ADST-DACOR Diplomats and Diplomacy Book
China Boys
How U.S. Relations with the PRC Began and Grew
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by
Nicholas Platt (
Washington, DC:
New Academia Press/Vellum Books, March, 2010) "
Nick Platt, a key participant when the Pentagon and the PLA began to talk to each other in 1979-80, illuminates the beginning of what is becoming the key relationship in the world's military balance.
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China Boys offers a close-up view of the U.S. opening to China and the pioneer days in U.S.-China relations that followed. Former ambassaador and Asia Society persident Nicholas Platt reocunts the preparations and interplay surrounding the historic Nixon visit to China in 1972, the setting up of America's first resident diplomatic office in the PRC, and first encounters between Americans and Chinese Olympic athletes, orchestra maestros, members of Congress, airplane manufacturers, bankers, scientists, and inner city youths. Platt reveals the forging of the first links between the Pentagon and the People's Liberation Army. He shouws how these diverse prectical ties evolved into today's huge and crucial relationship.
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How should the West deal with a China that has risen? Before you decide, you'll want to read Nick Platt's fascinating account of his many roles in American efforts to understand and cooperate with Beijing since th emid-1960s. Platt sheds light on important events that have been forgotten or misunderstood and lets us see how the U.S. government processes China policy....I especially liked his evocation of China-watching from Hong Kong in the 1960s, Nixon's historic 1972 trip, and setting up the U.S. Liaison Office the following year. This book offers much food for thought, but an hour after you put it down, you'll be hungry for more!
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ADST
380 pp, 24 illustrations, notes, index
Cloth $28.00 (members' price $25.00)
HAROLD BROWN, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 1977-81:
JEROME A. COHEN, Co-Director, US-Asia Law Institute, NYU:
Nicholas Platt was an Asia hand, China specialist, and intelligence analyst in the U.S. Foerign Service, with degrees from Harvard and Johns Hopkins and posts at State, Defense, and the National Security Council. A three-time ambassador: Zambia, the Philippines, and Pakistan, he was for twelve years president of the Asia Society.
Location: NFATC / Foreign Service Institute
4000 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, Virginia
Tel: 703-302-6990; Fax: 703-302-6799
Mailing address: ADST c/o Bentley, 2814 N. Underwood St.,
Arlington, VA 22213
Copyright © 2010, Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training
