Critical Analysis
Richard M. Nixon in his article “Asia after Vietnam” published in October 1967 issue of “Foreign Affairs” magazine and Hofstadter in Shanghai Communiqué of 1972 showed the situation in Asia and intervention of two powers: China a The United States between years 1967 and 1972 to this region. Nixon in his article pointed out on cultural, political, economic situation in non-communist Asia. In the article he implied relationship of Asians toward America and West. He stated that Asian nations are threatened by China’s aggression. Nixon assumed the future role of Japan, China, India and the United States of America. “America is a Pacific power,” Nixon declared, but he recognized that there were sharp limits to how much power post-Vietnam America could project into Asia. “One of the legacies of Vietnam,” he wrote, “almost certainly will be a deep reluctance on the part of the United States to become involved once again in a similar intervention on a similar basis.” This left Asia open to a simply stated threat: “China ambitions”. To deal with this threat Nixon proposed a creation of regional alliance backed by the U.S. and composed of South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, South Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand (and perhaps someday, who could tell, “even India”). It should have both economic and military ties. The United States would not be a member, but should stand ready to come to the assistance of any member of the alliance threatened by internal communist uprising or external aggression (Nixon, “Asia after Vietnam”).
Basically, the enemy of such an alliance was China at that time. But in 1972 Shanghai Communiqué presented meeting between the two enemies China and the USA. Hofstadter reviewed USA attitude toward discussed questions. He also commented Chinese objections. He wrote that both sides settled following points: normalization of Sino-United States relations, avoid military collision, none of the presented sides would use any pressure on other nations. The last agreement was not involve the third part without mutual discussion between China and the United States. One of the issues for China was Taiwan question and the basic concern about the “balance of power” in Asia region. Nixon in his article proved to be very well acknowledged about foreign affairs. He had excellent strategic thinking.