156. Editorial Note
On March 4 the People’s Republic of China broadcast a statement in English on Peking radio which reviewed the lack of progress in the Geneva talks and concluded: “Tension in Taiwan area is created by U.S. occupation of China’s territory of Taiwan and its interference in China’s internal affairs. In seeking peaceful settlement of this question, Chinese side has already made great efforts in Sino-American Ambassadorial talks. American side, however, is not only obstructing agreement in talks, but also stepping up its military activities in Taiwan area. Chinese side cannot agree to Sino-American Ambassadorial talks being dragged out as it is, nor can it allow these talks to be used by United States as tool to prevent China from exercising its sovereign rights.” (The text of the Chinese statement was conveyed to the Secretary in Karachi as Tosec 8, March 5; Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/3–556)
On March 6 the Department of State issued a press release in response to the Chinese statement of March 4. The statement emphasized that 13 Americans were still being held in prison in China in spite of the agreement reached in September 1955. The United States, according to the statement, continued to seek the return of the Americans imprisoned in China, as well as an agreement on the renunciation of force in the Taiwan area, but saw little evidence that the People’s Republic of China was willing to reach agreement on anything other than its own terms. (Department of State Bulletin, March 19, 1956, page 451)