Sino-American Relations

This past Friday I attended the Arrival Ceremony for the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan on the South Lawn of the White House. As with every state visit by a foreign president, there was much pomp and circumstance, including performances of both nations national anthems, a 21 gun salute and a musical review of representatives from the five military branches of the United States.

Photo: Hilary Grabowska

President Xi had visited the US before but never as the president of China. In his opening remarks, President Barak Obama said "that when the United States and China work together, it makes our nations and the world more prosperous and more secure." President Xi also addressed this by saying that he came to the US to "promote peace and advance cooperation." 

Photo: Hilary Grabowska

In 1972, President Nixon became the first US President to visit China, but official relations between the two countries did not begin until January 1, 1979. These official diplomatic relations allowed the two nations to work together for trade and cooperation, since both nations are permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations. While official diplomatic relations have only been in place for the last 36 years, the two countries had negotiated treaties long before. 

Photo: pages.ramapo.edu

In 1844, the Treaty of Wanghia marked the beginning of formal Sino-American relations, but at that time China was a very different country than it is today. This treaty, as well as the defeat of the Chinese by the British in the Opium Wars, ended China's age of isolationism and allowed Western nations into port for trade opportunities. Relations soured with the building of the trans-continental railroad. Many of the workers were Chinese immigrants and they were blamed for depressed wage levels. Reactions to Chinese workers resulted in the first Immigration Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese immigration to the US and made it very difficult for them to find jobs. The ban lasted for 60 years. 

Photo: digitalhistory.uh.edu

In 1931, Japan invaded China and when China fought back in 1937, the US backed China. Americans were sympathetic toward the Chinese because of the atrocities committed by the Japanese Army, as well as stories of the country from American missionaries. Once the US entered World War II, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed. Despite sending aid to China during the war, America was not welcomed by the rising Communist Party in China. The US did not officially recognize the People's Republic until 1979. 

Photo: cfr.org

Diplomatic relations have made it easier for the two nations to work together but relations are far from perfect, as to be expected between the world's preeminent democracy and a country ruled by the Communist Party. Nonetheless, the two nations have been able to cooperate on several fronts despite being competitors for influence around the world. China has the largest population in the world and the second largest economy, and as such can be a key ally in combating climate change. As both President Obama and President Xi highlighted on Friday, when the two nations work together, the world can benefit. 

Photo: usnews.com