How Relations with the PRC Began and Grew: A Personal Memoir

My first contact with the People's Republic of China (PRC) was in 1972, when I was a young Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia. At that time, the PRC was still very isolated and closed to the outside world.

China Boys: How U.S. Relations with the PRC Began and Grew—A Personal Memoir

by Nicholas Platt

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1743 KB
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Screen Reader	:	Supported
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But in 1971, President Richard Nixon had made a historic visit to China, and the two countries were beginning to thaw their relations. The Peace Corps was eager to be part of this new era of cooperation, and I was selected to be one of the first volunteers to go to China.

I arrived in China in 1973, and spent two years working in a rural village in the mountainous province of Sichuan. My job was to teach English and help the villagers improve their agricultural practices.

At first, I was very naive about China. I had read very little about the country, and I had no idea what to expect. But I soon learned that China was a very different place from the United States.

1. The pace of life was much slower in China.
2. The people were much more collectivist in their thinking.
3. The government played a much larger role in people's lives.

It took me some time to adjust to these differences. But gradually, I came to appreciate the unique beauty of Chinese culture. I learned to love the Chinese people and their way of life.

When I left China in 1975, I was a changed person. I had learned so much about China and about myself. I had come to see the world in a new way.

My experience in China has had a profound impact on my life. I have continued to work on issues related to China and the United States. I have also been back to China many times, and I have seen firsthand the tremendous changes that have taken place in the country.

The relationship between the United States and the PRC has been a rocky one at times. But I believe that it is important for the two countries to continue to engage with each other. The future of the world depends on it.

Here are some of the milestones in the development of relations between the United States and the PRC:

• 1972: President Richard Nixon visits China.
• 1973: The United States and the PRC establish diplomatic relations.
• 1979: The United States and the PRC sign the Taiwan Relations Act.
• 1989: The Tiananmen Square massacre occurs.
• 2001: The United States and the PRC sign the Shanghai Communiqué.
• 2010: The United States and the PRC establish a Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
• 2013: President Xi Jinping visits the United States.
• 2017: President Donald Trump visits China.
• 2018: The United States and the PRC impose tariffs on each other's goods.
• 2019: The United States and the PRC sign the Phase One trade deal.

The relationship between the United States and the PRC is complex and multifaceted. It is a relationship that has been marked by both cooperation and conflict. But it is a relationship that is essential for the future of the world.

I am hopeful that the United States and the PRC can continue to build on the progress that has been made in recent years. I believe that the two countries can work together to address the challenges facing the world today.

The world is changing rapidly, and it is more important than ever for the United States and the PRC to work together. The future of the world depends on it.

China Boys: How U.S. Relations with the PRC Began and Grew—A Personal Memoir

by Nicholas Platt

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1743 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	261 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE