o ▁era . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 8 , ▁the ▁government ▁of ▁Canadian ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁Pierre ▁Elli ott ▁Tru de au ▁initi ated ▁negoti ations ▁with ▁the ▁People ' s ▁Republic ▁of ▁China ▁that ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁diplom atic ▁relations ▁between ▁China ▁and ▁Canada ▁on ▁October ▁ 1 3 , ▁ 1 9 7 0 . ▁Canada ▁and ▁China ▁established ▁resident ▁diplom atic ▁miss ions ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 1 , ▁and ▁it ▁led ▁to ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁diplom atic ▁success es ▁in ▁the ▁west . ▁The ▁People ' s ▁Republic ▁of ▁China ▁joined ▁the ▁United ▁Nations ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 1 , ▁replacing ▁the ▁international ▁legit im acy ▁previous ▁held ▁by ▁the ▁Ku om int ang ▁Government ▁of ▁the ▁Republic ▁of ▁China ▁on ▁the ▁island ▁of ▁Taiwan . ▁In ▁February ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁US ▁President ▁Richard ▁N ixon ▁made ▁an ▁un pre ced ented ▁eight - day ▁visit ▁to ▁the ▁People ' s ▁Republic ▁of ▁China ▁and ▁met ▁with ▁Ma o ▁Z ed ong . ▁On ▁February ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and ▁the ▁P RC ▁agreed ▁to ▁establish ▁l ia ison ▁offices . ▁Although ▁both ▁sides ▁intended ▁to ▁establish ▁diplom atic ▁relations ▁quickly , ▁this ▁move ▁was ▁delayed ▁until ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁Water gate ▁sc andal . ▁ ▁D eng ▁tra ve led ▁abroad ▁and ▁had ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁am ic able ▁meet ings ▁with ▁western ▁leaders , ▁travel ing