The Soviet Dimension of Normalization: Motivations and Obstacles Involved in the Normalization of U.S.-China Relations

Authors

• Andrea Dixon, CSUSB

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The United States of America and the People’s Republic of China established full diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979, after decades of the United States failing to fully recognize the legitimacy of the government in mainland China. This “normalization” of relations between the United States and China was completed by the Carter administration and Deng Xiaoping after more than a year of negotiation between the two parties. The governments of the United States and China were motivated to normalize their relations due to many factors, and they overcame significant obstacles to do so. This paper argues that both governments evaluated the Soviet Union in light of many of these motivations and obstacles. Moreover, the negotiations to normalize relations between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China cannot be properly understood without examining how both governments thought of the Soviet Union.

Recommended Citation

Dixon, Andrea (2026) "The Soviet Dimension of Normalization: Motivations and Obstacles Involved in the Normalization of U.S.-China Relations," History in the Making: Vol. 19, Article 9.
Available at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/history-in-the-making/vol19/iss1/9