Why did Tanaka Kakuei establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China?

Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1972 primarily as a response to a rapid reorientation of Japan’s foreign policy following U.S. overtures toward mainland China in 1971.1

At the time, the international landscape was shifting, and Beijing had expressed a new interest in formalizing relations with Japan, provided that Japan revoked its existing treaty with Taiwan. Recognizing these geopolitical changes, Tanaka reached an agreement with Beijing to normalize relations, which necessitated that Japan simultaneously sever its official ties with Taiwan. This move marked a significant departure from the previous policy of maintaining diplomatic recognition with the Republic of China (Taiwan) and reflected a broader strategic adjustment to the changing dynamics between the United States, China, and Japan.12