China offers deep condolences on death of Jimmy Carter By Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters) – China offered its deepest condolences on Monday for the death of Jimmy Carter, saying the former US president was the “driving force” behind the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries. both over 40 years ago.

Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday at the age of 100. During his administration of 1977-1981, the United States government established formal relations with China, establishing the foundation laid by the President of former Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. earlier in the 1970s.

“China offers its deepest condolences on the death of former US President Jimmy Carter,” said Mao Ning, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry.

“Former President Carter was the one who inspired the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and contributed to the development of China-United States relations and the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, said Mao. regular news conference.

The Carter administration’s (NYSE: ) decision in 1979 to accept Beijing’s position that there was only one China and Taiwan as part of China, and to sever ties with Taiwan, helped chart a new course for ties.

“His historic contribution to the normalization and development of China-US relations will always be remembered by the Chinese people,” Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to the United States, wrote in the X post.

In the same year, 1979, the United States government, while adhering to its One China policy, also passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which established the legal basis for granting the island the status of to protect oneself.

Beijing says Taiwan is part of its territory and has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control.

US arms sales to Taiwan authorized by the Taiwan Relations Act remain a point of contention in Sino-US relations to this day, with Beijing repeatedly urging Washington to uphold its One-China principle, and imposing sanctions on US military suppliers and corporate executives.

Other agreements signed during the Carter administration included the US-China Science and Technology Agreement (STA) in 1979, a scientific cooperation agreement that some critics say has benefited determined Washington’s political opponent for decades.

The agreement was renewed this month, weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The State Department said the new deal is much narrower than previous versions, and does not cover important or emerging technologies.