On 21 February 1972, history was irrevocably altered as President Richard Nixon became the first sitting US leader to set foot in the People's Republic of China, marking a seismic shift in global diplomacy.
His week-long visit, which culminated in a landmark meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing, was a masterstroke of realpolitik, orchestrated to recalibrate Cold War dynamics and counter Soviet influence.
The trip paved the way for diplomatic recognition and economic engagement between the two nations, redefining the geopolitical landscape and heralding a new era of US-China relations that continues to shape the world order today.
