The US Military
Diplomatic relations between two countries are based on mutual trust and respect. To improve relations with China, Nixon needed their respect for US foreign policies.
"In 1954, Secretary Dulles believed that it was America's mission to fight communism all around the world and for the U.S. to be the principal force, to engage itself in every struggle at every point of the world at any point of time.President Nixon operates on a different philosophy. We do not deal with communism in the abstract, but with specific communist states on the basis of their specific actions toward us, and not as an abstract crusade.We believe that if people want to defend themselves, they must do it on the basis of their own efforts and not on the basis of the efforts of a country 10,000 miles away.So when we offer to withdraw from Vietnam, it is not in order to devise some trick to re-enter in some other manner but rather that we want to base our foreign policy on the realities of the present and not on the dreams of the past." -Kissinger in a secret meeting with Zhou En-Lai before the trip
State of the Union Address on Military Withdrawal
"... As our involvement in the war in Vietnam comes to an end, we must now go on to build a generation of peace.To achieve that goal, we must first face realistically the need to maintain our defense.In the past 3 years, we have reduced the burden of arms. For the first time in 20 years, spending on defense has been brought below spending on human resources.As we look to the future, we find encouraging progress in our negotiations with the Soviet Union on limitation of strategic arms. And looking further into the future, we hope there can eventually be agreement on the mutual reduction of arms. But until there is such a mutual agreement, we must maintain the strength necessary to deter war. And that is why, because of rising research and development costs, because of increases in military and civilian pay, because of the need to proceed with new weapons systems, my budget for the coming fiscal year will provide for an increase in defense spending. Strong military defenses are not the enemy of peace; they are the guardians of peace. There could be no more misguided set of priorities than one which would tempt others by weakening America, and thereby endanger the peace of the world. In our foreign policy, we have entered a new era... Our policy has been carefully and deliberately adjusted to meet the new realities of the new world we live in. We make today only those commitments we are able and prepared to meet. Our commitment to freedom remains strong and unshakable... And so this, then, is our policy: We will maintain a nuclear deterrent adequate to meet any threat to the security of the United States or of our allies. We will help other nations develop the capability of defending themselves. We will faithfully honor all of our treaty commitments. We will act to defend our interests, whenever and wherever they are threatened anyplace in the world. But where our interests or our treaty commitments are not involved, our role will be limited. We will not intervene militarily. But we will use our influence to prevent war. If war comes, we will use our influence to stop it. Once it is over, we will do our share in helping to bind up the wounds of those who have participated in it... America has given more generously of itself toward maintaining freedom, preserving peace, alleviating human suffering around the globe, than any nation has ever done in the history of man. We have fought four wars in this century, but our power has never been used to break the peace, only to keep it; never been used to destroy freedom, only to defend it."
Military troops
The 'New Era'
In the 1970s, China considered the US an imperialistic country whose purpose in foreign affairs was for personal benefits from more land. Vietnam was used as an example: "It was the activity of the U.S. which went against all that and forcibly fostered the Diem puppets in order to overthrow Bao Dai... and disrupt the agreements. In this way the Geneva Agreements were completely violated. And the result was that the broad masses of the people of South Vietnam were unable to win liberation and were naturally disappointed. They were again submitted to oppression and massacre." The US had gone to Vietnam to save the people from communist dictators, but times had changed. The US found itself becoming 'friends' with them, although it still had military troops in foreign nations. Nixon planned to convince the Chinese that these troops were meant to maintain a "balance of peace".
As one example, in the India-Pakistan conflict, Nixon sent fleets to India to "keep [India] from eating up Pakistan." Nixon wanted an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal. To do so, Nixon asked for Chinese approval and Mao approved the intervention. Perhaps these war vessels could promote peace after all.
As one example, in the India-Pakistan conflict, Nixon sent fleets to India to "keep [India] from eating up Pakistan." Nixon wanted an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal. To do so, Nixon asked for Chinese approval and Mao approved the intervention. Perhaps these war vessels could promote peace after all.
China assumed the US intended to 'gain a footing in India'. However, the US did not seek hegemony, but peace. In this conversation, the Chinese accept US military presence in foreign countries; every nation 'needed' US support.
"We feel that the United States and the People's Republic must concert at this critical juncture. We are prepared to use our resources as we did during the crisis between India and Pakistan to attempt to neutralize Soviet threats and to deter threats against the People's Republic.”
The 'Soviet Card'
The India-Pakistan conflict reduced Chinese demands for the withdraw of US troops. The Chinese recognized that the US's presence was for the safety of the oppressed as well as China.
As John Haig explained, by breaking the alliance between Russia and India, and Russia and North Vietnam, the US ensured China's safety from Soviet attacks. It was the US's and China's duty to prevent the Soviet Union from becoming another superpower.
As John Haig explained, by breaking the alliance between Russia and India, and Russia and North Vietnam, the US ensured China's safety from Soviet attacks. It was the US's and China's duty to prevent the Soviet Union from becoming another superpower.
The India-Pakistan conflict strengthened international relations and made the Chinese respect US's foreign policies. The US was discouraged from withdrawing after their military presence saved China from Soviet attacks.