1960年代末期，美國與中國得知蘇聯為彼此共同的敵人。美、中兩國分別在經歷過與蘇聯嚴重的危機後，發覺與蘇聯的衝突會大大削弱自身對待共同敵人的能力。

在這樣的情況下，資本主義的美國與共產主義的中國發起了和解政策，尤以1972年初美國尼克森總統對中國進行歷史性訪問為象徵。此次訪中似乎標記兩國之間一代仇恨的終結，同時也是震驚世界的戰略，且對其後的國際關係產生了實質影響。

尼克森訪中一事，美、中兩國有著各式各樣的目標，也代表著政策上的戲劇性轉變。這些目標的本質與其延伸的議題，在學術領域也頗有爭論。本研究的目的是對該主題進行分析，並試圖找出先前被專家學者與評論家忽略之處，如：防止越南赤化。

對於美、中兩國和解背後的目標與完成的程度有更深一層的認識，能有助於分析過去與當下的外交事件。對政治人物的洞察可從其願望與抱負得知。而更徹底地認識這些外交操作上潛在可能與限制能使本文深入研究這些改變國際關係的本質。

In the late 1960s the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China found themselves confronting a common adversary in the shape of the Soviet Union. Both nations were also experiencing severely debilitating crises which substantially weakened their capacity to deal with their perceived mutual enemy.    
It was in these circumstances that the capitalist United States (U.S.) and the communist People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.) launched a policy of rapprochement, symbolised by the historic visit of U.S. president Richard Nixon to China (the P.R.C.) in early 1972. It appeared to mark the end of a generation of enmity between the two nations, and was a strategy that shocked the world and had a substantial impact on international relations for years to come.
Both countries had various objectives for the dramatic shift in policy which this event represented. The nature of these goals, and the extent to which they were attained, were, and are, the subject of intense academic debate. The purpose of this study is to conduct a new analysis of the subject, and attempt to identify areas which have been neglected by previous scholars and commentators, such as the failure by the United States and the P.R.C. to prevent the subjugation of the Republic of Vietnam by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. 
A deeper understanding of the aims which were behind the Sino-American rapprochement, and the degree to which they were achieved, may aid in the analysis of both past and contemporary diplomatic events. An insight might be gained into the hopes and aspirations which influence the actions of statesmen. A more thorough knowledge of the potentialities and limitations of diplomatic manoeuvring could result from a study of such a spectacular attempt to alter the nature of international relations.

Chapter One: Synopsis, Literature Review, Introduction...1-16

Chapter 2: The Main Strategic Objectives of the Nixon Administration’s Policy of Attempting a Rapprochement with the People’s Republic of China...17-30
 
Chapter 3: The Achievement of the American Aims Which Were Behind the Policy of Seeking a Sino-American Rapprochement: Success and Failure...31-51

Chapter 4: The Main Strategic Objectives of the Decision by the People’s Republic of China to Pursue a Policy of Rapprochement with the United States...52-58

Chapter 5: The People’s Republic of China’s Ability to Fulfil the Aims of its Attempt to Achieve an Improved Sino-American Relationship: Triumph and Disappointment...59-66 

Conclusion......67-72

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