In a dramatic reversal of its long-standing commitment to the Nationalist
Chinese government of Taiwan, and a policy of non-recognition of the
communist People’s Republic of China, America’s U.N. representatives
vote to seat the PRC as a permanent member. Over American objections,
Taiwan was expelled.

The reasons for the apparently drastic change in U.S. policy were not
hard to discern. The United States had come to value closer relations
with the PRC more than its historical commitment to Taiwan. U.S.
interest in having the PRC’s help in resolving the sticky Vietnam
situation; the goal of using U.S. influence with the PRC as diplomatic
leverage against the Soviets; and the desire for lucrative economic
relations with the PRC, were all factors in the U.S. decision.