Lessons Learned

A Former American President Celebrates 30 Years of U.S.-China Relations

By staff reporter SETH ADAM GROSSMAN

A month before the PRC 60th anniversary celebrations in Beijing, I traveled back to the US as part of a group from the Chinese media to meet with former American president George H.W. Bush, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Sino-U.S. diplomatic ties. The interview he granted us was for Chinese television and part of a larger series featuring various individuals recounting developments in New China that took place on their watch. Mr. Bush and the PRC have done more than just cross paths over the last 60 years. His particular story began back in the early 1970s when then President Nixon took notice of a young congressman from the State of Texas.

A Chance Encounter

Nixon saw Bush as a rising star in the Republican Party, and selected him for a top position at the United Nations in 1971 where he served for two years. It was during Bush's term of service that China began to lobby for restoration of its seat in the UN. However the former president's connection with Asia started much earlier than that.

Bush had became one on the Navy's youngest aviators at the age of 18, fresh out of high school. It was there, in the Pacific Theater, that his plane was shot down over Japan. He managed to parachute to safety. Recreational parachuting remains a passion of his even now and he celebrates his important birthdays – including his recent 85th – with a ritual of skydiving. Bravery is a hallmark of his character; he does not back down from challenges and this would come to play an important role in his relationship with China. To thank Bush for his support, namely, giving up his seat in congress to help with another campaign, President Nixon appointed him Ambassador to the United Nations in 1971. Coincidentally, in October of that same year the PRC finally won control of a seat in the UN and membership into the United Nations Security Council.

The newly voted-in PRC sent their first delegation to New York. Bush knew that it would behoove him to better understand the emerging new China as the channels were reopened. Henry Kissinger, National Security Advisor under Nixon, had made two historic trips to the People's Republic of China. In July and October, 1971 (the first famously done in secret) he traveled to confer with Premier Zhou Enlai, then in charge of China's foreign policy. This was an effort by the administration to formalize relations between the two countries. Mr. Bush affectionately recounted in the interview his memory of a chance encounter with Qiao Guanhua, Chairman of the Chinese Delegation at the U.N., in the lobby of its New York headquarters. The two went on to become long-term friends, with Qiao giving Bush his first window into the Middle Kingdom. Bush, at the time, was pursuing several important issues for China at the U.N.

Go East Young Man

So it was no surprise in 1973, that George Bush would jump at the chance to take a diplomatic position in China when the US opened its liaison office in Beijing. Following the resignation of President Nixon, vice president Gerald Ford took office. The new president quickly offered Bush cozy ambassadorships in France or the UK, but Bush knew the real future was in the East. The Bush who is one to never back away from a challenge went instead for the position in China, despite the fact that his role would be limited due to the lack of a formal diplomatic structure between the two countries. The Liaison Office did not have the official status of an embassy and Bush did not formally hold the position of ambassador, though he acted as one unofficially. He only got to spend a little over one year in Beijing, but that experience made a deep and lasting impression.

According to Jeffery Engle, coauthor of Bush's memoir of that period, China Diary, "Many of the lessons Bush internalized during his 15 months in Beijing from 1974-75 marked his later presidency. While in China he mastered his personal style of diplomacy, believing international relations functioned more smoothly when leaders were not only counterparts but real friends as well. In Beijing he also learned the value of quiet diplomacy."

Bicycle Diplomacy

Bush, as Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China, found himself living in Beijing under conditions which were at times difficult. Henry Kissinger, a man well versed in the obstacles that the U.S. Liaison would face, had warned Bush of the challenges. George would not be swayed. He longed to meet the people on the street to learn about this mysterious place. As it was against the rules for him to have guests or be a guest in an everyday situation, he and his wife traveled by bicycle through the streets of Beijing. This allowed them the opportunity to interact with more people, while getting some exercise at the same time.

Bush told us one of the highlights from that residency. It came at an official dinner where he was introduced to Communist Party of China Chairman Mao Zedong. When told by his advisor that the U.S. Liaison was in attendence, Mao immediately asked why he had not yet paid him a visit. Mr. Bush remembers thinking to himself, "I did not know that I could, as I was not even a full ambassador." He raced back to his offices to try and arrange a more formal meeting, but the opportunity to meet the Chinese leader never arose again.

Mr. Bush was keen on getting fuller exposure for the country. This was not always easily accomplished in a short stay in China, but he was determined to explore as much as he could. He visited many factories, cultural sites and schools. As an ex-oilman he was especially drawn to the nation's oilfields and on a visit to Daqing he discussed the topic of profitability and efficiency with local managers. He explained that if a worker was not able to fulfill his duties due to laziness, he should be let go. Daqing's manager replied with a chuckle, that they would not fire the employee, but rather re-educate him. They were less worried about profit and efficiency, than with insuring each citizen employment. In the early years of the PRC words like "market" and "profit" were still counter to the revolutionary ideals. Bush went on to say, "During that first stay in China I could never have imagined that China would achieve what it has achieved today."

Lasting Ties

In 1976 prior to Bush's return to Washington to take up his post as Director of the CIA, Deng Xiaoping hosted a farewell dinner for him and his wife Barbara. The two statesmen had become close allies. Their friendship was a key factor in why in 1989 after the American Congress began calling for sanctions against China and the immediate withdrawal of the American ambassador, President Bush instead chose to leave the diplomatic channels open by sending General Scowcroft to Beijing, and even writing to Deng Xiaoping personally.

A question regarding 1989 – the year that saw the Berlin Wall come down and the Soviet Union dissolve – was posed to the former president. We asked if there were many who were expecting China to follow suit. Bush responded: "No, I never thought that would ever happen. I mean I don't remember anyone making such a prediction. Many people talked about the confrontation between socialism and capitalism. Whatever people have said, China has transformed from a rigid and isolated society to an open nation, where people are entitled to increased freedom, and small and large businesses can grow. China is no longer what it once was. No, I don't believe that China would ever collapse or split in any way."

Bush again threw his support behind China in 1991 when he proposed to extend unconditionally their "most favored nation" status with the U.S. This was another difficult confrontation with members of American congress who favored a tougher stance.

Following his presidency, George H.W. Bush continued to travel to China as often as possible, making over a dozen trips. He talked about the special Chinese suit that he had made on the occasion of his 50th wedding anniversary. Bush again returned last summer for the Olympic Games with his whole family in tow including his son, then president George W. Bush. Bush was even made honorary captain of the U.S. Baseball team (he played baseball in college). President Bush waxed nostalgic about driving around Beijing revisiting his former haunts. He beamed with pride in seeing that the city and country that played such a major role in his life had come so far. Although now in his mid 80s and fearing that he may not get the chance to return to China, he has no doubt that his grandchildren will continue to forge along the road he paved between the two nations.