Deng Xiaoping and China's relations with Japan,US and Soviet Union

PLA Daily 2004-08-18

　

　　In the changeable situation of the world today, relations between big powers are intricate and complex, anti-China forces dished out the "China threat theory" in an attempt to use this to hold back our development, Chinese leaders' strategy of "peaceful rise" has cleared up public opinion. How should a rising big country handle relations with the world's big powers? What kind of enlightenment can great man Deng Xiaoping's experience in handling relations with Japan, the United States and the Soviet Union bring us?

　　China-Japan relations: Encouraging friendly cooperation with great foresight

　　In his diplomatic activities, Deng twice visited Japan, and, in his heavy schedules, the most guests he met were Japanese. He had many talks on Sino-Japan relations, which were either farsighted or to the point. Due to limited space, extracts are given as follows. A review of the great man's incisive expositions reveals his broad mindedness and remarkable wisdom.

　　China-Japan friendship goes back to ancient times. Although there was a segment of unfortunate history between our two countries, in the long process of over two thousand years of friendly intercourse between China and Japan, however, that phase of history was only a transient moment." (Deng said on October 23, 1982 at the banquet held by Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda)

　　"I've a lot to say about China-Japan relations, which, however, can be summed up in one sentence: The two peoples of China and Japan should live in friendship for generations to come. This point, underscored by the 12th National Congress of the CPC, shows that it is China's long-term national policy." (Deng said while meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki on September 28, 1982).

　　"Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou had time and again reiterated China's policy on being friendly with Japan from generation to generation, a policy that would not be changed with personnel change of Chinese leaders. There is no reason for the two countries and two peoples of China and Japan not to go on with their friendship." (Deng said on June 28, 1987 while meeting with Japanese delegates to the fifth China-Japan government members conference)

　　"It is not that there are not any problems between China and Japan, for example, the problem of Diaoyu Island and the problem of the continental shelf. These problems should not get involved at present, they can be set aside and discussed calmly in the future, a method acceptable to both sides can be discussed slowly. If a method can not be found in our generation, then it would be found in the next and again next generation." (Deng said while meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Tadashi Sonoda on August 10, 1978)

　　"There has recently arisen the question of Japanese cabinet members paying formal visits to Yasukuni Shrine. We haven't created any difficult problems for Japan these years, whereas Japan has caused very difficult problems for us such as issues concerning the textbooks, Japanese officials' recent visits to the Yasukuni Shrine and commendation of Chiang Kai-shek's posthumous virtue." "It's out of my wishes to continue developing Sino-Japan friendly relations that I propose Japanese statesmen, Japanese government leaders and various friends pay attention to this issue." "For Japan, refraining from doing these things will not incur any losses, but instead will make it possible to calmly, steadily and continually develop economic-political relations between the two countries. Here is the place where real understanding should be reached." (Deng said while meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Abe Sintaro on October 11, 1985)

　　"Some unhappy things need to be handled properly. Solution to which is beneficial to the two countries and the two peoples. As to the historical disputes in China-Japan relations, to be frank, the Chinese side has no responsibility for which. With regard to the understanding and evaluation of history, it is necessary to emphasize the need to take a new, forward-looking attitude and refraining from bringing trouble and causing unnecessary new disputes. None of the existing disputes was caused by China. China has adopted a most restrained attitude toward these problems, including persuading its people." "While the two sides considering problems, they should base themselves on a long-term view on solving long-term issues. To deal with present and future possible disputes, we should calmly and speedily engage in joint cooperation, and properly solve the disputes as quickly as possible in order to avoid hindering the development of our long-term ties." (Deng said on June 28, 1987 while meeting with Japanese delegates to the fifth China-Japan government members conference)

　　Sino-US relations: a decisive remark at a critical moment

　　On January 1, 1979, China and the United States established ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations and realized normalization of Sino-US ties. This is an important milestone in Deng Xiaoping's diplomatic career. Soon after resuming post during the "cultural revolution" in the spring of 1973, Deng had become a chief assistant to Premier Zhou Enlai in handling foreign affairs, especially the establishment of Sino-US relations. Taking over the work relating to Sino-US ties under the difficult situation, he maneuvered to push forward the normalization of Sino-US ties.

　　With the passage of 30-odd years, diplomatic files once kept confidential have been gradually made public and books of reminiscences of persons involved have been published one after another. This reporter interviewed a number of people once participated in China-US negotiations on establishing diplomatic ties. A few episodes in this phase of history would serve to prove Deng's foresight and sagacity in foreign affairs.

　　Episode 1. On December 1 1978, Deng came to the ongoing work conference of the CPC Central Committee and reported a few important questions the Political Bureau was considering, the first one being to realize the establishment of formal diplomatic relations with the United States.

　　Episode 2. After representatives from China and the United States held their sixth secret negotiations in 1978, Deng, on December 13, met with Leonard Woodcock, US negotiation representative and director of US liaison office in China, during which he pointed out that the United States should cease selling weapons to Taiwan one year before the "termination" of US-Taiwan "Common Defense Treaty", those already on their way could not be counted. But what he was really concerned about was when the arms sales to Taiwan could be stopped completely?

　　Deng said: we hope Mr. Woodcock can understand how important the issue is. The issue of arms sales to Taiwan injects a kind of destructive mentality between the mainland and Taiwan. We hope to unite our motherland and we can guarantee full autonomy to Taiwan. Taiwan can keep its own political and economic systems, even its army. But these must be put under the "One China" banner.

　　Episode 3. There were only 15 hours before the scheduled announcement of the establishment of China-US diplomatic ties. At 4 pm, December 15, Deng again received Woodcock who asked for an urgent meeting. As it turned out, Woodcock came to "clarify" the stand that the US government only agreed to "suspend", not "permanently stop" arms sales to Taiwan one year before the termination of US-Taiwan "Common Defense Treaty".

　　Deng flew into a fury after hearing Woodcock's statement. He gave a forceful strike on the armrest of the sofa, and declared loudly, "we don't agree with the United States on arms sales to Taiwan!"

　　Usually, Deng was reticent. But at that moment he poured out words in a steady, logic flow. He severely refuted the argument of the US side, pointing out that if the United States continued to sell arms to Taiwan, it would mean sending a wrong message. After China and the United States having established diplomatic ties, Deng said: we hope the US government would handle relations with Taiwan in a cautious manner, and don't affect China's efforts to solve the Taiwan question in a most rational, peaceful way. If the United States continues its arms sales to Taiwan, from a long-term point of view, it would lay obstacles to China's peaceful solution to the question regarding Taiwan's return to the motherland.

　　As a great strategist, however, Deng decided that the question of arms sales to Taiwan, which should not be allowed to obstruct the establishment of diplomatic relations, can be left for future settlement. He agreed to realize the normalization of China-US relations "in accordance with the original plan"..

　　Sino-Soviet relations-put an end to the past and open new prospects for the future

　　The Sino-Soviet relations began to worsen since the late 1950s, and remained abnormal until the early 80s. On March 24, 1982, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev made a speech in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, in which he transmitted a message of improving ties with China. After analyzing the prevailing international situation and conditions of the Soviet Union, Deng concluded that the time was getting ripe for improving Sino-Soviet ties and decided to take actions for this purpose. Later on, the normalization of China-Soviet ties had been proceeding under his personal concern and guidance.

　　Firstly, after learning Brezhnev' s speech in Tashkent, Deng immediately called the Foreign Ministry, instructing them to respond to the Soviet leader's speech.

　　After that, in the summer of that year, Deng invited state leaders including Chen Yun and Li Xiannian, as well as leaders of the Foreign Ministry to his home to discuss matters relating to Sino-Soviet relations. At this meeting, Deng proposed three principles for bettering Beijing-Moscow relations. Firstly, taking action to transmit a message to the Soviet Union for a noticeable improvement in Sino-Soviet ties. Secondly, the improvement of Sino-Soviet ties must be based on principle, on the precondition that the Soviet Union solves the "three barriers", that is, to withdraw troops from the China-Soviet border areas and from Mongolia; to withdraw troops from Afghanistan; and to persuade Vietnam to withdraw from Cambodia. Thirdly, in improving ties, practical questions should be put in the first place, and the focus of consideration should be shifted from ideological disputes to national interests. After the meeting, the Foreign Ministry sent its representative to convey a message to Moscow. Then, government envoys at deputy-ministerial level from the two countries conducted many rounds of political consultations on normalization of relationship. In the ensuing three years, three Soviet leaders passed away one after another and China sent government envoys to Moscow to attend their funerals. At the same time, the two countries sent high-ranking officials to visit each other's countries and exchanges increased. However, the Soviet Union made little progress in removing the "three major barriers".

　　To break the deadlock, Deng set forth his tentative plan for a China-Soviet summit meeting when meeting with visiting Romanian leader Ceausescu on October 9, 1985, under the precondition that the Soviet Union must eliminate the "three barriers", and asked Ceausescu to convey the message to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

　　Under Deng's efforts the "three barriers" were removed and Gorbachev paid an official visit to China from May 15-18, 1989, during which he held a summit meeting with Deng. Deng fixed the theme for the meeting--put an end to the past and open new prospects for the future. He had a review of history while having talks with Gorbachev and particularly stressed that with the settlement of these historical accounts, the focus should be placed on the future.

　　After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Sino-Russia relations developed rapidly on the basis of principles fixed at this meeting for guiding inter-state relations. The two countries have surmounted ideological obstacles and established strategic cooperative partnership facing the 21st century. By now, China-Russia relationship has become a stable and positive one between big countries. Deng Xiaoping not only made great contribution to the normalization of Sino-Soviet ties, but also laid a foundation for the subsequent smooth development of Sino-Russia ties. His historic contribution made in these respects will go down in history forever.

　　(People's Daily Online)