Sino-US relations after Nixon

Question 1

What happened after Nixon’s resignation in 1974?

Answer 1

President Ford tried to follow Nixon’s approach to China, aiming for normalisation by 1976

Question 2

What did Kissinger do in 1975?

Answer 2

Made a trip to China, with the aim of reaching agreement over Taiwan and offering co-operation on military and intelligence matters

Question 3

How successful was Kissinger in China in 1975?

Answer 3

Failed to reach agreement on any of these issues

Question 4

When did Ford visit China?

Answer 4

December 1975

Question 5

Why was Ford’s position much weaker than Nixon’s?

Answer 5

Unpopular with US public

Didn’t enjoy the support of Congress

Question 6

What was Ford’s visit to China like?

Answer 6

Did little to hasten normalisation, but it did consolidate the working relationship between the two governments, which had been initiated by Nixon’s visit to China in 1972

Question 7

What was Ford not in a position to do?

Answer 7

Compromise on any sensitive issues