Utilizing the Right Wing for a United Front: Negotiations for the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the PRC and the FRG in 1972
Author: Jun Ge1,*, Rongting Wu2
Affiliation 1: Department of History, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Affiliation 2: Institute for Sinology, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 106, Freiburg, Germany
Nuova rivista storica 2026, 110(3), 833-856 https://doi.org/10.32604/nrs.2026.080147
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Ideology, Realpolitik, and Historical Memory: China’s Principles and Practices in Establishing Diplomatic Relations with non-Socialist Countries during the Cold War, 1949-1972)
Received: 03 February 2026; Accepted: 24 June 2026
Abstract
In seguito al riavvicinamento sino-americano dopo la visita di Nixon in Cina nel 1972, la Repubblica Popolare Cinese iniziò a esplorare relazioni diplomatiche formali con la Repubblica Federale di Germania (RFG). Tuttavia, il governo di Brandt, vincolato dalla sua “Ostpolitik”, mantenne un approccio prudente verso la Cina. Per contrastare l’influenza sovietica e impedire che la RFG si avvicinasse all’Unione Sovietica, la Cina ritenne necessario stabilire rapidamente legami diplomatici con la RFG. Nel perseguire questo obiettivo, la Cina cercò di sfruttare l’Unione Cristiano-Democratica per persuadere l’amministrazione Brandt ad avviare colloqui diplomatici e a fare concessioni sulla questione di Berlino Ovest. Nonostante questi sforzi, i negoziati incontrarono ostacoli significativi, con la questione di Berlino Ovest come principale impedimento. I colloqui, che durarono oltre un mese, subirono ritardi in gran parte a causa del ruolo del Ministero degli Esteri come esecutore di politiche piuttosto che come decisore politico.
PAROLE CHIAVE
Relazioni Sino-Tedesco-Occidentali, Negoziazioni Diplomatiche, Questione di Berlino Ovest, Fronte Unito
Abstract
Following the Sino-American rapprochement after Nixon’s 1972 visit to China, the PRC began exploring formal diplomatic relations with the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). However, Brandt’s government, constrained by its Ostpolitik, maintained a cautious approach towards China. To counter Soviet influence and prevent the FRG from drawing closer to the Soviet Union, China saw the need to swiftly establish diplomatic ties with the FRG. In pursuit of this goal, China sought to leverage the Christian Democratic Union to persuade Brandt’s administration to open diplomatic talks and to make concessions on the West Berlin issue. Despite these efforts, negotiations encountered significant hurdles, with the issue of West Berlin as the primary obstacle. The talks, which lasted over a month, faced delays largely due to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ role as a policy implementer rather than a policy maker.
KEYWORDS
Sino-West German Relations, Diplomatic Negotiations, West Berlin Issue, United Front
