Secrecy in US Foreign Policy

Dr Yukinori Komine is an Associate in Research at the Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA.

• A Note on Transliteration of Chinese Terms; Introduction; Part I The Foundations of Foreign Policy Decision-Making; Chapter 1 The Nixon-Kissinger Leadership for a New China Initiative; Chapter 2 Foreign Policy Decision-Making Machinery for the US Rapprochement with China; Part II The Evolution of the Rapprochement Policy; Chapter 3 The Development of Policy Options from January to July 1969; Chapter 4 The Reassessment of the China Policy from July to November 1969; Chapter 5 The Resumption of the Warsaw Ambassadorial Talks from December 1969 to May 1970; Chapter 6 The Development of Backchannel Communications from June 1970 to July 1971; Part III Direct Talks; Chapter 7 Kissinger’s Trips to Beijing in July and October 1971; Chapter 8 Nixon’s Trip to China in February 1972; epilogue Epilogue; conclusion Conclusion Appendix;

'China remains an enticing subject for the study of U.S. foreign relations since 1945. This book examines, in detail, the causes, the processes, and the consequences of the Sino-US rapprochement in the 1970s for their subsequent bilateral relationship in Asia. It is a stimulating account of high politics, and a significant contribution to our knowledge of the subject.' Saki R. Dockrill, King’s College London, UK '...an illuminating account of the personalities, politics, and policy deliberations behind the historic change of U.S.-China policy...diligently pursued oral histories, declassified documents, and interviews with participants in the White House and the State Department, lay bare the bureaucratic obstacles overcome by both Nixon and Kissinger through secret activity at home as well as abroad.' Allen S Whiting, University of Arizona, USA 'This thoroughly researched, well-documented study of Nixon's opening to China in the early 1970s offers a number of new insights...Komine smoothly integrates the impact of unexpected events usch as border fighting between China and the Soviet Union as well as the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Thus, the principal value of the work is its carefully organized presentation of every key step in the development of this new relationship. Recommended.' Choice '... well written and grounded in archival research. Scholars both of Sino-American relations and of policymaking studies will learn from [this book].' Journal of Cold War Studies