Nixon's Visit to China: The Start of US-China Engagement Policy, but the Original Goal of Changing China Was Forgotten

In 1972, while mired in the Vietnam War, Nixon visited China in search of an achievement; his original intention in engaging with the CCP was to change China. However, in his interactions with the CCP, the Nixon administration gradually deviated from the goal of changing China, shifting instead to emphasizing "seeking common ground while reserving differences." To exchange for the CCP's assistance on the Vietnam issue, he promised concessions on the Taiwan issue, such as troop withdrawals and the establishment of diplomatic relations. This shift in strategy is considered a case of the CCP playing the US, rather than the US changing the CCP.