U.S.-PRC POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS, 1967-1984: AN ANNOTATED CHRONOLOGY

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Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
06922911
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RIPPUB
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U
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128
Document Creation Date: 
July 13, 2023
Document Release Date: 
May 4, 2022
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Case Number: 
F-2021-00986
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December 1, 1985
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� R-3298 � Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 This document consists of 127 pages. CopMo. 027 of 150 copies, Series D. C 07770 1 - U.S.-PRC Political Negotiations, 1967-1984 An Annotated Chronology (U) Richard H. Solomon December 1985 RAND CONTROL NO. 503-1168 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 JL PREFACE This classified annotated chronology was developed to assist U.S. government officials responsible for managing relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and government analysts of the Chinese political scene. It was prepared as part of a larger study of PRC political negotiating behavior.' The chronology summarizes the evolution of the "normalization" dialogue between the United States and the PRC between 1967 and 1979 and post-normalization negotiations between Washington and Beijing on the issue of American arms sales to Taiwan. The annotated summaries of the senior-level exchanges also document exchanges on international political and defense issues of concern to the two governments. NOTE ON CLASSIFICATION This report has been given the overall classification of SECRET per review and decision by the National Security Council Staff of September 24, 1985. � Much of the NSC-controlled original source material for this analysis, primarily negotiating records, was initially classified TOP SECRET. The decision to downgrade the classification of this study reflects a number of considerations: that such negotiating records, as controlled by the Department of State, are normally handled at the SECRET level of classification; that the sensitivity of the documents has declined somewhat with the passage of more than a decade; and that a study of these materials at the SECRET level would be more readily accessible�and therefore of greater value�to a broader mnge of the official community. 1 See Richard 11. Solomon, Chinese Political Negotiating Behavior. 1957-1954: An Interpretive Astessment (L), The RAND Corporauon, R-3299, December 1985 (Secret). UI _SECRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 ,�..�Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 S-16rL-4tErT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author is indebted to David Grits who, in his role as National Intelligence Officer for East Asia. conceived and supported this project, and to James McCullough, Director of East Asian Analysis, for the support his office provided throughout the research effort. Many officials and former officials of the US. government gave generously of their time in helping the author assemble the documentary record of U.S.-PRC negotiations. Particular appreciation is due Robert C. McFarlane, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; David Laux, Brenda Reger. and Donna Sirito of the National Security Council staff; Assistant Secretary of State Paul D. Wolfowitz; M. Charles Hill, Executive Secretary of the Department of State; and Elijah Kelly, Jr., of the Executive Secretariat. Dr. Henry A. Kissinger and General Brent Scowcroft were helpful in enabling the author to gain access to the records of the Nixon and Ford administrations. And Professor Michel Oksenberg assisted in assembling the key documents from the Carter administration. Anna Sun Wynston. my research assistant, provided timely and ever-productive assistance in assembling materials for the project; and my secretary Mary Yanokawa is due special credit not only for typing and producing this and the other two manuscripts of this project, but also for organizing my work effort and providing professional support throughout that effort. SEGRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 pproved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 SEeRET CONTENTS � PREFACE iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Section I. INTRODUCTION 1 Background: A Study of Chinese Political Negotiating Behavior 1 A Chronological Reference and Running History 1 Scope: A Comprehensive Summary of Senior-Level Political Exchanges 1 Phases in the Evolution of U.S.-PRC Relations 3 Use of this Chronology 5 U.S.-PRC POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS, 1967-1984: AN ANNOTATED CHRONOLOGY 7 1967 7 1968 7 1969 7 1970 10 1971 13 1972 19 1973 28 1974 40 1975 48 1976 58 1977 60 1978 64 1979 75 1980 78 1981 83 1982 93 1983 106 1984 110 Appendix A. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ON U.S.-PRC NEGOTIATIONS 113 � B. AMERICAN AND CHINESE OFFICIALS CITED IN THE CHRONOLOGY . . . . . 117 C. ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE CHRONOLOGY 125 vii SEGRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 0,127G-1�,..Cd: 1 I. INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND: A STUDY OF CHINESE POLITICAL NEGOTIATING BEHAVIOR This annotated chronology of senior-level political exchanges between the United States and the people's Republic of China (PRC) was prepared as pan of a larger study of Chinese political negotiating behavior.' At the beginning of that study, the author constructed a brief, descriptive chronology of negotiating encounters to assist in reconstructing the record of official exchanges between senior Chinese and American political leaders, especially those encounters related to the normalization of U.S.-PRC relations between 1971 and 1978, and to negotiations with Chinese authorities over the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan in 1981 and 1982. The working chronology turned out to be of sufficient value that the author was asked to prepare an elaborated version, including extensive summaries of the substantive issues discussed in each negotiating encounter and a review covering the period 1967 to 1984, the years in which the United States and the PRC gradually moved away from the hostility and confrontation of the 1950s and 1960s to establish diplomatic ties and to conduct the full range of normal state-to-state political, economic, and�in limited form�security relations. A CHRONOLOGICAL REFERENCE AND RUNNING HISTORY This classified chronology is designed to assist U.S. government analysts conccmcd with the Sino- American relationship and "operational" officials responsible for formulating and implementing U.S. China policy and conducting negotiations with their counterparts from the PRC. It establishes a concise historical framework for the evolution of normal U.S.-PRC relations, highlighting the primary negotiating encounters between senior Chinese and American officials during this 17-year period and summarizing the key issues discussed and the major policy departures put forward by each side. This chronology is the only comprehensive survey of this negotiating record based on official documents that are now scattered among collections held by the White House, the National Security Council, the Departments of State and Defense, the libraries of Presidents Nixon. Ford, and Carter, and the Kissinger collection in the Library of Congress. SCOPE: A COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY OF SENIOR-LEVEL POLITICAL EXCHANGES It is important to define the scope of the documentary assessment this chronology is based on: It is comprehensive, but not complete. The documents reviewed for the chronology represent something on the order of 95 percent of the official record of senior-level U.S.-PRC political negotiating encounters for the years covered. Some documentation has either been lost or is accessible only with great difficulty, but virtually all critical negotiating encounters have been located. I See Richard H. Solomon, Chinese Political Negotiating Behavior. 1967-1984: An Interpretive Assessment (D), The RAND Cotporatiort, R-3299, December 1985 (Secret). SET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 SECRET U.S.-PRC POISTICAL NEGOTIATIONS, 1967-1954 Some especially sensitive exchanges, particularly those of a political name, were never recorded on paper. For example, a discussion between PRC Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping and President Carter and a few senior officials in Washington on January 29, 1979, which concerned China's intent to "teach a lesson' to Vietnam for its invasion of Cambodia, was never recorded. Also, Chinese and American officials would occasionally raise particularly sensitive matters while sightseeing, in dinner-table conversations, during car rides to or from airports, or in asides at the end of formal negotiating sessions. Most of the issues discussed in such off-the-record encounters, however, appear in subsequently recorded discussions. � h must also be emphasized that full control over this negotiating record is rendered almost impossible by the documentary control procedures of the U.S. government. Each relevant agency�primarily the White House, the National Security Council, and the Departments of State and Defense�has its own documentary control systems. The agencies normally do not exchange negotiating records, except perhaps on an informal or "bootleg" basis. There is no central repository of this negotiating record within the U.S. government. Moreover, within each agency there are various levels" of documentary control. For example, the Department of State's normal secret-level cables are given fairly wide internal circulation and extensive distribution in the field to relevant embassies and consulates, in contrast to the highly restricted "NODIS" (no distribution) channels at either secret or top-secret levels of classification. Similarly, the National Security Council has a "normal" system of documentary control, while particularly sensitive materials are handled in an "outside the system" accountability control process, or in a 'really outside the system" (i.e., totally unrecorded) manner. The White House, in addition, has a highly controlled "back channel" system of telegraphic communications with U.S. embassies abroad by which ambassadors can communicate directly with the President or his National Security Adviser in a highly restricted and secure manner. Further complicating the problem of access to the full documentary record is the fact that over time documentary collections are dissipated, destroyed, or removed to various governmental libraries or storage centers. As a result of the normal turnover of government officials and the limits of documentary storage space there is probably not much more than a three- to five-year Institutional memory' of official documents readily available to operational officials at any given time. And it has become fairly standard practice for an administration, in its waning hours, to remove its politically most sensitive documents to the retiring President's library or, as in the case of the Kissinger collection, to the Library of Congress, where the material is subject to controlled access. Finally, much documentation, including transcripts of telephone conversations, sensitive "back channel" telegraphic messages, or uncontrolled memeranda, are virtually beyond retrieval except through extraordinary effort and highly controlled usage. The author of this chronology gained authorized access to the record of U.S.-PRC political exchanges in part because of the support of senior officials of the Reagan administration, in part because of his prior exposure to most of this material as a staff member of the National Security Council during the years 1971- 1976 and subsequent work as a consultant to the NSC and the Departments of State and Defense, and because of the support of former senior officials who, in their formal roles in the decisionmaking and implementing process, created much of this negotiating record. The problems of gaining full documentary control have been partially compensated for by the growing corpus of memoirs prepared by former government officials, which draw upon their own records as well as their recollections of events in which they participated. This chronology draws upon a fairly extensive collection of such memoirs (set Appendix A), which have been used to check and supplement the formal documentary record. In addition, more than 30 detailed interviews were conducted with former senior officials involved in the development of Sino-American relations, both to check certain aspects of the formal record and to gain the officials' impressions of the manner in which Chinese officials manage the negotiating process�the primary concern of this project. 3ICRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 pproved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 WIre-KET ; NTRODUCTION 3 The chronology focuses on senior-level. Executive Branch political negotiating encounters with PRC counterpart officials. It docs not include internal U.S. government policy deliberations; it is largely a record of the face-to-face negotiating exchanges between Chinese and American officials in which the policy positions of each side were formally communicated to the other. This record is thus based largely on the English-language memoranda of conversations, the -memcons" which are the formal and official record of negotiating encounters.2 (It should be noted that such records, while generally accurate, are not always precise verbatim transcripts; and on rare occasions, they have been altered prior to distribution in governmental channels because of some special policy or operational sensitivity.) The chronology is largely a record of senior-level negotiations by Presidents, Secretaries of State, National Security Advisers, and Assistant Secretaries or Ambassadors acting on behalf of their principals. It contains few references to exchanges between senior Chinese officials and Congressional delegations, except where such encounters contain especially important political "signals." And there are limited inclusions of press statements by American or Chinese leaders where such public material was clearly used by the officials concerned as part of the negotiating process. The chronology does not include detailed assessments of negotiating encounters by Cabinet-level officials (such as the Secretaries of the Treasury or Commerce) or other senior negotiators in which the subjects under discussion are not relevant to the political normalization of U.S.-PRC relations, management of the Taiwan issue, or Sino-American exchanges on international political and security issues. Similarly, the Chronology does not include much of the increasingly voluminous "middle-lever communication between Chinese and American officials, which is largely relevant to the process of implementing policies set by their superiors, except in instances where such communications shed light on Chinese negotiating practices. PHASES IN THE EVOLUTION OF US.-PRC RELATIONS The text below puts the period covered (1967-1984) in a broader historical context of Sino-American relations and describes briefly the periods, or phases of the U.S.-PRC political dialogue. There are distinct differences in the political character of these periods, as well as variations in the style of the negotiating process and the channels of communication involved. In broadest terms, the U.S. government's dealings with the Chinese Communist movement�which after 1949 was institutionalized as the government of the People's Republic of China--fall into four distinct phases. The first covers the "pre-liberation" years, especially the 1930s and 1940s, when official contact was established through the U.S. Army's "Dixie Mission" to the Communist capital of Yanan during World War II, the Chinese Communist Party mission in the Nationalist Chinese government's wartime capital of Chungking (Chongqing), and after the defeat of Japan in 1945, via a range of contacts with the soon-to-be- victorious Communist authorities during the Civil War period (particularly the mission of General George C. Marshall to mediate the Communist-Nationalist civil war). The second phase is the two-decade period of adversarial confrontation from the founding of the PRC in 1949 through the Korean War years, the military confrontation over Taiwan, and the Vietnam War The Chinese counterpart officials in this negotiating relationship keep their own verbatim records of these same exchanges�but oi course in the Chinese language. Except in rare insunccs. no effort has been made to verify that the English-language transcript of a negotiating encounter (which is a record of the English-language presentation by the US. official and a translation into English of the ,Chinese-language presentation by a PRC official) is the same as the Chinese-language record held by the PRC. SEGIET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 pproved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Skl"4--ttElr. 4 U.S.-PRC POLMCAL NEGOTIATIONS.1967-1� period. During this time. U.S.-PRC official contact was maintained primarily through ambassadorial-1m exchanges at Geneva and Warsaw. The third phase is the period of efforts by senior leaders in Washington and Beijing (Peking)3 initiate and conduct a process of normalizing the Sino-American relationship covering the years 1967 (whi presidential candidate Richard Nixon published an article in Foreign Affairs calling on the United States "come urgently to grips" with the problem of the U.S.-PRC confrontation) through 1978, when Sin American diplomatic relations were finally established. The fourth phase of Sino-American relations begins with formal recognition and the establishment diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979, and continues to the present day. This chronology covers the last two of these phases in the U.S.-PRC relationship. It should also I noted that within the years 1967 to 1984 there are several distinct periods of official COMMUiliCatiC between Washington and Beijing. From 1967 through mid-July 1971 communication was largely indirec either through unilateral public statements and gestures (e.g. the Nixon article noted earlier, or Chairmn Mao's reception in 1970 of American Edgar Snow atop Tien An Men on October 1, the PRC national dc celebration) or the exchange of messages through intermediary governments, primarily the Romanian an Pakistani. This period also covers the last two of the "Warsaw Talk" ambassadorial-level exchanges, i which the United States and the PRC each proposed the establishment of a direct, senior-level, secur dialogue in either Beijing or Washington. The next period begins with National Security Adviser Henry A. Kissinger's historic secret trip u Beijing for three days of direct talks with PRC Premier Dou Enlai in early July 1971 and runs up to thi establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979. Communications in this period were most visibly conducted during eight more trips to the Chinese capital by Kissinger in his roles as the President's National Security Adviser and, after September 1973, as Secretary of State, and by trips to the PRC by Presidents Nixon (in 1972) and Ford (in 1975). There were, in addition, several important overt and coven supporting channels of communication during these years which carried the bulk of political communications recorded in this chronology: publicly acknowledged channel of contact through the U.S. and Chinese embassies in Paris; a secret "Path channel" established in July 1971, involving special Presidential envoy General Vernon A. Walters (ant. occasionally Kissinger) and PRC Ambassador to France Huang Zhen; another secret channel established ir New York City in October 1971, when the PRC was first admitted to the United Nations, which involvec encounters between National Security Adviser Kissinger and China's then-Permanent Representative to the UN.. Ambassador Huang Hua. This channel was usid until China established a liaison office in Washington in May 1973 (the United States established an equivalent liaison office in Beijing at about the same time). Between the spring of 1973 and March 1979, when the two liaison offices were converted into ,embassies, the bulk of Sino-American political exchanges were conducted in Washington between Liaison Office Chief Huang Zhen and Kissinger, or during Kissinger's periodic trips to the Chinese capital. During the Carter administration, Huang Zhen and later his successor Ambassador Chai Zemin continued to be primary points of contact with Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski. The chief of the US. Liaison Office in Beijing, Leonard Woodcock, played a key role in negotiating the full normalization of U.S.-PRC relations in the second half of 1978. With the conversion of liaison offices to embassies in the spring of 1979, the Sino-American political dialogue became increasingly institutionalized ("normal"), with the Department of State playing the 3 'This text uses the pin-yin form of Romani/264m of Chinese place and given names throughout. This spelling system was adopted by the PRC as its official form on January 1, 1979. The previously used Wok-Giles spelling of the names of the Chinese officials cited in the chronology is given in Appendix 11. SECRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 ,--Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 SECRET DITRODUCTION 5 predominant role in communications between the two governments. While periodic leadership visits at the Presidential or Cabinet level have continued to be an important aspect of the Sino-American political dialogue, the negotiating process has tended to become increasingly routinized at the ambassadorial level. This was particularly the case with the 1981-1982 negotiation on American arms sales to Taiwan. It is important to be aware of this evolving institutional pattern of U.S.-PRC communications brellicr of the shifting bureaucratic locus of exchanges between the two governments. USE OF THIS CHRONOLOGY This annotated chronology has been designed to be as simple and straightforward as possible, but a few explanatory comments on the categories used (the date of an encounter, the senior officials involved, and a summary of and/or comments on the subjects discussed) will be helpful. Date. The date of a particular meeting (and the time it was recorded in the source document) represent the actual encounter at the locale where it occurred. The recording or reporting date of a particular exchange, upon occasion, may be somewhat later than the meeting itself, but the documentary record almost always identifies the time and date of the meeting. In certain negotiating situations, the time difference between Washington and Beijing4 is important to understanding the evolution of a negotiation. This is particularly so in the negotiations of December 1978, when the United States initiated a rapid, last-minute exchange of communications between the two leaderships to make certain that the Chinese government understood the American position on post- normalization arms sales to Taiwan. The relative times of negotiating exchanges being conducted via cable between Washington and Beijing can be accurately identified by using the "Zulu" or Greenwich Mean Time notation in the date-time group record in a particular cable. Senior Officials. For brevity, and to minimize repetition, only last names or surnames are used to identify the senior spokesmen involved in an encounter. Other officials are usually in the room during a negotiating session, but their names are not noted except where these individuals actively speak in a particular meeting. Full names and tides are noted only the first time an individual is identified in that particular role. Thus, Kissinger is identified on October 10, 1969, as Presidential National Security Adviser, and subsequently is referred to simply as Kissinger, except for the entry of September 26, 1973, which is his first negotiating encounter in the role of Secretary of State. Appendix B contains a listing of the full names of the primary Chinese and American officials cited in this chronology. Although Chinese names are rendered throughout the chronology in pin-yin form, the original documentary record now held by the U.S. government uses the Wade-Giles system of Roman ization for pre- 1979 memoranda of conversation and cables. Thus, Zhou Enlai is rendered as Chou En-lai in pre-1979 source documents. The Wade-Giles equivalents of Chinese officials' names are given in parentheses in Appendix B. Where there could be some confusion or lack of specificity in the use of a Chinese surname, the full name is given, e.g� Huang Hua and Huang Then are both used in full. Locale. The locale of an exchange is usually identified implicitly as the "home office" of the first official mentioned under the "Senior Officials" heading. Thus, for example, in an entry for October 20. 4 getjing is 13 hours "ahead" of Washington during the months of Standard Time in the United States. and 12 hours ahead when the United States is on Daylight Saving Time. SECRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 �-.Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 SRET U.S.-PRC POLMCAL NEGOTIAMONS, 19t 1971 identified as 'Zhou-Kissinger (4:40-7:10 p.m.) the meeting was held in Beijing (Zhou Enlai's locale�) at the given hour and date in local time. When meetings occurred in a city other than Beiji Washington, that city is explicitly identified. Summary and/or Comments. The documentary record summarized in this chronology co largely of verbatim transcripts of negotiating encounters, identified only by the date and time o encounter and the participants involved. As the process of Sino-American communication be institutionalized and politically less sensitive, particularly during and after the Carter administrz memoranda of conversation or instructions and reports on negotiating exchanges were communicate, official cables, with their elaborate system of time notations identifying the hour of transmission and re of the message and document control numbers. Such notations are not usually necessary for the retriev a document, however; the date, participants, and subject are sufficient in most cases.5 The documentary record summarized here is voluminous; these brief summaries are ince: primarily to provide a sense of the topics discussed in a particular negotiating session and major ix positions (and changes in position) put forward by the Chinese side�especially as they relate to i negotiating positions on political normalization with the United States, American arms sales to Taiwan, international political and security issues. These summaries should not be assumed to be comprehem however. Some sessions in which exceptional important initial presentations were made of Chinese pc positions, or changes in established positions, are summarized in detail. Subsequent sessions that re; established policies with little change are summarized in less detail. Where the author has judged that a particular session is noteworthy for some reason of stylt substance, comments are enclosed in brackets to indicate that they are interpretive judgments. $ Cable numbers were recorded in notes taken for the preparation of this chronology; and sources other than =means or cable similarly recorded in these notes and in the chronology where it would help the user nrtrieve a particular source document. SEGRET Anoroved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Date Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 SEC�REPT U.S.-PRC POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS, 1967-1984: AN ANNOTATED CHRONOLOGY! Senior Officials Summary/Comments 1967 October Publication of Richard *Any American policy toward Asia must come Nixon's Foreign Affairs urgently to grips with the reality of China." article, "Asia After Vietnam" 1968 November 26 PRC Foreign Ministry Proposes [i backhanded manner] resumption of statement Warsaw talks on 2/20/69. 1969 February 28, March 1 President Richard M. Nixon -French President Charles DeGaulle. in Paris and Versailles, France RN: "It is vital that we have more communication with China." [Nixon, RN. pp. 457,460-462.] February 18 PRC cancels Warsaw Cancellation said to be in reaction to "anti-China" talk scheduled for atmosphere created by defection in Amsterdam of 2/20/69 PRC diplomatic official Liao Hoshu. July 21 July 24 USG announces relaxation of passport restrictions on travel to PRC, allows purchases of Chinese goods up to $100 in value Captured American yachtsmen released by the PRC [See Kissinger, White House Years, p. 180.) 'Abbreviations and acronyms used in the chronology am defined in Appendix C SEGRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 ,...,Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 yoY prtr Ed 1 � 3 U.S.-PRC PouncAt. NEGOTIATIONS, 196 Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments August 1 August 2 August 8 September 5 October 10 November 5 Pakistani President YallYa Khan - Nixon. in Labatt, Pakistan Rumanian President Nicholae Ceausescu - Nixon, in Bucharest Secretary of State William P. Rogers' speech in in Canberra, Australia Under Secretary of State Elliot Richardson speech at American Political Science Association meeting in New York National Sccurity Adviser Henry A. Kissinger- Pakistani Minister of Information Sher All Yahya tells PRC ambassador to Rawalpindi that U.S. is ending destroyer patrols of the Taiwan Strait as a gesture of its interest in normalizing U.S.- PRC relations November 7 USG announces suspension of regular 7th Fleet patrols in the Taiwan Strait RN expresses interest in normalizing relations wit the PRC. asks Yahya to so inform Zhou Enlai. (Kissinger, White House Years. pp. 180-181.) RN expresses interest in Rumania playing a media role between the U.S. and PRC. "We have been seeking to open up channels of communication" with the PRC. "The United States could not fail to be concerned . with an ecit2lation of the Sino-Soviet quarrel." HAK informs Sher Ali that as a gesture of the desire to improve U.S.-PRC relations, regular 7th Fleet destroyer patrols of the Taiwan Strait will end. (Kissinger, White House Years, p. 1861 Source of this information: Hilaly conversation of � 12/19/69 (see below). \/* (VW .L) SECRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 ,..,Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 SECRET" 1969 9 Senior Officials Summary/Comments November 19 Richardson asks U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest Leonard C. Meeker to ask the Rumanians to convey to the PRC a letter (dated November 17) from author Theodore White to Chinese Premier Thou EnLai requesting visa NCNA Director Hong Kong -U.S. Consulate Deputy Chief Harold Jacobson December 3 U.S. Ambassador to Warsaw Walter Stoessel-PRC charge Lei Yang, in Warsaw December 5 December 7 December 11 December 19 Stoessel - Lei Yang, in Warsaw. Two American yachtsmen, held by PRC since February 16, are released Stoessel invited to PRC Embassy, Warsaw USG announces further easing of trade restrictions with PRC December 19 Kissinger - Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. Agha }Maly White tells Zhou the ferment in the U.S. is causing a reexamination of old positions regarding the PRC; he says his reporting would be read In the highest political quarters," and hints that a U.S. troop withdrawal from Taiwan could result from a change in PolicY- PRC official anticipates establishment of U.S.-PRC relations; asks for U.S. ideas on how it would resolve the Taiwan issue. Contact continues through 4/70. U.S. proposes renewal of Warsaw talks. [Kissinger, White House Years, p. 188]. January 20, 1970, set for next Warsaw talk meeting. [Kissinger, White House'Years,p. 188.] [Kissinger, White House Years, p. 191.] ililaly informs Kissinger that the Pakistani ambassador in Pelcing was told by Chinese officials . that they appreciate Pakistan's "role and efforts' in facilitating U.S.-PRC communication, and as a result they recently released two captured American 4, yachtsmen as a gesture. Kissinger tells Hilaly his - y government can now inform the Chinese that the U.S. desires serious communication with the PRC in a more secure channel than the Warsaw talks. SECRET" (i I Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 / V 10 U.S.-PRC POLITICAL NEGOITATIONS.1967- Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments December 23 Kissinger-Hilalylaly informs the U.S. the Chinese are willing to resume Warsaw talks without preconditions; they a worried about U.S.-Japan agreement and revival of Japanese militarism. �.6 1970 January 8 Stoessel - Lei Yang Arrangements set for resumption of ambassadorial talks on,1/20/70; USG will not participate in a U.S.- Soviet condominium in. Asia. [Kissinger, White Hot. Years, p. 193.] January 20 Stoessel - Lei Yang U.S. proposes sending a "special envoy" to Beijing I "direct discussions" or receiving one from China in Washington. uykr;stA (Oil) February 18 Nixon's foreign policy [We are] "auempting to define a new relationship to: report to Congress, the future"; "many of our basic interests are not in Communist China conflict" section February 20 Stoessel - Lei Yang Lei: "If the U.S. government wishes to send a representative of ministerial rank or a special envoy c the U.S. President to Beijing for further explanation c questions of fundamental principle between China an the United States, the government will be willing to receive him? t (Knit February 22 Kissinger. Hilaly Haat), conveys indirect PRC message, via Yahya Khan, of interest in direct U.S.-PRC talks, yet concert that the USG will see the interest as derived from weakness or fear of the Soviets. [Kissinger, White House Years, p. 689.] (Date of this meeting may have been 2/26/70.) May 3 May 18 General Vernon A. Walters - Chinese contact in Paris PRC cancels 137th Warsaw Talk meeting scheduled for 5/20/70 VAW: The U.S. has no aggressive intentions in Indochina [despite the recent Cambodian operation]; Kissinger is prepared to discuss issues secretly wh Chinese counterparts. -, 4.1C-n1 The cancellation is said to be in reaction to invasion of Cambodia by U.S. and South Vietnamese troops. SEeRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 "...Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 SEGRET 1970 1970 11 pate Senior Officials Summary/Comments may 0 June 20 July 3 July 10 Statement by Mao Zedong, "People of the World, Unite and Defeat the U.S. Aggressors and All Their Running Dogs," issued by PRC media Nixon - Rumanian Foreign Minister Manescu Rumanian Vice President Emil Bodnaras briefs U.S. Ambassador Leonard Meeker on contacts with China and North Korea, and Bucharest's views on these countries American Catholic - Bishop James Walsh, held since 1958, released by PRC September 7 Walters - Chinese contact. in Paris October 1 October 5 October 25 Mao - Edgar Snow review PRC National Day parade, in Beijing Nixon interviewed in Time magazine Nixon � Yahya Mao attacks "Nixon's facist atrocities" of invading Cambodia and instituting domestic oppression; revolution is the main world trend, and the U.S. is in a state of fearful panic; China supports the world's anti- US. revolutionary struggles. Manescu briefs on Chinese views of the U.S. 1. cfr Bodnaras signals PRC position on U.S. troop withdrawal from Taiwan, Mao's interest in resuming the U.S.-PRC dialogue despite the U.S. invasion of Cambodia. [Kissinger, White House Years, p. 697.) On this date, arid once earlier in mid-June, Walters approaches PRC defense attache and says he has a message for the PRC frt:rtm the USG. The Chinese do not reply to the message. [Kissinger, White House Years, p. 696.] [Snow's Life magazine interview published on April 30, 1971.] "If there is anything I want to do before I die, it is to go to China. If I don't, I want my children to." 6-1/4,r RN: It is essential we open negotiations with China; we will send a high level emissary to Beijing; we will \ make no condominium against China." 1,7 ci ( f[111.1 SECRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 1970 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 006922911 A:3 12 � U.S.MIC POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS. 19674954 Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments October 26 November 5 November 13 November 21 December 9 December 16 Nixon - Ceausescu (1055 a.m.-12:55 p.m.) Zhou- Snow, in Beijing Mao, Zhou - Yahya Zhou - Rumanian Deputy Premier Gheorghe Raduleseu Kissinger - Hilaly (6:05 Pan.) Kissinger- Hilaly (11:00 a.m.) December 18 Mao � Snow December 23 Jean Sainteny - PRC Ambassador to France Huang Zhen, in Paris Nixon signals that diplomatic relations cannot be established at the start of U.S.-PRC dialogue. Ceausescu expresses concern about a U.S.-Soviet condominium. At state banquet. Nixon toasts "the eN� People's Republic of Chine k),(0411 kf" [Snow's Life magazine interview published on April 30, 1971.] Yahya delivers Nixon's views, as expressed ip\their meeting of 10/25/70. cx.r1 ) Hilaly: A Nixon envoy is welcome in Beijing "in order to discuss the subject of the vacation of the \ Chinese territories called Taiwan."Iii 7 / (y�WIS) HA1C: The USG is prepared to begin discussions with the PRC with a view to bringing about a higher-level meeting in Beijing. The meeting would not be limited to the Taiwan question; but the USG will reduce its military presence on Taiwan as tensions diminish" in the East Asia and Pacific region. (HAK baits the offer with an oral statement that withdrawal of U.S. troops from Taiwan is not a difficult problem.] IC 7o !vi Interview published in Life magazine on April 30, 1971. (Interview not conveyed to the White House, (Hersh, p. 367)1 Sainteny: The USG is looking for a channel of communication with the PRC. LZ SECRET Annroved for Release: 2022/05/03 006922911 pproved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 0-11a2-1S,..n 1 1971 1971 13 Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments 1971 January 11 Kissinger - Rumanian Ambassador Bogdan February 4 PRC Vice Foreign Minister Qiao Guanhua - Norwegian Ambassador Algard April 10-17 April 27 April 28 May 10 May 20 May 29 "Ping-pong diplomacy" Kissinger - Hilaly Kissinger - Hilaly Kissinger- Hilaly Kissinger - Maly Zhou reply to Nixon messages received 4/29, 5/17, and 5/22, via Pakistani channel. Bogdan: If the USG has a desire and proposal for settling the Taiwan issue, the PRC is prepared to receive a special envoy in Beijing. 4 1,, Qiao: Despite recent U.S. escalation of Indochina conflict (in Laos), China sooner or later must have talks with the U.S. Taiwan is the major problem, but China is aware of greater U.S. flexibility on this issue. Qiao expresses interest in meeting with Kissinger. 70 c In a direct message from Zhou Enlai (dated 4/21/71) replying to the USG message of 12/16/70 (delivered on 1/5/71), Zhou reaffirms willingness to receive Kissinger. SecState, or President Nixon publicly in Beijing. HAK conveys RN reply to Thou saying he will soon send full response; asks Yahya to convey his concern that no other U.S. politicians be brought into the official dialogue. [This message reaches Thou via PRC ambassador to Pakistan about 5/11 RN formally replies to Thou message of 4/21/71 (delivered on 4/27/71); accepts Zhou's suggestion that he visit Beijing for direct negotiations in which each side would be free to raise the issue of principal concern to its; Kissinger Tit:gild come secretly to China for a planning visit for a Presidential trip after 6/15/71; secrecy is essential, but the Presidential trip can be announced shortly after a Kissinger - Zhou meeting. [Kissinger, White House Years, p. 724.) Message to the PRC regarding U.S.-Soviet ABM negotiation: The USG will "conclude no agreement [with the USSR] which would be directed against the PRC." [Kissinger, White House Years, p. 725.] Mao welcomes Nixon's visit. In which each side would be free to raise the principal issue of concern to it." First crucial issue is concrete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Taiwan. Thou welcomes Kissinger for preliminary, secret meeting. It may be hard to keep the visit secret. [Kissinger. White House Years, pp. 726- 727.) ' Pod-, SEC�RE'T Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 1971 SE-eRS 14 U.S.-PRC POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS, 1967-1984 Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments June 2 Kissinger - Hilaly Hilaly gives Zhou reply to Nixon messages receivcci_ 4/29/71. S/17/71. and 5121171. 7 (1/01 June 4 Nixon reply to Zhou message of 6/2/71 via Hllaly RN proposes HAK visit Beijing 7/9-lint to arrange RN trip to PRC. Secrecy essential. 7 7 Cr_1441:) June 4 Kissinger- Hilaly HAK replies to Zhou message received 512901: President Nixon looks forward to personal meeting with PRC leaders. Kissinger is authorized to discuss all issues regarding Presidential visit and a communique. Strict secrecy of his trip is essential. ''.., June 11 Kissinger- Maly Zhou accepts HAK secret visit on 7/9-11/71. 71 e [Kissinger, White House Years, p. 728.] (ie-Poti --- ) June 28 Kissinger message to *..._..._ USG will not answer Soviet government regarding Ambassador Farland five-power nuclear disarmament conference proposal 61 A for transmission to PRC prior to HAK discussion with Zhou; USG will J via Yahya maintain strict secrecy of HAK visit whatever the , press speculation. July 9-11 July 9 National Security Adviser Henry A. Kissinger in Beijing Zhou- Kissinger (4:35- 11:20 p.m.) First secret.trip. IHAK: The U.S. will not collude against China. --I Regarding Taiwan, we will reduce our forces as U.S.- \ PRC relations improve; no U.S. support for TIM. f-At4S) Recognition of the PRC can come in RN's second k-.� e\ term. Indochina negotiations. U.S. troops might be Cr-i'414) withdrawn from Korea in RN's second term. How thc U.S. bureaucracy works. Zhou: To normalize, U.S. (k5 must recognize PRC as legitimate government; u Taiwan a Chinese province; withdraw all US. forces and installations from Taiwan and Taiwan Strait in limited period. History of Indochina conflict. Japanese militarism. All U.S. troops should be withdrawn fromj LKorea. SET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 1971 1971 15 Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments .July 10 Zhou - Kissinger (12:10-6:00 p.m.) rZhou proposes he and HAK tape-record a summary of their discussions; systematically presses on all HAK's presentation; bxio-Pak tensions; China might be carved up by a USSR/U.S./Japan/India coalition; the U.S. is dragging its feet on solutions to Taiwan, Indochina; China opposes Moscow's five-power arms control conference as it wants to "lasso" the PRC. The U.S. and PRC can stay in touch through periodic U.S. visits to Beijing. HAK: Regarding normalization, don't press events too fast; RN will complete process in first 2 years of second term. The U.S. will seek PRC admission to U.N. by majority, expulsion of Taiwan by two-thirds vote. We need time between the military withdrawal in Indochina and the political evolution. Zhou: Don't leave a "tail" in Vietnam; we will not invite U.S. politicians to China at this time; July 10 July 11 July 11 Zhou - Kissinger (11:20-11:50 p.m.) Ye Jianying, Vice Chairman cc? Military Commission/ Huang Hua - Kissinger (12:00- 1:40 a.m., 9:50-10:35 a.m.) Zhou/Ye Jianying - Kissinger (10:35-11:55 p.m.) LRN should visit Moscow before Beijing. Zhou: No need to tape-record a statement. HAK: U.S. will not support Taiwan military action against S - the mainland. U.S.-Soviet summit. Berlin agreement. Zhen Bao island incident. Sino-Indian border war of V.,1962. Visit communique drafting: Chinese try to make it c appear that RN asked to visit China: attempt to limit -- scope of the Presidential visit to discussion of /.0,- 70/S-2- normalization. Press announcement. Presidential visit and previsit. AA Zhou:akmbassador Bruce not welcome; RN can come - � 1 earlier rather than later (i.e., before the Soviet summiSCommunications via Paris secret channel: Ambassador Huang Zhen and General i.,-Valterstpou ) expresses thanks for gifts on behalf of himself and Mao (but not Lin BiaoRHAK:DIN wants no political. --- visitors before his trip; proposes mutual renunciation Li of force agreement and accidental-war agreement; requests release of U.S. prisoners held by PRE3 ck* &EGRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 �Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 � 1971 : SGZT 16 U.S.-PRC POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS, 1967-1984 Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments July 15 July 19 July 2.1 July 26 August 5 August 16 Joint U.S.-PRC announcement of Zhou - Kissinger secret talks Walters - PRC Ambassador in Paris Walters - Huang Zhen Kissinger/Walters - Huang Zhen, in Paris Zhou gives interview to New York Times correspondent James Reston (published on August 10, 1971) Kissinger/Walters - Huang Zhen Thou, "knowing of President Nixon's expressed desire to visit� the PRC, has extended an invitation to RN for a visit "before May 1972." RN has accepted. The meeting will be "to seek the normalization of relations between the two countries and also to exchange views on questions of concern to the two sides." CK- tor-) First of Walters' 45 meetings in secret "Paris 7 channel." Thanks from HAK for his visit hospitally; FRN wants him to visit Beijing with Ambassador I David Bruce in another presummit planning session. Cr If Chinese say many U.S. political figures now want to visit PRC; refusing them is difficult in wake of HAKi p FWahers informs KZ of Dobrynin call on HAK �1 regarding his Beijing visit. Soviets ask if RN is prepared to visit Moscow rusg HA1C says no. )4 Regarding U.S. politicians visiting China, there is need to keep first U.S.-PRC exchanges free of partisanship so as not to inhibit President's freedom of Laction. rChinese agree to October interim visit, but refuse �1 inclusion of David Bruce "for understandable le�asons" [i.e., Vietnam]. HAftelpresses concern over Taiwan and U.S. 'right wing" attacks on his China visit; Cr requests the Chinese keep their distance from .1 LAmericantleft" groups. Zhou: U.S. China policy is changing. Negotiations with Nixon must lead to withdrawal of U.S. forces from Taiwan and Taiwan Strait. Not all U.S.-PRC problems can be solved at one stroke. Japan covets Taiwan. China will not go into U.N. if status of Taiwan 'undetermined.* Danger of Japanese militarism. Settlement of Vietnam war most urgent. Soviet buildup a threat to China. U.S. forces should withdraw from Korea. FHAK: A Soviet proposal for agreement on preventing nuclear war is directed at China. US. rejects the proposal, but is prcparcd to sign similar agTeemcnt irt with PRC. RN will no: meet with Soviet leaders before Chinese. Indo-Pakistani conflict. Planning for LRN visit to China. SEGRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 SECRET 1971 17 Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments September 13 PRC Defense Minister Lin Biao dies in plane crash in Mongolia September 13 Kissinger/Walters - Huang Then September 23 Walters - Huang Zhen October 3 Walters - Huang Then October 20-26 Kissinger in Beijing October 20 October 21 October 21 October 21 October 22 October 22 Thou - Kissinger (4:40- 7:10 p.m.) Thou - Kissinger (10:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m.) Zhou - Kissinger (4:42- 7:17 pin.) Amhscsriclor Xiung Xianghui - NSC Staff Member John Holdridge/State Department China Country Director Alfred Jenkins Thou - Kissinger (4:15- 8:22 p.m.) Xiung Xianghui - Holdridge/ Jenkins EChinese agree to HAK interim visit beginning on 10/20171. (Note the timing of this message in relation to the Lin Biao coup attempt.] T�Chinese delay announcement of HAK's October tripi / I444 -A LK) to 10/5 because of imminent US. publication of its "two China" position on Chirep in U.N. The RN visit pe*"774/ is to seek normalization; his talks should concentrate on this matter and not be diverted to "side issues." C' I) C...c. Information will be given later on technical aspects of HAK's October visit. (Stalling because of Lin Biao i 12,ffair'n rChinese confirm HAK's October visit; traveling party *1 is acceptable as proposed on 9/13. A later reply will (7 / A f give special plane requirements. (The Lin Biao affair Lcontinues to delay planningn President's visit. ETaiwan. Japan.] ) Ct- LU.N. Indochina. .1 A Ty7-7 heo r� USG proposes a "liaison office" or "interests section" in addition to the secret Paris channel; expanded cultural exchanges. USSR; arms contro )i International issues: Korea; Japan; South Asia; PRC rejects liaison office" as "unrealistic" and "two Chinas" in character. Exchanges will be limited and on private basis only. Trade is debunked as conditional on normalization. oe" SEGRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 197' Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C069229111..ET- -) 18 U.S.-PRC POL/TICAL NEGOTIATIONS. 1967-1 Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments October 23 Zhou - Kissinger (9:05- Presidential visit. 10:05 am.) October 24 Zhou. Kissinger (10:23 a.m.-1:55 p.m.) Attack on the initial U.S. communique draft; Taiwan n October 24 Zhou - Kissinger (9:23 PRC rust draft communique; Taiwan. -11:00 p.m.) (10:12-11:00 a.m.) U.S. side presents second draft communique. October 25 Zhou - Kissinger Zhou - Kissinger (9:50- Discussion of second PRC draft. 11:40 p.m.) October 26 Zhou - Kissinger (5:30- Communique drafting. Presidential trip issues. 8:20 a.m.) November 20 Walters - Chinese contact, in Paris November 23 Kissinger - Huang Hua. PRC Permanent Representative to the UN., in New York City (10:00-11:55 p.m.) December 10 Kissinger - Huang Hua, - in New York City (6:05-7:55 p.m.) December 12 Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Alexander M. Haig - Huang Hua, in New York City Walters passes HAK message on date of announcement of Presidential visit, memo on state of U.S.-North Vietnamese negotiations. (it-i4J) First use of the secret 'New York' channelando7/� Pakistan crisis. Taiwan Independence Movement. U.N. Secretary-General candidate. Mid* East. PRC U.N. Mission-White House communications. HAK:tOffers China information on Soviet troop (1 deployments against the PRC-;Isays if China helps Pakistan and comes under Soviiet pressure, the U.S. "will oppose efforts of others to interfere with the 0414 PRC: Chinese agree to immediate Indo-Pakistani ceasefire, troop pullback, and Security Council meeting. No recognition should be given to Bangladesh. 9 //' SECRET AnnMVed for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 Date Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 SEGRET 1972 19 Senior Officials Summary/Comments 1972 January 3-4 January 6 Zhou - Haig (midnight) PRC Acting Foreign Minister Ji Pengfei - Haig (11 a.m.) relatio7jSouth Asia. Indochina. Haig offers unilateral U. . support for the PRC; tables draft tAl communique language on Taiwan issue. Haig:tIn / 0 C I view of opposition from the "left" and "right" in the U.S. to Nixon's China policy, "it is crucial that there (r 64� be no public embarrassment to the President as a result of his visit to Beijing.'-S South Asia. Vietnam. Taiwan. Communique. January 7 Zhou - Haig (11:45 Sino-Soviet relations. Indochina. South Asia. pm.) President's trip. Taiwan. January 26 Kissinger message to Details peace plan for ending the Vietnam war. Zhou on Vietnam. via Paris (Walters) channel /0 C 2_ January 30 PRC reply to Kissinger Expresses support for North Vietnam and rejects message of 1/26, via efforts to "exert pressure on the Vietnamese side on Paris channel behalf of the United States." January 31 U.S. reply to PRC message of 1/30, via Paris channel February 6 U.S. message to the PRC, via Paris channel February 9 PRC message to U.S.. via Paris channel Febroary 11 1J.S. message to the PRC, via Paris channel Affirms there is no "reciprocal obligation" between China and the U.S. on Indochina, only a unilateral U.S. "commitment" to keep the PRC informed of its plans for ending the Vietnam war. rOffers a secret meeting with Le Duc Tho, rumored to-1 be visiting Beijing just before the Nixon visit, to discuss the Indochina situation "with generosity and justice." Statement on the President's approach to his opening banquet toast in Beijing: the need for a new beginning; no reference to "current disputes"; no (b)(1) LElaim of similarity of views where they do not exist. (b)(3) � G- a sc 11 r-Notification of USG announcement on 2/14/72 of 1 easing of trade restrictions so PRC and USSR are in ( "comparable position." President will pursue policy 1) Ct7 regarding Indian Subcontinent in parallel with the LIRC. SEGRET Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 C06922911 1972 Approved for Release: 2022/05/03 CO6922911 20 U.S.-PRC POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS, 19674984 Date Senior Officials Summary/Comments February 11 PRC reply to U.S. message of February 6, via Paris channel February 14 U.S. reply to PRC message of February 9, via Paris channel February 16 U.S. reply to PRC message of February 11, via Paris channel February 21- 28 February 21 February 21 February 21 February 21 February 22 February 22 February 23 President Nixon in the PRC Zhou - Kissinger (2:30- 2:40 p.m.) Mao - Nixon (2:50-3:55 p.m.) Zhou - Nixon (4:15- 5:30 p.m.) Zhou - Nixon (5:50- 6:55 p.m.) Qiao Guanhua - Kissinger (10:05-11:55 a.m.) Zhou - Nixon (210- 6:00 p.m.) Qiao � Kissinger (935 asn.-12:34 p.m.) February 23 Zhou - Nixon (2:00- 6:00 p.m.) China supports Vietnam, will definitely not meddle in the U.S.-Vietnamese negotiations. .1 LCoordination of responsibilities for protection of (xi c Presidential aircraft on flight to PRC. J I Asserts USG does not intend to "enmesh" PRC in the ....Vietnam negotiations, but is attempting to bring about "trust and mutual confidence' through open exchanges Land meticulous implementation of understandings. Chairman Mao wants to meet President Nixon "soon." Inclusion of Lord, exclusion of SecState from the/ meeting. Tone of banquet toasts. 1-11