People's Republic of China

Earlier Chinese Governments and the Revolution of 1949

Chinese representation in Washington predates the People’s Republic. The Qing government negotiated treaty relations with the United States in 1844, and the Republic of China succeeded the monarchy in 1912. These earlier missions pursued questions of sovereignty, migration, and treaty rights. [1] [8]

The Second World War ended without resolving the conflict between Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists and Mao Zedong’s Communists. George Marshall’s attempt to negotiate a coalition and ceasefire failed as civil war resumed. Mao proclaimed the PRC on October 1, 1949; the ROC government relocated to Taiwan. Washington continued to recognize the government in Taipei. In the Korean War, American and Chinese forces fought on opposing sides. [9]

Opening Channels to Beijing

The opening developed through intermediaries before the two governments had embassies in one another’s capitals. Nixon used Pakistani president Yahya Khan as a channel to Beijing, and Kissinger visited secretly in 1971. Nixon’s own visit in February 1972 produced the Shanghai Communiqué. These contacts allowed the governments to discuss strategic concerns and improve relations while the United States still formally recognized the ROC government in Taipei. [10]

In October 1971 the UN General Assembly recognized the PRC’s representatives as China’s representatives at the United Nations, replacing those of the Republic of China. Bilateral recognition by the United States followed in 1979. The Taiwan Relations Act separately preserved the property interests of Taiwan’s governing authorities in the United States. [11] [1] [12]

From Liaison Office to Embassy

The People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations with the United States on January 1, 1979. Its Washington representation had begun six years earlier as a liaison office, during a period when the United States still recognized the Republic of China government in Taipei. [1] [2]

Huang Zhen headed the liaison office from May 1973. Before its opening, Henry Kissinger instructed American departments to coordinate their contacts with the office through the National Security Council and State Department. The new channel offered officials responsible for defense, commerce, agriculture, and other subjects ready access to Chinese representatives while formal diplomatic recognition remained unresolved. [2] [3]

When Huang met Kissinger at San Clemente in July 1973, he said that Premier Zhou Enlai could not visit the United States while the Republic of China retained an embassy in Washington. Their discussion nevertheless ranged across Cambodia, Korea, and relations with the Soviet Union. [4]

The same meeting turned to housing the mission. Huang had located four houses near S Street and Massachusetts Avenue, but zoning rules prevented office use. Hotels had proved unsuitable, and one raised its price after learning of Chinese interest. Huang asked for help finding an office building and accommodation for staff. Kissinger offered to seek a zoning change or another property. [4]

Ambassadorial Representation and a New Chancery

Chai Zemin, who succeeded Huang as liaison chief in 1978, became the PRC's first ambassador in March 1979. The agreement establishing relations provided for embassies and an exchange of ambassadors on March 1, following recognition in January. At the same time, the United States ended diplomatic relations with the Republic of China and provided for continuing commercial, cultural, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. [2] [5] [1]

The mission later moved to a large compound on International Place. Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong hosted a National Day reception in the new chancery on September 29, 2008; the embassy dates the building's regular use to April 1, 2009. Office wings, meeting and reception rooms, an auditorium, and a garden brought administrative and ceremonial functions together. Consular document services are listed separately on Wisconsin Avenue, extending the mission's work beyond the chancery itself. [6] [7]

Competition and Continuing Diplomacy

The relationship developed through both confrontation and economic negotiation. The violent suppression of demonstrations in Beijing in June 1989 brought American condemnation and the suspension of military sales and high level exchanges. A different set of negotiations drew China more deeply into international commerce: after almost fifteen years of accession talks, it joined the World Trade Organization on December 11, 2001. Membership brought commitments on trade rules and market access whose implementation became a continuing diplomatic concern. [13] [14] [15]

At their November 2023 meeting in Woodside, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping discussed Taiwan, trade, technology, and regional security while agreeing to resume military communication and counternarcotics cooperation. Climate envoys also pursued negotiations. [16]

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