Opinion | Reagan's visit to China is 'one good turn that deserves another' state visit by President Joe Biden

By Augustus K. Yeung

Introduction

Yesterday in history (April 26, 1984), President Ronald Regan arrived in China for his 6-day state visit.

This historic visit is of great significance in the bilateral history of China and the United States, which is currently mired in a proxy war with Russia in Eastern Europe, risking angering China, America's "old friend" through the threat of sanctions—if Beijing tries to assist Russia.

If history is any guide, these sweet days of wine and roses should be treasured by leaders of both countries, which have since Richard Nixon's state visit in 1972 jump-started their former relations, but now seems to be hitting rock bottom in recent years.

To revisit the grand occasion, now listen to the BBC News.

"The US President Ronald Regan has landed in China at the start of a six-day visit – the first by an American president since Nixon in 1972," according to BBC News. ("This day in history". Macau Daily Times, April 26, 2022).

Li Xiannian Told Reagan he Shared his View of the Importance of the Pacific Region…

He arrived with his wife, Nancy Reagan, just after 1400 local times (0600 GMT), and was driven to Tiananmen Square, in the center, for a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People.

He was greeted by the Chinese President Li Xiannian to the deafening sound of a 21-gun salute.

Mr. Li told Mr. Reagan he shared his view of the importance of the Pacific region, referring to a comment made by Mr. Regan in a statement before his arrival.

President Reagan then attended a banquet given in his honor by President Li.

Reagan Spoke in Chinese about the Need for "Mutual Respect and Benefit" …

Mr. Reagan used the occasion to speak, in Chinese about the need for "mutual respect and benefit" between China and the United States.

"The president is accompanied in China by a party of more than 600 journalists, aides, secret service men and officials who guard the codes for launching nuclear missiles."

"The talks start tomorrow, and are expected to address a variety of subjects."

The White House spokesman, Larry Speakes, said the United States and China are expected to reach an agreement to assist US companies in helping develop commercial nuclear power in China.

But there is no sign of any compromise over the key issue of Taiwan.

People's Daily: Beijing Stated, Bilateral Relations are Being Held Back by U.S. Support of Taiwan

The People's Daily newspaper has today re-stated the view of the Chinese government that relations with America are being held back by Washington's support for the Kuomintang nationalist regime in Taiwan.

Until Nixon's visit in 1972 Washington only recognized the ousted nationalist government in Taiwan, where it had been forced into exile after being overthrown by communist forces in 1949.

Nixon, however, signed the Shanghai Communique, which for the first time recognized the communist government in Beijing. It resulted in diplomatic relations between the two countries for the first time, as well as the transfer of diplomatic recognition to Beijing as the Chinese capital.

"Washington still continues to support Taiwan, however, and maintains unofficial links, including the sale of arms, to the frustration and anger of the communist leadership in Beijing," according to BBC News.

Conclusion

Reviewing this day in history, I have come to the conclusion that the world's two greatest super economic powers should take time to revisit, review and revitalize a concerted effort to cooperate in areas such as climate change, worldwide food security, the current conflict in Eastern Europe, where thousands of Ukrainian homes have been broken, with thousands of people on both sides killed, and 5 million refugees scattered across Europe, mostly in Poland.

Amid the two-year-long COVID-19 and its variants together with these deadly conflicts resulting in great human casualties and suffering, perhaps it is time that President Joe Biden should seriously consider paying a state visit to China--to discuss the above urgent issues with President Xi Jinping.

Noting the days between Nixon's visit and that of Reagan's, it would be a great contribution to bilateral relations to identify two thorny issues pricking and thwarting China and America, a real pain in the neck: Political ideology and the issue of Taiwan.

Chinese communism as an ideology is but China's last-ditch politico-economic experiment that fortunately has enabled it to successfully transform itself, other than continuing to rely on U.S. assistance as was the case of KMT in the past.

The rift between the KMT and CCP is a strictly historical and internal matter, which should best be left to the Chinese to sort things out between the two major political parties.

This way, the Taiwan thorny issue would overnight become a non-issue, freeing the U.S. to lead the world with a friendlier China's full cooperation in all matters related to human existence.

Canada is a successful case: it has handled bilateral relations with China very well by focusing on business and economic affairs, allowing politics to only play a minor role.

The U.S. president can also discuss face-to-face with his Chinese counterpart and attempt to bring President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table with President Zelensky of Ukraine, solving the problem of security through dialogues instead of pelting or belting each other with bullets and bombs.

Who knows? A peace overture as such may perhaps win for them the Noble Peace Prize Award to the Presidents, whose peace initiatives and efforts would be duly recognized by the United Nations and the world over.

And that should be President Joe Biden's legacy, taking U.S.-China relations to yet another historic high level.

 

The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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