Remembering Jimmy Carter

Former US President, Jimmy Carter, passed away at the age of 100. A man of strategic insight and integrity, his life was filled with courage and frustration. I have felt his far-sighted vision and leadership in balancing powers in America.

Carter's connection with China began in the late 1940s when he was stationed as a submariner in Qingdao, Shandong province, continuing the China-US alliance that paved the way for the success of the Pacific War. During his tenure in the White House, the world order underwent a significant transformation, shifting from the China-US-USSR alliance of WWII to US-USSR confrontation, with Beijing in a deep standoff with both Moscow and Washington.

Despite Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972, the process of normalizing China-US relations did not progress smoothly thereafter. However, Carter took a strategic view to advance it, even though he was not under immense pressure to expedite the process. His decisive action to establish diplomatic ties with China reshaped peace and stability in the Western Pacific. He will always be remembered for this historic chapter.

However, Carter resorted to the Taiwan Relations Act in an effort to balance the US approach toward both sides of the Taiwan Strait, which created a pretext for US politicians to interfere in China's domestic affairs under the guise of internal US legislation. This outcome is regrettable.

As we remember Carter, Chinese and US people should take pride in his legacy of promoting peace and stability in China-US relations over the past four decades, laying the foundation for regional prosperity. Both China and the US used to navigate their respective diplomacy under the innovative leadership of Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter.

Carter might also feel uneasy knowing that the challenges he once faced have now grown significantly. Some secessionist politicians on the island are trying to push Taiwan toward "independence", likely putting Beijing and Washington on a collision course. He would likely regret seeing this as he bids farewell to the world.

In remembering Carter at the end of the year, let us draw upon his wisdom of finding common ground without allowing differences to divide us.

The author is a professor emeritus and former executive dean at the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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