America's Foreign Policy Practice Ecam

The aim of improving relations with China under Nixon's administration was primarily achieved through promoting trade and peaceful relations. Nixon recognized the strategic importance of China and sought to open diplomatic channels, believing that engagement could lead to a more stable international environment and greater economic opportunities for the United States. This approach included high-profile diplomatic visits, such as Nixon's groundbreaking trip to China in 1972, where he met with Premier Zhou Enlai and Chairman Mao Zedong, significantly altering the geopolitical landscape.

The emphasis on trade and cultural exchange laid the groundwork for a relationship that moved away from decades of hostilities and isolation. This strategy was underpinned by the belief that stronger economic ties would contribute to more peaceful global relations.

In contrast, establishing military bases or forming a mutual defense alliance would have likely escalated tensions rather than eased them. Supporting Chinese territorial expansion contradicts the principles of promoting peaceful relations, as it would involve infringing on the sovereignty of neighboring nations and undermine stability in the region.