Nixon's visit to China and his sighting of the slogan "Down with US imperialism" finally started the normalization of Sino-US relations.
During the War of Liberation, the United States gave full support to the Kuomintang reactionaries, provided them with advanced US weapons and equipment, and even used US transport planes and ships to help the Kuomintang army mobilize combat troops across theaters.
Soon, however, the Volunteers were engaged in fierce battles on the Korean battlefield with the US-led coalition**. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, due to this historical background, China's relations with the world's number one superpower were very tense.
The contradiction between ideology and national interests once caused a deep gap between China and the United States. However, with the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations and the adjustment of China's foreign policy, a turning point in history has finally arrived.
In February 1972, a delegation led by former U.S. leader Nixon visited China, and the ice began to break in the relationship between the two countries. Foreseeing this day as early as 1957, he predicted that sooner or later the United States would establish diplomatic relations with us.
As it turned out, the great man's prediction did not fail, and the day came sooner than expected.
Prior to Nixon's visit to China, Dr. Kissinger had visited Beijing twice in 1971 to prepare for Nixon's visit. During the visit, Dr. Kissinger discovered a phenomenon that worried him: the walls of the streets and alleys of Beijing were plastered with slogans such as "Down with US imperialism" and "The oppressed ** together".
His interpreter truthfully informed Dr. Kissinger of these circumstances. Out of courtesy, although he did not directly raise questions or express dissatisfaction with our side, he still had some hidden worries in his heart, worried that Nixon would react badly when he officially visited China.
When Nixon first visited China, he did not object to the slogans in Beijing, including the airport, which still had the words "Down with them" in Chinese.
Although the American leader has never set foot in Chinese mainland, he clearly knows something about the domestic background of the seventies of the last century. Although he may be upset, as a **, he is mentally prepared and still greets *** with a smile
Although Nixon eventually struggled to restrain himself, in a later meeting with ***, he awkwardly posed the question: "Why is there a 'Down with us' sign everywhere in your capital?".
Although *** was over the age of old at the time and a little slurred, his thinking was very sharp. To this question, he smiled and replied with four words: "It's just a cannon."
Explaining this to Nixon, he added, "Just like decades ago, Chiang has always claimed to destroy us." When Nixon heard this, he smiled, and the dissatisfaction in his heart vanished.
He greatly admired the great men of the East, and later Nixon admitted that ** was "a great leader who was quick in mind and fought until the last moment." The metaphor of * cleverly defuses the embarrassment, and the addition of *** is just right.
By the time Nixon visited China in '72, relations between China and the United States had begun to ease, but the two countries had not yet formally established diplomatic relations. If we hastily revise the original slogan and ** orientation because of the visit of the other party's leader, this may make people feel that we are flattering, and this is not in line with the style of our new China.
When he really met Nixon, he gave the other party enough face and called himself a "cannon", which fully showed the mind of the great man. It is also added that this is because in the forties of the last century, it was the United States that supported Chiang Kai-shek in the civil war, but in the end it ended in defeat.
** Take the initiative to mention Chiang Kai-shek, this is also his diplomatic strategy, we are willing to be friendly with the United States, but on the premise of equality and respect. The talent and character of the revolutionaries of the older generation are truly admirable.