PREVENTING NUCLEAR WAR BETWEEN CHINA AND THE U.S. OVER TAIWAN
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      • Chapter 1: Historical, Cultural, Legal, and Geographical Factors
      • Chapter 2: The Political Factor
      • Chapter 3: The Economic Factor
      • Chapter 4: The Military Factor
      • Chapter 5: The Issues
      • Chapter 6: The Negotiations
      • Chapter 7: Conclusions
      • Appendices
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    • An Analysis of China's National Interests
    • One China, Five Interpretations
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CROSS-STRAIT TIMELINE 1950 - 1979

CROSS-STRAIT TIMELINE 1950 - 1979
  CHINA ROC US OTHER
Jan 1950   Chiang Kai-Shek activates Martial Law by Emergency Decree (Martial Law is declared in Taiwan in 1949, and it is activated in 1950 to1987)    
09 Feb 1950     U.S. Congress Hearings onFormosa  
25 Jun 1950 to 27 Jul 1953        Korean War
27 Jun 1950     Truman orders 7th Fleet to Taiwan Strait  
28 Jun 1950 Zhou Enlai Statement on Truman Statement      
15 Aug 1951 Zhou Enlai Statement on US Proposal ofJapan PeaceTreaty      
08 Sep 1951   Peace Treaty with Japan (signed)    
28 Apr 1952   Peace Treaty with Japan (entry into force)    
1954 First Taiwan Straits Crisis First Taiwan Straits Crisis First Taiwan Straits Crisis  
26 Apr-20 Jul 1954 Delegates from around the world meet to resolve Korean and Indochina Wars.
Premier Zhou Enlai attempts to shake hands with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, who ignores Zhou.

PRC and U.S. Ambassadors in Geneva start a long-standing tradition of holding infrequent but highly formalized talks

  Delegates from around the world meet to resolve Korean and Indochina Wars.
Premier e Zhou Enlai attempts to shake hands with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, who ignores Zhou.

U.S. and PRC Ambassadors in Geneva start a long-standing tradition of holding infrequent but highly formalized talks

 
22 Aug 1954 Democratic groups on the mainland announce the “Joint Declaration for Liberating Taiwan”, stating Taiwan is part of the mainland’s territory and the Chinese people must liberate Taiwan      
01 Dec 1954   ROC-U.S. Joint Statement ROC-U.S. Joint Statement  
02 Dec 1954   ROC-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) U.S.-ROC Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT)  
08 Dec 1954 PRC Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhou Enlai calls the U.S.-ROC “Mutual Defense Treaty” a downright aggressive treaty of war      
10 Jan 1955 PRC Air Force raids the nationalist-controlled Tachen Islands and seize Ichiang Island      
21 Jan 1955     President Eisenhower meets with Sec of State Dulles and Sec of Defense Wilson to discuss a resolution that would authorize the U.S. defense of Taiwan and the Pescadores  
28 Jan 1955     Congress passes Formosa Resolution  
08 Feb 1955     U.S. Senate Report on Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT)  
16 Mar 1955     President Eisenhower announces that the US would use atomic weapons in the event of war with Communist China  
30 Jul 1955 Zhou Enlai, PRC Premier, presents a report to the second conference of the first National People's Congress, saying, "There are two possible ways for liberating Taiwan -- one is by war, and the other is by peaceful means. The Chinese people prefer using the peaceful means if the situation permits."      
1958 PRC and U.S. Ambassadors tradition of holding infrequent but highly formalized talks shifts locations to Warsaw   U.S. and PRC Ambassadors tradition of holding infrequent but highly formalized talks shifts locations to Warsaw  
23 Aug 1958 Second Taiwan Strait Crisis

PRC shelling of Nationalists outposts in Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matzu begins; The United States intervenes by sending ships into the Taiwan Strait)

Second Taiwan Strait Crisis

PRC shelling of Nationalists outposts in Kinmen(Quemoy) and Matzu begins; The United States intervenes by sending ships into the Taiwan Strait)

Second Taiwan Strait Crisis

PRC shelling of Nationalists outposts in Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matzu begins; The United States intervenes by sending ships into the Taiwan Strait)

 
04 Sep 1958 PRC Declaration of territorial seas   Secretary of State Dulles statement  
23 Oct 1958     U.S.-ROC Joint Communiqué  
25 Oct 1958 Peng Dehuai statement on Taiwan Compatriots      
22 Dec 1958     Maurer legal opinion on status of Formosa   
03 Mar 1959 Mao Interview: On the U.S. and Taiwan      
19 Jan 1960     U.S.-Japan Mutual Defense Treaty  (MDT) Japan-U.S. Security Treaty
June 1960   President Eisenhower becomes the first U.S. head of state to pay an official visit to the Nationalist Government when he meets with Jiang Jieshi in Taiwan. President Eisenhower becomes the first U.S. head of state to pay an official visit to the Nationalist Government when he meets with Jiang Jieshi in Taiwan.  
1963     Kennedy Administration considers opening ties with the PRC  
13 Dec 1963     Assistant Secretary of State Roger Hilsman hints at opening ties with the PRC public speech; (no actions are taken)  
1964     Escalation of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (Tonkin Gulf Incident)  
16 Oct 1964 China conducts nuclear test      
1965   After 15 years of economic support, the U.S. halts aid to Taiwan in recognition of “growth and stability” of the Taiwanese economy After 15 years of economic support, the U.S. halts aid to Taiwan in recognition of “growth and stability” of the Taiwanese economy  
1966 Start of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)      
18 Mar 1969     U.S. bombs Cambodia for the first time  
25 Jul 1969     Announcement of the Nixon Doctrine (Nixon states his intent “to reduce U.S. military commitments in Asia and to reconsider the current policy of containment for the PRC” (Examples of reduced military commitments include the cessation of U.S. naval patrols in the Taiwan Strait)  
10 Dec 1970 PRC and U.S. ambassadors restart talks in Warsaw (talks were on hiatus due to the Cultural Revolution but quickly were suspended due to U.S. bombing of Cambodia)   U.S. and PRC ambassadors restart talks in Warsaw (talks were on hiatus due to the Cultural Revolution but quickly were suspended due to U.S. bombing of Cambodia)  
1971 Start of Ping-pong diplomacy between the PRC and the U.S.   Start of Ping-pong diplomacy between the U.S. and the PRC  
28 Apr 1971     State Dept on the status of Taiwan  
30 Apr 1971   ROC ForeignMinistry statement on the State Department's statement on the status of Taiwan    
09 Jul 1971     National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger makes a secret visit to China to meet with Zhou Enlai and other Chinese leaders  
Oct 1971 PRC assumes UN seat per UN Res. 2758 UN and IAEA per UN Res 2758 expel Taiwan Kissinger makes a second visit to PRC to make preparations for President Nixon’s visit.  These trips mark the reopening of direct ties between Washington and Beijing, after 20 years of non-recognition  
21-27 Feb 1972 Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai meet with Nixon, Kissinger and other U.S. officials. The two sides issue the Shanghai Communique

Five Points
  Nixon visits China;
Nixon, Kissinger and other U.S. officials meet with Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. At the end of the week long visit, the two sides issue the Shanghai Communique

Five Points
 
27 Feb 1972 Shanghai Communiqué

Joint Statement Following Discussions with Leaders of the People's Republic of China
  Shanghai Communiqué

Joint Statement Following Discussions with Leaders of the People's Republic of China
 
13 Jun 1972     U.S. and Russia sign the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems (ABM Treaty U.S. and Russia sign the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems (ABM Treaty
1973 The PRC government opens a liaison office in Washington, D.C. The U.S. government maintains its Embassy in Taiwan The U.S. government opens a liaison office in Beijing  
Oct 1973-March 1974        Middle East Oil Embargo
12 Nov 1973 Mao on the use of force      
1974 Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai both experience declines in their health. Zhou rehabilitates Deng Xiaoping (purged in 1966).  These leadership issues delay the PRC-U.S. normalization process.   President Nixon resigns from office due to the emerging Watergate scandal. This leadership change delays the U.S.-PRC normalization process.  
12 Aug 1974     Ford's statement on Communiqué  
01-05 Dec 1975 President Ford visits China. No progress is made on the normalization process.   President Ford visits China. No progress is made on the normalization process.  
05 Apr 1975   Chiang Kai-shek dies    
Jan 1976 Zhou Enlai dies; Deng Xiaoping is purged again      
09 Sep 1976 Mao Zedong dies      
Jan 1977     Jimmy Carter assumes the office of the president  
1977     Jimmy Carter sends Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to the PRC to restart the negotiations (this effort fails)  
22 Jul 1977 Deng Xiaoping returns to power and emerges as the paramount leader of China.      
19 Nov 1977   Chungli riot about voting irregularities    
Summer 1978     President Carter dispatches National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski to China to meet with Deng Xiaoping  
May 1978   Chiang Ching-kuo is sworn in as President of Taiwan    
16 Dec 1978 The PRC and the U.S. reach an agreement and issue a joint communiqué that establishes full diplomatic relations.   The U.S. and the PRC reach an agreement and issue a joint communiqué that establishes full diplomatic relations.

Carter announces recognition of PRC
 
18-22 Dec 1978 11th  Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held its third plenary session. It shifts the focus of the Party to economic reconstruction.

With shift, came expectation Taiwan would help rejuvenate the Motherland
     
1979   U.S. terminates the U.S.-ROC Mutual Defense Treaty  (MDT) U.S. terminates the U.S.-ROC Mutual Defense Treaty  (MDT)  
01 Jan 1979 Message to compatriots in Taiwan (Taiwan views as United Front tactic); Shelling of Kinmen stops:

Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the PRC and the U.S.
  Second U.S.-PRC. Communiqué  
03 Jan 1979     President Carter issues memorandum to U.S. agencies, setting the terms for continued U.S.-Taiwan relations “unofficial” basis  
29 Jan-4 Feb 1979 Deng Xiaoping, Vice-Premier of the State Council of the PRC, pays an official visit to the United States   Deng Xiaoping, Vice-Premier of the State Council of the PRC, pays an official visit to the United States  
01 Mar 1979 U.S. and PRC formally establish diplomatic ties as the U.S. Embassy in R.O.C. officially closes U.S. and PRC formally establish diplomatic ties as the U.S. Embassy in R.O.C. officially closes U.S. and PRC formally establish diplomatic ties as the U.S. Embassy in R.O.C. officially closes  
04 Apr 1979   Chiang Ching Kuo introduces the “Three Noes": No Contact,No Negotiations, No Compromise    
10 Apr 1979     Public Law 96-8 (Taiwan Relations Act); codifies in public law the basis for continued U.S.-Taiwan relations  
10 Dec 1979   Kaohsiung Incident    
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  • Welcome
  • E-Books
    • Strait Talk >
      • Chapter 1: Historical, Cultural, Legal, and Geographical Factors
      • Chapter 2: The Political Factor
      • Chapter 3: The Economic Factor
      • Chapter 4: The Military Factor
      • Chapter 5: The Issues
      • Chapter 6: The Negotiations
      • Chapter 7: Conclusions
      • Appendices
      • Images
    • An Analysis of China's National Interests
    • One China, Five Interpretations
  • Blogs
  • Cross-Strait Info
    • Cross-Strait Timeline >
      • 2018-2019
      • 2016-2017
      • 2000-2015
      • 1980-1999
      • 1950-1979
      • 1911-1949
      • pre 1911
    • Official Documents >
      • Official Documents Library
      • 中国人民共和国​
      • 中華民國 (台湾)
    • Major Actors >
      • PRC
      • ROC
      • US
      • Japan
    • Military Balance
    • Political Warfare
    • Key Issues >
      • 1992 Consensus
      • Anti-Secession Law
      • One China
      • 'One Country, Two Systems'
      • Status Quo
      • Taiwan Independence
      • Taiwan Strait Crises
      • U.S. Arms Sales
      • Use of Force
    • Cooperation >
      • ROC
      • PRC
      • Signed Agreements
      • Cross-Strait Links
      • Peace Proposal
      • Military Talks
    • Glossary
    • Additional Resources on Cross-Strait Relations >
      • Books
      • Reports, Articles & Interviews
      • Multimedia
  • Photos
    • A Photographic Journey Through Old China