After a year and a half of negotiations primarily centered on the issue of Taiwan, Deng Xiaoping visits the United States on January 1, 1979, to sign the second Joint Communiqué of the United States of America and the PRC. In signing the Communiqué, the United States agrees to China's three principles for the establishment of diplomatic relations - the severance of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the abrogation of the Mutual Defense Treaty, and the withdrawal of forces from Taiwan.

2nd Joint Communiqué of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China