Page 21 - THE SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL
P. 21
icle by Dr. James Eric (Jay) Black, Chair, Mercer University
Department of Journalism and Media Studies
[Images/George H. W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations]
In recognition of his “monumental
and enduring contributions” to the
advancement of US-China relations, the
George H.W. Bush Foundation for US-China
Relations presented the inaugural George
H.W. Bush Award for Statesmanship in US-
China Relations to the former president
Jimmy Carter in Atlanta June 14.
As the 94-year-old Carter is recovering from
a hip injury, his son Chip Carter accepted the
award on his behalf.
“President Bush and I agreed that the
relationship between the United States and
China is of utmost importance. I am grateful
for his administration’s invaluable support
of my post-presidential efforts with China,”
Carter said in a statement.
When Carter took office in 1977, a
significant improvement in relations between
Communist China and the United States
seemed far from inevitable. Presidents before
Nixon had failed to make significant progress
in improving relations with the People’s
Republic of China. President Nixon’s attempt
to normalize relations with China during
his second term had been frustrated by the
Watergate scandal. The collapse of South
Vietnam and the opposition of conservative
Republicans created an inhospitable
environment for pursuing normalization
during Gerald Ford’s presidency; any policy
shift that could be depicted as appeasing
a longstanding communist enemy and
abandoning a loyal, anti-communist ally
generated significant political resistance.
During Jimmy Carter’s presidency, the most
dramatic moment in Sino-American relations
occurred on December 15, 1978, when,
following months of secret negotiations, the
United States and China announced that they
would recognize one another and establish
official diplomatic relations. As part of the
agreement, the United States recognized the
South China Business Journal 18
Department of Journalism and Media Studies
[Images/George H. W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations]
In recognition of his “monumental
and enduring contributions” to the
advancement of US-China relations, the
George H.W. Bush Foundation for US-China
Relations presented the inaugural George
H.W. Bush Award for Statesmanship in US-
China Relations to the former president
Jimmy Carter in Atlanta June 14.
As the 94-year-old Carter is recovering from
a hip injury, his son Chip Carter accepted the
award on his behalf.
“President Bush and I agreed that the
relationship between the United States and
China is of utmost importance. I am grateful
for his administration’s invaluable support
of my post-presidential efforts with China,”
Carter said in a statement.
When Carter took office in 1977, a
significant improvement in relations between
Communist China and the United States
seemed far from inevitable. Presidents before
Nixon had failed to make significant progress
in improving relations with the People’s
Republic of China. President Nixon’s attempt
to normalize relations with China during
his second term had been frustrated by the
Watergate scandal. The collapse of South
Vietnam and the opposition of conservative
Republicans created an inhospitable
environment for pursuing normalization
during Gerald Ford’s presidency; any policy
shift that could be depicted as appeasing
a longstanding communist enemy and
abandoning a loyal, anti-communist ally
generated significant political resistance.
During Jimmy Carter’s presidency, the most
dramatic moment in Sino-American relations
occurred on December 15, 1978, when,
following months of secret negotiations, the
United States and China announced that they
would recognize one another and establish
official diplomatic relations. As part of the
agreement, the United States recognized the
South China Business Journal 18
