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Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter only served one term, but those four years were rough: oil embargos, inflation, the Iran hostage crisis, and the decision to recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It was an unpopular move, especially in Taiwan. President Carter asked his deputy secretary of state, Warren Christopher, to go to Taipei and deal with the fallout. Christopher received possibly the most hostile “welcome” to Taiwan ever experienced by an American government official.
Cover: Former PRC vice premier Deng Xiaoping and former U.S. president Jimmy Carter sign historic diplomatic agreements between the United States and China on Jan. 31, 1979. (Photos via the Jimmy Carter Library)
The following are edits from the transcript of President Carter's statement in Washington on normalizing relations with China, as recorded by The New York Times through the facilities of ABC News on Dec. 16, 1978:
READ FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE
The United States of America and the People's Republic of China have agreed to recognize each other and to establish diplomatic relations as of Jan. 1, 1979.
The United States recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.
I have paid special attention to ensuring that normalization of relations between our country and the People's Republic will not jeopardize the wellbeing of the people; of Taiwan. The people of our country will maintain our current commercial, cultural, trade and other relations with Taiwan through nongovernmental means. Many other countries of the world are already successfully doing this.
These events are the final result of long and serious negotiations begun by President Nixon in 1972 and continued under the leadership of President Ford. The results bear witness to the steady, determined, bipartisan effort of our own country to build a world in which peace will be the goal and the responsibility of all nations.
The normalization of relations between the United States and China has no other purpose than the advancement of peace. It is in this spirit, at this season of peace, that I take special pride in sharing this good news with you tonight.
Thank you very much.
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Below: Via Taiwan Today: Former ROC President Chiang Ching-kuo receives then US Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher, right, in December 1978. Christopher traveled to Taipei to discuss future relations after the US government announced it would establish diplomatic ties with mainland China. (File Photo)
Below: Warren Christopher got an extremely hostile reception when he landed in Taipei. Via The Atlantic
Below: The Washington Post December 27, 1978
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Check our very first episode, the story of a very white man who showed up in London in 1703... and claimed to be from Formosa. Or try a foodie episode from Season 3. Or, for those who want some harder-core history, hear the tale of the Lockheed U-2 pilot Wang Hsi-chueh 王錫爵, who became famous for defecting to the PRC by hijacking China Airlines Flight 334 on May 3, 1986.
