He knew that conflict in Asia could be long lasting and tensing.
America already suffered great consequences after interfering in Asian wars. American people were very upset because their relatives were involved in the wars, which had nothing to do with them directly. Nixon agreed that bitter dissension has torn the fabric of American intellectual life, and whatever the outcome of the war the tear may be a long time mending (Nixon, 115). That is why when he started to run his presidential office, he concentrated on Asian conflict. He saw solving of Asian as well as American military problems in constructing strong military power of Asian non-communist countries. Only then free Asian states in cooperation with their Western and the USA allies would be able to isolate Chinese interventions. In “Asia after Vietnam” Nixon made it clear that Americans are not going to deal with China. He stated that “the world cannot be safe until China changes.” He saw the aim of the United States in “introducing such a change”. In 1972, as Nixon observed there were bad relations between Soviet Union and China Nixon saw it as an opportunity to start talks with China. So he did in 1972 in Shanghai Communiqué. Nixon talked to Mao Tse Dong and Chou En-lai. Main issues were about the “containment” strategy as long as at that time both China and the United States were opposed to Soviets. Also political leader discussed the war in Vietnam and made some concessions. Basically it was an issue” Taiwan to Vietnam” as long as China wanted Taiwan and the United States wanted” peace with honor” in Vietnam. Back home in the USA, Nixon gave hope to those who were waiting for their soldiers to come back. He hoped to get American troops out in six months (People and Events). Nixon achieved his goals and made the Chinese play his game. From this point Nixon compared his trip to the moon flights and suggested that a postscript for his journey should be the words on the plaque left on the moon by the first astronauts who landed there: “We came in peace for all mankind.”(New York Times, 2/18 and 2/20/72). Nixon also defined his trip as “the week that changed the world” (PP, 1972, p.379).
It was nothing of the sort. It had brought little in the way of change, even to Asia. The American retreat from mainland Southeast Asia was already under way, indeed almost completed. Nixon’s negotiations with Chou over the Taiwan paragraph in the communiqué, and Kissinger’s oral statement, made it clear the U.S. was not abandoning Taiwan.