Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976, Volume XIX, Part 2, Japan, 1969-1972

85. Letter From President Nixon to Japanese Prime Minister Sato¹

Washington, August 3, 1971.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

In my letter to you of July 16² I discussed some of the elements which were involved in recent developments between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. I also expressed my profound regret concerning the manner in which we found it necessary to announce my invitation to visit Peking. Now, in keeping with the desire I expressed in that same letter to keep in close touch with you on China policy, let me take this opportunity to pass along some additional thoughts concerning my acceptance of the Chinese invitation.

First, you will recall that very early in my Administration I laid down a general policy objective of broadening communications between the American and Chinese peoples. Last December I set the normalization of Sino-American relations as my ultimate goal³ and earlier this year I remarked that I would like to be able to visit China at some suitable time, either as President or in a private capacity.⁴ Therefore, what I am now planning represents the continuation of an existing policy and is not a new departure, despite the suddenness with which the Peking trip was announced. Circumstances have simply developed in a way that makes it possible for this visit to take place much earlier than I had originally anticipated.

I want you to know, too, that in travelling to Peking I am not assuming that the many important differences between the United States and the People’s Republic of China have been swept away. These remain and we still must deal with them. It is my profound hope, however, that this journey will make a contribution to peace, not only in Asia but throughout the world, and it is in this spirit that I will go to Peking.

Thirdly, you may be sure that this visit is not directed against any other country. There are too many dangers in the world to permit any such exercise of power politics. I regard any easing of the tensions between the United States and the People’s Republic of China as being in the best interest of all countries which, for geographical or other reasons, have a significant interest in the People’s Republic of China and its role in world affairs.

Most importantly, you have my deepest assurance that my visit to China will not be at the expense of old friends. We will, for example, maintain our commitment to the Republic of China. At the same time, the preservation and strengthening of my country’s relations with yours continues to be one of our foremost goals. The United States and Japan have fundamental common interests concerning the stability of peace in Asia and the world as well as in the economic sphere. I most sincerely welcome your views and suggestions as to how we might strengthen our ties in these areas, in addition to your thoughts on my trip to Peking. Meanwhile, we will be consulting closely with you as to how we should deal with the Chinese representation question at this fall’s session of the United Nations General Assembly.

May I take this opportunity to reassure you of the high value I attach to our personal relationship, and to express the hope that our efforts to maintain a close personal understanding will help us in meeting the momentous challenges which both our countries face.

Sincerely,

Richard Nixon

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 757, Presidential Correspondence Files 1969–1974, Japan (Sato Corr) 1969–8 July 1972. Secret.
2. Document 79.
3. At a December 10, 1970, press conference Nixon said, “Looking long toward the future, we must have some communication and eventually relations with Communist China.” Full text is in Public Papers: Nixon, 1970, p. 1110.
4. At an April 29, 1971, press conference Nixon commented, “I hope, and, as a matter of fact, I expect, to visit Mainland China sometime in some capacity—I don’t know what capacity.” Full text is ibid., 1971, p. 594.