美苏缓和与中美建交

Relaxation of Soviet-America relation and normalization of Sino-US relation

从 1972年尼克松访华到 1978年底中美建交公报发表 ,两国关系正常化经历了一个漫长的时期。原因很多 ,其中之一是美苏关系的牵制。尼克松政府寻求与苏联的缓和 ,导致中美关系停滞不前。福特政府期间正常化没有进展。卡特政府中主管外交的国务卿万斯和国家安全事务助理布热津斯基在一些问题上观点相左。万斯认为美苏缓和关乎美国外交的全局 ,中美关系应从属于美苏缓和。布热津斯基认为缓和本身是复杂的 ,美国应实行多中心的政策 ,应利用中苏分裂减少美国对苏联战略意图的担心。卡特在 1977年受万斯影响较多。由于缓和的衰落 ,并受布热津斯基的影响越来越大 ,卡特在 1978年年中才打定主意实现中美关系正常化。

Normalization of diplomatic relations between China and the United States took a long time after the President Nixon's visit to China in 1972 for many reasons. One was the influence of Soviet-American relations. The Nixon Administration pressed détente with the Soviet Union, which brought Sino-American relations to a stand still. Normalization had no momentum during the Ford Administration. Secretary Vance and National Security Advisor Brzezinsky, who were in charge of foreign policy under the Carter Administration disagreed with each other over some issues. Vance held that Soviet-American détente was the central issue of the U.S. diplomacy, and relations with China should be subject to the détente. Brzezinsky maintained that détente was very complicated, and American foreign policy should be multi-centric, the United States should take advantage of the Sino-Soviet split as to lessen its fear of the Soviet strategic intention. Cater himself was overwhelmingly under Vance' influence in 1977. Because of the decline of détente, and the increase of Brzezinsky's influence, Carter made up his mind to normalize relations with China in mid 1978.