Key events in Sino-U.S. relations
Oct. 1949 - Mao Zedong's Communists establish People's Republic of China. Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists flee to Taiwan. Washington recognizes Chiang's Republic of China government in Taipei, withholds recognition of Beijing.
1950 - China enters Korean War alongside North Korea, battling U.S.-led UN forces. Two sides sign armistice in 1953.
Sept. 1954 - China shells Taiwan-held island of Quemoy, prompting Washington to sign mutual defense treaty with Taipei pledging retaliation in case of Chinese invasion.
July 1958 - China attacks Quemoy again. Washington hints at use of nuclear weapons.
Aug. 1964 - China sends troops to North Vietnam in response to U.S. bombing after the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
July 1971 - U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger makes secret visit to China, heralding new opening with exchanges of table tennis teams in "ping-pong diplomacy".
Feb. 1972 - President Richard Nixon visits China, signs Shanghai Joint Communique declaring that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.
Jan. 1979 - Beijing and Washington establish diplomatic relations. Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping visits United States.
June 1989 - Sino-U.S. ties are frozen after Chinese army crushes student-led Tiananmen pro-democracy demonstrations.
May 1994 - U.S. President Bill Clinton renews Beijing's most-favored-nation status and drops U.S. China policy of linking trade and human rights.
May 1995 - Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui visits U.S. alma mater, after United States reverses policy of denying visas to Taiwan leaders. In June, China recalls its ambassador to Washington.
March 1996 - China menaces Taiwan with missile tests in run-up to island's first direct presidential elections. United States sends two aircraft-carrier battle groups to region in show of support for Taiwan. Lee wins election by landslide.
Oct 1997 - Jiang Zemin becomes first Chinese president to visit United States in 12 years.
June 1998 - Clinton visits China.
May 1999 - United States bombs Chinese embassy in Belgrade during NATO operations against Serbia. Washington calls it an accident.
Nov. 1999 - United States and China agree to terms for China's entry into World Trade Organization.
April 2001 - U.S. spy plane makes emergency landing on southern Chinese island of Hainan after collision with Chinese fighter jet. China releases 24 crew after U.S. apology.
Oct. 2001 - Jiang meets President Bush at Shanghai APEC summit, offers to help in U.S.-led "war on terror".
Feb 2002 - Bush makes second visit to China in three months.
May 2002 - Bush welcomes China's future leader, Hu Jintao, to the White House for talks.
Oct 2002 - Jiang visits Bush at his Texas ranch over crisis created by North Korea's admission that it has nuclear weapons.
Nov 2005 - Bush visits Beijing and calls for greater political and religious freedom in China.
(Source: Reuters)