Editorial | Jimmy Carter’s pragmatism and humility offer lessons for the world
The late US president is remembered fondly around the globe including in China, where he is regarded as ‘an old friend’ for his role in establishing formal ties
Jimmy Carter collected his 2002 Nobel Peace Prize voicing hope that a “bond of our common humanity” would overcome divisions.
The late former US president will be remembered for living by that approach, including when he hosted Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping at the start of arguably the best era in China-US ties.
Beijing was among those around the world sending tributes after Carter died on Sunday aged 100, saying it highly valued his “long-time significant contributions” in promoting the development of bilateral relations and “friendly exchanges and cooperation”.
President Xi Jinping yesterday sent his condolences to his US counterpart, Joe Biden.
Deng’s Washington visit happened in 1979, when Carter completed work started years earlier by his predecessor Richard Nixon to usher in full diplomatic relations with Beijing.
In their White House meeting, Carter and Deng wisely set aside certain entrenched differences enough to achieve “strategic ambiguity” on difficult issues, opening doors to unprecedented cooperation in science, technology, education and commerce.
Despite opposition from some US lawmakers and critics, Carter insisted he had made the right decision to normalise ties with Beijing. But he also signed the Taiwan Relations Act meant to preserve “non-official” relations with the island. The law remains a sticking point in China-US ties to this day.
