Yesterday, I watched a conversation program featuring James Soong and Bailingguo (a Taiwanese YouTuber and influencer), and it reminded me of this incident. I thought I'd make a note of it, and when I have the time, I'll delve into a more detailed analysis.

The KK Show - 228 James Soong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj7p0avvhNo

Statements from Washington D.C. and Beijing

On the evening of December 15, 1978, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (10:00 AM Beijing/Taipei Time on the 16th), U.S. President Carter delivered an impromptu address at the White House. President Carter announced, "I will now read a joint communiqué, which has been simultaneously signed by the leaders of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. At the same moment (10:00 AM Beijing Time on December 16), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China also released information on the establishment of diplomatic relations. This is the 'Joint Communiqué of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations' (China-U.S. Joint Communiqué). It declares that the United States and the People's Republic of China will formally establish diplomatic relations on New Year's Day of the following year. Both countries will establish embassies, and the United States will 'acknowledge' the One-China policy, ceasing diplomatic relations with Taipei.

Taipei Perspective

In the early hours of December 16, 1978, at 2:00 AM (Taipei Time), then Deputy Director of the Government Information Office, James Soong, woke up a sleeping President Chiang Ching-kuo. He informed President Chiang that both Beijing and Washington would imminently announce the establishment of diplomatic relations. At 3:00 AM, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of China, Leonard Woodcock, urgently requested a meeting with President Chiang to convey that the Carter administration would formally establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on January 1 of the following year. Simultaneously, diplomatic relations with the Republic of China would be severed. President Jimmy Carter would make the official announcement in seven hours. President Chiang immediately summoned key political and military figures to the Seven Seas Residence for overnight discussions on countermeasures. On the same day, in the morning, President Chiang delivered an impromptu address, condemning the United States for breach of trust and abandonment of an ally. The government pledged to make maximum efforts to maintain stability and, concurrently, ordered the temporary suspension of the upcoming additional Central Election for National Assembly Representatives.

https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/中華民國與美國斷交

James Soong

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Soong

Chiang Ching-kuo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Ching-kuo