In what way did Richard Nixon's 1972 trip to China impact the US's diplomacy with the Soviet Union?

Question

Responses
A It helped to end the war between China and the Soviet Union.It helped to end the war between China and the Soviet Union.
B It meant that the Soviet Union would no longer be receiving US aid.It meant that the Soviet Union would no longer be receiving US aid.
C It improved the US's relationship with the USSR's main communist rival.It improved the US's relationship with the USSR's main communist rival.
D It showed that the US could be manipulated by a communist government.

Answer 1

The correct response is: C It improved the US's relationship with the USSR's main communist rival.

Nixon's trip to China in 1972 was a significant diplomatic move that altered the balance of power in the Cold War. By opening relations with China, the U.S. aimed to create leverage against the Soviet Union and improve its position in negotiations with them. The rapprochement with China also caused the Soviet Union to reassess its own strategies, leading to improved U.S.-Soviet relations as both superpowers sought to manage their competition in the context of a more complex geopolitical landscape.