The U.S. Government's China Policy And The Public Opinion Controlling (1956-1972)

After China formed an alliance with the Soviet Union,the United States of America had always been waiting for a chance to disintegrate the relationship of these two socialist giants,therefore,the United States of America must consider the reactions of both China and the Soviet Union when making its policies to the Soviet Union or China.However,after the two countries and parties of China and the Soviet Union experienced a period of "honeymoon period",contradictions began to appear,from the contradictions between China and the Soviet emerging after Union after the 20th Congress of the CPSU to the completely breakdown of the alliance between China and the Soviet Union,a war on the verge of breaking out.the alterations in the relationship between China and the Soviet Union made the U.S.having a series of adjustment towards its policies towards China correspondingly.At the time of adjusting its policies towards China,inevitably,the United States of America needs to guide,manage and control public opinion,making it to be the driving force rather than the resistance in the diplomatic adjustment.Exploiting the related government files and opinion polls data,this paper makes a comprehensive consideration of American citizens' opinions about China and the government's opinion management,which sorts out the way in which the opinion of the American government was controlled mainly includes:the combination of stealth and public hints;hosting the policy briefing conference all over the country;speaking to the media with the one voice;offering the information to the media subtly and making use of folk psychology.And it showed a series of characteristics:with the president as the core,a strict news releasing system,and the closed cooperation between governments and media giants.In actual results of opinion control,the America government successfully guided anti-Chinese sentiment of Americans in Eisenhower era,and resulted in promoting America's tough policy toward China.In Kennedy era,the US government's opinion control had two sides,on the one hand,this had demonized image of China;on the other hand,it also had exaggerated the reports of great famine of China.Then both of them leaded to containment policy,such as the Partial Test Ban Treaty,and "keep the door ajar" which is the detente,has owned the supports of America people.In the early of Johnson era,for creating a favorable situation to upgraded the Vienam war,the U.S.government hyped the China's expansion in Vietnam,so that Vietnam policy has been supported by people.However,in the later period of this time,the anti-war sentiment has rised up in America,and these public opinions has driven the movements of the government.In the Nixon era,this time has witnessed the rapid growing of the public voice which is calling for the improvement of relationship between America and China.With this help of public voice,the Nixon government has guided the people continuously,and make the sino-US ice-breaking trip has come true finally.