.
"The similarities now involve the fact that, as in the Vietnam
War era, the United States is now involved in foreign conflict and
also has other global issues like nuclear proliferation, in which
Washington desires China's cooperation," said Lampton.
In other words, "there is an important strategic context, for
both Nixon in 1971-1972, and for US President George W. Bush
today", and "those strategic contexts foster US-China cooperation,"
he said.
The big difference is that "the range of issues in US-China
relations confronting the US President is much greater today than
it was in the early 1970s."
"Most obviously, trade was virtually not a consideration in
1971-1972 and it is a major concern for the current
administration," said Lampton.
He said it is very important for both countries to maintain a
healthy and steady relationship.
"Without peaceful and productive US-China relations, there
cannot be peace and prosperity in Asia. And, without peace and
prosperity in Asia there will not be peace in the world," said the
expert.
(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2007)
