[super175]

The US government only recognized the Communist government in China (actually G.W. Bush's father Bush the 1st was in on the process back in the early 1970s) once the CCP agreed to #1. Change their ways and open up to the West (the begining of the much touted reforms inside of China). #2. Help defeat the USSR.

Although China was technically 'communist' they were (and still are) operating in the grey area...

It was something like 30 years that the US withheld recognition...

If China did not help the US win against the USSR, we most likely still would not recognize the PRC. The CCP had to do something big to win trust.