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Treaty of Wangxia Signed, Formalizing Sino-American Trade
"There shall be a perfect, permanent, universal peace, and a sincere and cordial amity between the United States of America on one part, and the Ta Tsing Empire on the part, and between their people." – Treaty of Wangxia, Article I, July 3, 1844 Image Courtesy of Britannica Image Quest -
Vice President Henry Wallace visits Nationalist China
"I believe this action should take the form of a radical new approach to the problem of Chinese-American collaboration. I have in mind not only military collaboration but collaboration in determining the methods on a political level." – Henry Wallace, in a letter to Chaing Kai-Shek, June 27th, 1944 Image courtesy of Britannica Image Quest -
The People's Republic of China is Formally Declared
"We are all convinced that our work will go down in the history of mankind, demonstrating that the Chinese people, comprising one quarter of humanity, have now stood up. The Chinese have always been a great, courageous and industrious nation; it is only in modern times that they have fallen behind." – Mao Zedong, September 21, 1949, in a speech titled "The Chinese People Have Stood Up!" Image Courtesy of Britannica Image Quest -
Geneva Conference Brings About Formal US-China Talks
"If the United States and [Chiang Kai-Shek] sign such a treaty [of mutual defense], the relationship between us and the United States will be tense for a long period, and it becomes more difficult [for the relationship] to turn around." – CCP Central Committee, in a telegram after the Geneva Conference, July 27, 1954 Image Courtesy of Getty Images -
Formosa Resolution Passed
"Certain territories in the West Pacific under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China are now under armed attack, and threats and declarations have been and are being made by the Chinese Communists that such armed attack is in aid of and in preparation for armed attack on Formosa." – Formosa Resolution, January 29, 1955 Image Courtesy of Britannica Image Quest -
Second Taiwan Strait Crisis Begins
"I believe that the Americans are afraid of fighting a war. So are we. But the question is which side actually fears the other a bit more." – Mao Zedong, Fifteenth Meeting of the State Supreme Council, September 5, 1958 Image Courtesy of Britannica Image Quest -
Dwight Eisenhower Becomes the Only Sitting President To Visit Taiwan
"The two Presidents [Chiang Kai-Shek and Eisenhower] voiced their common determination that the two Governments should continue to dedicate themselves to the principles of the United Nations and devote their unremitting efforts to the intensifying of their cooperation and to the further strengthening of the traditional friendship between the Chinese and American peoples." – Joint Statement of Chiang-Kai Shek and Eisenhower, June 19, 1960 Image Courtesy of The Diplomat -
Assistant Secretary of State Roger Hilsman Softens the U.S. Position on China
"[US-China policy should] keep the door open to the possibility of change and not [slam] it shut against any developments which might advance out national good, serve the free world, and benefit the people of China." – Assistant Secretary of State Hilsman, Dec. 13, 1963 Image Courtesy of The New York Times
