Former US President Jimmy Carter is remembered in China for his pivotal role in ending decades of hostility and establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1979, a move that significantly impacted US-China relations for years to come.
During the Cold War era, the Carter administration engaged in secret negotiations with Chinese officials to normalize relations, which had been strained since the Chinese Communist Party came to power in 1949. This marked a significant shift from Washington's previous recognition of the Republic of China in Taipei as the legitimate government of China.
