Still A Mystery

In late February 1972 Richard Nixon made history as the first POTUS to visit the Peoples Republic of China(PRC). Within three years of the visit he would leave office in disgrace, but his momuentmental trip was one that has left a lasting legacy on both nations. Before his historic trip, both the US and China exhibited frosty relations, the result of more that a quarter century of distrust between the two nations. However, both had a common enemy, the USSR, whom both distrusted equally, so this was a "shotgun" marriage from the start. But both nations saw the need to thaw relations because for political and economic purposes.

On this trip Nixon visited Beijing, Hangzhou, The Great Wall and Shanghai. In meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Chou Enlai, political and economic accords were signed. While the "One China" policy, stipulating the reaffirmation of PRC as the de facto nation for it's citizens, including Taiwan, it's the economic accords that has left an everlasting impact on both nations.

The China today is much different than the one Nixon visited forty years ago. The country is seen as a economic and political power, one which our nation must do business with to survive. Beijing, while still the seat of Chinese political will has been usurped by Shanghai which is the economic driver for the nation.

The China I'm visiting next week is a forward thinking nation, much like America was at the beginning of the 20th century. Myself and other Americans are still intrigued by this nation, it culture and people. While there are stresses in the relationship, as the latest trip by President Obama attested to, we are both in the "getting to know" one another stage. Nixon's '72 trip was that catalyst for change.

On my first trip in the new decade I'm headed to a nation I know little about. Time to begin my education.