A historic handshake

Exactly 35 years ago today, the then U.S. president Richard Nixon stepped of the plane at Beijing's Capital Airport and was greeted by Chinese premier Zhou Enlai. Later that day he had a meeting with Chairman Mao. The visit and the handshakes had a profound influence on the world. Gradually, hostility between China and the U.S. was replaced by diplomacy and cooperation in some areas.

Remaining differences and disagreements since that historic handshake did not lead to a situation of confrontation that could result in war between the two countries.

Without the personal intervention of Mao and Nixon in the run-up to the 1972 meeting, this would not have been possible. In China, there was a hostile mood towards the U.S. because of the Vietnam war. Except Mao, anybody trying to work for better relations with the U.S. would have been accused of being a agent of U.S. imperialism. In the U.S., anybody trying to open the door to China would have been accused of being a communist sympathizer. In fact, Nixon prepared his trip without informing many people in his own administration or Congress.

A quarter century after the events, a new book by Margaret MacMillan “Nixon and Mao: The Week That Changed the World”, may finally provide some more details on this historic trip and maybe inspire statesmen today to take bold initiatives.