A 'Gentleman's Understanding': British, French, and German Dual-Use Technology Transfer to China and America's Dilemma during the Carter Administration, 1977-1981. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peng, Sheng
• Is Part Of: Diplomacy and statecraft. Volume 32:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 188
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: Diplomacy -- Periodicals; World politics -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; 327
• DOI: 10.1080/09592296.2021.1883865
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-2296

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This examination considers an understudied aspect of Sino-American relations during the Jimmy Carter Administration: the transfer of military technologies from American allies in Western Europe to China during and after establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and how these transfers played a central role in the Chinese leader's, Deng Xiaoping's, overall Cold War strategy. This study argues that Western Europeans tended to act much more independently than Americans expected in trading with the Chinese – a situation capitalised on by Deng and his comrades, whose long-term military ambitions extended far beyond the Cold War.