Discuss the reasons for changes in Sino-American relations between 1949 and 1976.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the reasons for the changes in Sino-American relations between 1949 and 1976. Reasons may predate the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to the souring of Sino-American relations in 1949 as a result of the US support for the Nationalists during the Chinese Civil War and the US refusal to acknowledge the People’s Republic of China as a legitimate state. Hostility was heightened in the 1950s and 1960s by a series of proxy wars. The thawing of relations between the PRC and the US after 1969 was largely due to changing geopolitics. The US was seeking to bring an end to the war in Vietnam and hoped for China’s help, while the Sino-Soviet split motivated China to look for rapprochement with the US. Candidates may discuss the 1969 Sino-Soviet border conflict and Nixon’s election as president. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

There were numerous responses to this question. Candidates were required to offer a balanced review of the reasons for the changes in Sino-American relations between 1949 and 1976. Responses varied greatly in quality. Some candidates demonstrated a good knowledge of the reasons for changing Sino-American relations throughout the time period in the question. However, some responses lacked coverage of the whole time period with many responses skipping from the Korean War to Ping Pong Diplomacy with nothing discussed in between. There were also some very narrative responses that didn't really address the reasons for the changing relations.