V. President Nixon Visits China - Page 1

After a secret meeting with Henry Kissinger in 1971, Nixon visited China in 1972 the tide of China/American relations changed dramatically. In 1979, the United States and China restored full diplomatic relations. And Deng flew to the United States for an official visit. A month later China had become further disillusioned over The Soviets and their help to Vietnam. China invaded Vietnam to begin a war that would bring them a costly defeat with the loss of 500,000 soldiers. Deng secured the post of premier for Zhao Ziyang replacing Hua Guofeng. By 1982 the census of China had exceeded 1 billion and would continue to be China's most serious problem. Sixty-three percent of the population had an age less than 30.

In 1982 criticism of Mao gained acceptance. Most of his books languished unread in corners of bookstores. Statues and large portraits began to be taken down and disappear. Liu Shaoqi became a good party member posthumously and now shared Mao's mausoleum. Peng Dehuai also received rehabilitation and came back into good graces albeit also posthumously. Deng instituted a policy aimed at lowering the age of party officials and leaders in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). He also began a requirement that more officers and government officials should have a college education. Deng said "Some of these Cadres are old Revolutionary Ghosts, they have done nothing since the Long March." At least 140 senior CCP members stepped down. 900,000 other cadres aged sixty and older announced their retirement. Private enterprise began to emerge. "Warehouse factories" (those who produced goods that only ended up in warehouses and not sold) began to be dismantled. The State would no longer allow factories to be run at a loss. The State gave bonuses to units that ran their factories at a profit.