Yesterday, I read a fascinating memoir by a staff member from the Chinese Liaison Office in the U.S., established in 1973. The article, titled "The Bits and Pieces of the Work around the Establishing of the Liaison Office in the U.S." (驻美联络处, Zhù Měi Liánluò Chù, the Liaison Office in the U.S.), recounts the early days of this important diplomatic mission.
The author was part of the first group to arrive in Washington, D.C., on May 28, 1973, alongside Director Huang Zhen, as they set up the Liaison Office.
Several aspects of the memoir stood out as worth exploring further. First, it's important to recall that President Nixon's historic visit to China took place on February 21, 1972. Just a year later, Liaison Offices were established in both the U.S. and China. Premier Zhou Enlai is credited with coining the term "Liaison Office" as a diplomatic workaround. This allowed American and Chinese personnel to work in each other’s capitals and engage diplomatically without the formal recognition that embassies would require.
The creation of these offices marked a significant step in gradually restoring U.S.-China relations. They became key channels for high-level communication and cooperation, laying the important groundwork for full diplomatic relations, which were eventually formalized in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter. By then, the Liaison Offices in Washington, D.C., and Beijing were upgraded to full embassies.
In her memoir, the author recalled a pivotal moment before Huang Zhen officially took his post as head of the Liaison Office. Chairman Mao personally received Huang and emphasized that the Liaison Office would be "even more important than an embassy." Typically, an embassy has a single ambassador with full authority, but at the Liaison Office, both the director and deputy director held ambassadorial rank, underscoring the high priority the Chinese government placed on this office.
While the establishment of the Liaison Office is central to the memoir, it’s the smaller details that add depth. One such detail is the author’s account of her sudden reassignment. At the time, she was working on Norwegian diplomatic affairs, preparing for the visit of the Norwegian Prime Minister to China. Unexpectedly, shortly after returning to Beijing from Guangzhou on May 18, she was informed she would leave for Washington just 10 days later, on May 28, to help establish the Liaison Office, giving her no time for any personal arrangements.
Reading her memoir reminded me of similar accounts from American staff who served in China during this period --Life in the US Liaison Office in Peking. Many brought their families with them, and photos show children playing and adapting to life in Beijing. It made me wonder—what about the author's family? Did her children join her on this momentous journey to Washington, just as American diplomats' families were part of the experience in Beijing?
The establishment of the Liaison Office in 1973 marked a turning point in U.S.-China relations, symbolizing cautious progress toward mutual understanding and door-opening. Memoirs like this offer a glimpse into the personal sacrifices and rapid changes that accompanied these diplomatic efforts. As we reflect on these initial door-opening moments, let us remember the sacrifices and detailed work of the people who helped build bridges between the two countries.