From Rivalry To Dialogue

In the study of Sino - US relations during the Cold War, it is necessary to study further the Americas policy towards China in the 60s, especially during the Vietnam War. This thesis tries to discuss the reasons for the war, and emphasis on how the US treat China during the war. Then conclude the lessons of Vietnam War and the influence to international relations of the end of the war and the detente between the US and China. As for the reasons of the Vietnam War, It analyze from global, country and territory ways to point out that it was not as simple as a mistake but a part of American containment policy. It was the results of Cold War ideas and the " Open - door" policy. During the war, Americas attitudes towards China had changed a lot from containment to detente. This thesis analyzes the differences and similarity among three Presidents. Kennedy Administration is an important period to its Vietnam and China policy. Because it engaged too much in Vietnam making it impossible to change its China policy. Johnson Administration followed Kennedys policy and made Vietnam War escalated. Just during this period, there were some public opinions beginning to change. Nixon Administration finished the war and changed its China policy. The Vietnam War was the watershed of the American postwar foreign policy. The end of the war and the reconciliation between the US and China brought about the fundamental transformation of the international relations. It brought the Cold War era which marked with delimiting sphere of influence and antagonism into global era marked with dialogue and coop-- 4 - —4 一eration. Here comes the interdependence and cooperation time in human history.There are four parts in this thesis. Part one discuss the reasons for Vietnam War from global, country and territory ways. Firstly, from the international politics, Vietnam War was a part of the America hegemony, it was also the Domino theory to contain the Chinese communism. America wanted to control the southeast of Asia and burdened too much in South Vietnam. Secondly from the policy - making and principle, the Vietnam War was the results of the collision between the ideas of building a " Open - door" world and the Cold War ideas. It was the actions of the American " Open -door" policy. American dream of a open world made it wanting to control the southeast Asia, and the war disobeyed the "Open -door" principle. This was the tragedy of Amreica foreign policy. What a pity! "Objection different from action, dream and reality changed" , American foreign policy always like this. Vietnam War was symbol of the tragedy of American foreign policy.Part two-. Three US Presidents'China policy during the war. Kennedy Administrations "limited war" made it hard to change its China policy. Johnson Administration began to escalate the war but did not made China into the war. Nixon Administration began to find ways to finish the war and detente with China. The Nixon Doctrine means dialogue and cooperation, the international relations entered a new era.Part three: The lessons of Vietnam War; America came to realize that it was useless and no way out to contain China. China came to realize that it have to finish its i-solation and open to the wjorld. Both America and China came to realize that they have to enhance their cooperationa and believe in each other, other than rivalry. Only face the future can be useful to the world peace and stabilization. The end of the war meant not only the detente of the Cold War, but also the end of the Cold War. The international structure changed from the Cold War time to the new era of interdependence andcooperation time.Part four: The influence of the war and the Sino - US detente to the international relations: The Vietnam War was the watershed of the American postwar foreign policy. The end of the war and the reconciliation between the US and China brought about the fundamental transformation of the international relations. We have a long way to go. In the coming twenty - fir...