Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, China, Volume XIX

120. Telegram From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State⁰

Warsaw, September 22, 1958, 8 p.m.

456. For Robertson. Beam–Wang Talks. Wang opened discussion as follows: We have re-examined proposal your side put forth at last meeting. I can not but tell you proposal absurd and absolutely unacceptable. I am authorized state government PRC categorically and absolutely rejects proposal. It is proposal for violent intervention in China’s internal affairs. It demands Chinese people renounce exercise sovereign rights over own territory. Demands Chinese people recognize US claim to Chinese territory. Proposal your side designed expand aggression against China. Through this proposal US attempts extend field its aggression against China to coastal islands of Quemoy and Matsu and Chinese territorial waters. That not all. US further insolently attempts making Chinese people renounce their sovereignty over areas adjacent Quemoy and Matsu so as to further US aggression against Chinese mainland.

Proposal not only cannot ease tension Taiwan area but can only push war crisis nearer. Chinese people absolutely can not tolerate such proposal designed extend aggression and prepare for war.

You asserted at last meeting that US forces present in Taiwan and Taiwan Straits purely for defensive purposes for fulfillment obligations under so-called Treaty of Defense. That is turning rights and wrongs upside down and deserves no serious consideration. Whole world knows so-called Republic China Government long ago in 1949 superseded by Chinese Peoples Republic and Chiang Kai-shek clique nothing but puppet propped up by American bayonets. You Americans created puppet and told it sign treaty. Treaty fundamentally illegal and is null and void. You claim your forces sent to Taiwan to fulfill treaty obligations. You probably forgotten that you sent your forces in Taiwan June 27, 1950, whereas date of treaty is December 2, 1954. You first sent your troops and subsequently created treaty in attempt legalize intervention. Now your side further intends use treaty to expand aggression against China. This is extremely absurd. Relationship between US and Chiang Kai-shek clique on Taiwan is relationship between master and slave. If any evidence required proposal your side may serve as best evidence. Your proposal says US will seek that Quemoy Matsu Islands will not be used for attack against mainland. If relationship between US and Chiang Kaishek clique were not one between master and slave this plan could not be accepted and carried out. This also serves prove that attacks and provocations Chiang Kai-shek clique have throughout been carried out under US instigation.

Your proposal ostensibly talks about potential expansion hostilities in Quemoy Matsu Islands. Real object is solely to enlarge US aggression and war preparations against China. Quemoy Matsu are islands in inland waters of Chinese mainland in immediate approaches to Amoy and Foochow and have always been intergral part Fukien Province. These islands we could have liberated at any time but have waited for considerable length time for peaceful withdrawal Chiang Kai-shek troops from islands. However, contrary our expectations Chiang Kai-shek clique have never ceased use islands for harassing attacks against Chinese mainland. Moreover, Chiang Kai-shek clique took advantage this situation and concentrated one-third its forces on islands, thus constituting them as base for their attacks on mainland. War provocations Chiang Kai-shek clique have recently become more and more unbridled. Was when these attacks reached peak that we began carry out punitive attacks against them. To do so is entirely internal matter and entirely proper. It can not lead to any international crisis.

On the pretext that exercises sovereignty by my country is “aggression” and that liberation of territories “conquest” our own, US has concentrated armed forces on China’s territory and is intervening in China’s internal affairs in demanding that Chinese people renounce sovereignty Quemoy Matsu. This proves that present tension in area has been exclusively and deliberately created by US.

Your proposal demands that China recognize US right to individual and collective defense. This claim suffices expose fully US intention enlarging aggression against China.

During previous talks in Geneva your side demanded that China recognize US right to collective and individual defense in Taiwan area. Your proposals constitute absurd demand that China recognize legality US occupation Taiwan and Islands. This something Chinese Government absolutely can never agree to.

Now your side puts further step forward in demanding China recognize right US collective and individual defense in Taiwan and Quemoy Matsu areas. Isn’t this tantamount to saying that US wants enlarge its aggression to include Quemoy Matsu Islands and demanding China recognize as legal this enlarged aggression?

Although so far US President does not dare say so outright to American people, proposal your side shows that US Government bent on using force occupy Quemoy Matsu and other islands under pretext individual and collective defense. I should like tell you explicitly and definitely that Chinese people determined to recover Quemoy Matsu and likewise determined recover Taiwan and Penghus.

Chinese people will absolutely not recognize legalization American invasion and occupation Taiwan and Penghus. Even less can they allow US to extend its aggression to Quemoy Matsu.

Since you attempting bring Quemoy Matsu directly under US military control, our [your] design obviously not confined Quemoy Matsu. Your intention is to go further and use Quemoy Matsu as springboard for further attack against Chinese mainland.

Your proposal, while demanding we recognize US right carry out individual and collective defense on Quemoy Matsu, also demands our side reduce our forces on mainland areas adjacent to Quemoy Matsu. Thus whole notion US comes to open. First step invasion and occupation Taiwan and Penghus. Next step invasion occupation Quemoy Matsu. Third step invasion Chinese mainland itself. While you attempting invade Quemoy Matsu, you already making preparations for invasion Chinese mainland. Your proposal therefore not only proposal enlarge aggression against China but is also preparation for war. Such proposal would make possible for US start war at any moment. In point fact, US actually making constant and uninterrupted preparations for war and increasingly carrying out military preparations against my country. US openly massing large forces in Taiwan and Taiwan Straits area. According your official announcements in the US, you have sent to Taiwan Straits area more than (number uncertain) Naval vessels and more than (number uncertain) aircraft. You have also despatched additional guided missiles to Taiwan, set up unified command on Taiwan, and are speeding up supply military equipment to Chiang Kai-shek clique.

If such activities not preparations for war, what else can they be? That is not all. Many officials and responsible generals of your country have been making all sorts outcries for war. Secretary Army Brucker publicly declared American forces ready fight big war or local one. Your Defense Secretary McElroy has also been making threats armed intervention in Quemoy Matsu area against Chinese people. With your encouragement and prompting Chiang Kai-shek clique on its part raving like madmen for bombing Chinese mainland. While massing large forces US at same time has started series military provocations. In defiance repeated warnings my government you have continued send warships and aircraft to area. Your objective is to create pretext for starting war you have already prepared in advance. In light this, situation indeed extremely dangerous. If such provocations of US are to continue, obvious war could break out any moment. Since you are contemplating start war, obvious pretext can be fabricated at will. You should correctly understand what I have said. I have pointed out danger of your actions. You must not think you can cow us with war preparations, plus a few soldiers which dollars can buy. You must know you will never succeed. Our Foreign Minister has made solemn declaration on behalf government and people, if despite rejected warnings Chinese people, US aggression should impose war on Chinese people, our 600 million people will spare no sacrifice and under banner their fatherland fight as one man to save their land and peace world.¹ No war threats on your part can cow us. The facts are very clear. Military operations presently undertaken by Chinese Government against Chiang Kai-shek clique on Quemoy Matsu just as other military operations taken by Chinese people against Chiang Kai-shek clique during civil war are exclusively internal affair and can cause no international tension at all. It is precisely armed invasion and occupation Taiwan and massing large forces by US in Taiwan area to carry out military threats and warlike pressures that have given rise to tension and war threats in Taiwan area. Whole world has witnessed actions US in igniting fire in Taiwan area. No amount sophistry can cover up this fact. Only if US immediately stops military provocations and invasion threats against China and pulls out its forces from Taiwan area, can tension in Taiwan area be eradicated.

With this in view, I am putting forth following proposal on part my government. I hope your side will give it full consideration. (End Wang statement) (See my telegram 453² for text draft agreed announcement.)

After ten-minute recess to consider reply to proposal, I replied: Mr. Ambassador, I deny solemnly and categorically that US has occupied Taiwan or that it intends occupy Quemoy Matsu in preparation for invading mainland. Your own statements belie this accusation. You have specified military dispositions which US has made in last few weeks since your forces began their attacks on August 23. Are these types dispositions aimed at invading Chinese mainland? You will have hard time convincing people world that US intends invade Chinese mainland with warships and aircraft. It obvious to everyone that type forces we have despatched to area are defensive forces and that bulk them were sent after your side began their attacks not before. You now trying pretend that your actions are in response to ours. Everyone knows falsity this charge. Facts are that Government Republic China is sovereign government recognized by majority countries world. It has every right conclude treaties and defensive alliances with other countries, including US and reasons for its desire do so are now the more obvious. Your side knows very well actions taken by USG on June 27, 1950 resulted directly from unprovoked aggression by Communist forces against Republic Korea. Ridiculous call action carried out and taken with full agreement Republic China invasion or aggression. It impossible for your side produce objective observer who has been to Taiwan who will testify island is occupied by US forces. It clear to anyone who has been there government island sovereign and independent. It has continously been under threats and grave danger from your side.

I have examined proposed agreed announcement which you have just presented. On face of it, it clearly unsatisfactory as solution problem which we have come here resolve. It contains demand US withdraw forces it has been assembling to assist our ally to defend itself from attack. This is obviously unacceptable at time territory this ally under attack. Further, it contains no provision for cease-fire, which is fundamental and urgent requirement if present dangerous drift in area to be reversed.

I continued from prepared statement; in our three meetings and particularly in your two proposed agreed announcements, you have set forth in completely uncompromising terms demand for surrender of sovereign government and for withdrawal all forces that governments allies from its sovereign territory. You have asked for what both you and your side must know is impossible and totally unacceptable to US.

US, on other hand in draft agreed announcement presented last meeting, set forth proposition which attempted meet in as equitable fashion as possible conflicting interests of parties concerned. It is proposition which deserves careful consideration. Your side’s flat rejection our proposal seems to indicate you have no constructive interest in these talks.

In rejecting again your charges that US is using force in Taiwan area and that tension that area arises from so-called “US occupation Taiwan”, I have only to point out record of US in foreign affairs too well known to require defense against charge of aggression. Presence of US military forces in Taiwan area due entirely to actions and threats your side and is in response our treaty obligations to sovereign ally. US forces have not committed one aggressive act. They are, however, fully prepared discharge their defensive responsibilities.

We do not accept distinction you make between what you can [call] Sino-American international dispute and domestic matter of Taiwan and offshore islands. We do not recognize your right unilaterally to declare armed attack domestic matter by announcing prior claim to territory held by sovereign government. Your attack on coastal islands is far from being domestic matter, as interest of world including Soviet Union demonstrates. Failure resolve our differences could have grave consequences, and US for its part welcomes world attention and interest in matter.

If remarks you have made mean complete rejection by your side of our proposal, it will appear to civilized world that your side places primary reliance on violence, including slaughter innocent civilians. If your side holds to this position, it will be condemned again before bar of world opinion. As I have said repeatedly, urgent prerequisite to any peaceful resolution of present crisis is cessation of hostilities. As you yourself have declared, people of world are watching these talks. People of world will hold accountable side which refuses essential first condition of peace: cessation of hostilities. World will not accept your contention question of cease-fire “does not arise” when it is known to all that present threat to world peace was created precisely by decision your side seize territory by force. Each day these hostilities continue danger of expansion of conflict increases. These hostilities result solely from armed attacks directed by your side and can cease only when these attacks cease. Therefore, responsibility for decision whether or not broadening of conflict will result lies completely in hands your side.

Wang replies: I very dissatisfied with your remarks after carefully listening to them. Although in my opening statement I refuted false and mistaken statements your side, you have repeated all these positions. You have again referred to Chiang Kai-shek clique as so-called Government Republic China and referred to it as sovereign and independent government having right conclude treaties with foreign countries. I have refuted all such assertions and have pointed out repeatedly so-called Republic of China Government is no more than puppet and US support this regime source tension in Taiwan area. Must certainly reject all assertions referring to Chiang Kai-shek clique as sovereign government with right conclude treaties with foreign countries. All such assertions entirely unacceptable to us. In referring to Korean war of 1950 your remarks slandering Korean Democratic Peoples Republic are also absurd. No amount such remarks can cover up American aggression Korea. You have alleged US has not occupied Taiwan and that US armed forces in Taiwan Straits were not sent there in preparation for war, but such denials can not change true facts which are that US is carrying out aggression and dangerous provocation in Far East. No matter how hard you try, you cannot convince anybody of absurdity that it is aggression for Chinese people exercise right to liberate own territory while it proper for US invade and occupy Chinese territory.

Nobody can ever deny fact, which is that it not China which has sent warships and military aircraft to US coastal waters to carry out war threats but on contrary it is US which is assembling large military forces in Taiwan Straits to carry out armed provocations against China.

Present grave danger in Far East does not arise as result of intention Chinese people to liberate own territory but as result open and outrageous intervention of US in Chinese affairs. Peoples of world know full well there is no question aggression when Chinese people liberate own territory. Can anyone say that when people liberate own territory it is aggression? Can anyone say one can carry out aggression against oneself? It well known grave danger in Far East and anxiety peoples world are all created by war provocations US at very doorstep of China. What people of world demand is not that China renounce liberation her territory but that US immediately cease intervention in China’s internal affairs. People of world demand immediately withdrawal large US forces assembled at doorstep China. I must frankly tell Ambassador that if US intends settle dispute only in terms its own interests and advantages, it cannot hope succeed in doing so.

Ambassador has alluded to 11 [attention?] of world on our talks. World will condemn US war risks in Far East. It will not deny Chinese people right liberate own territories. World peoples opinion is anxious because US in trying invade and occupy Quemoy and Matsu is creating threat of terrible war and leading world on path death and destruction. We feel anxiety world public opinion is entirely justified.

I replied: You again come back to our basic differences regarding our relations with the Government China and nature that Government. Prolongation this type discussion unlikely lead to solution present critical situation. First step in that direction must be cessation hostilities now going on. As we have indicated, once hostilities have been halted, we hopeful means can be found eliminate activities which either side might consider provocation. This is intent our proposal of last meeting which I again would like urge your side reconsider.

Wang replied: We have already studied and examined what your side called first step—the cease-fire proposal. We see this proposal an enormous plot. We cannot give any consideration to it. We have repeatedly indicated first step is not so-called cease-fire but withdrawal all US forces from Taiwan area, which is contained in our proposal today. We urge Ambassador carefully consider proposal our side. If you not in position give reply this proposal today, we expect you will be able do so next meeting.

I replied: I am not in position give favorable consideration your proposal. As I have said, it insists US withdraw forces which we have assembled to help ally defend territory now under attack. Furthermore, it does not lead us out of present situation by envisaging immediate cease-fire. As to our position, I have nothing more to add at present time.

Wang replied: As we have made our position very clear already, source Far East tension is presence US forces in Taiwan Straits area to carry out war preparations against China and to intervene against China. As long these forces not withdrawn, there will be no easing tension in Far East.

Wang then proposed next meeting September 25,3 p.m. which I accepted.

Beam

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–2258. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Transmitted in five sections. Received at 5:03 p.m. Repeated niact to USUN and Taipei. A notation on the source text reads: “Meeting No. 76.” Beam transmitted a brief summary of the meeting in telegram 454 and commented in telegram 455, both September 22. (Ibid.; see Supplement)
1. Reference is to a statement on September 20 by Foreign Minister Ch’en I; for text, see Peking Review, September 23, 1958, pp. 5–6.
2. Document 119.