101. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25, 1972, 5:45 p.m.1 2
Memorandum of Conversation
DATE: February 25, 1972
TIME: 5:45 p.m.
SUBJECT: Counterpart Meeting IV
PARTICIPANTS:
Chinese
Foreign Minister Chi P’eng-fei
Hsiung Hsiang-hui, Secretary to the Premier, Foreign Affairs
Wang Chen, Deputy Director, Information Department
Ch’ien Ta-yung, Deputy Director, West European, American and Australasian Affairs
Li Tsung-ying, Leading Member, Research Group
Ting Yuan-hung, Member, Delegation to the UNGA
SHEN JO-YUN, Interpreter
Hu Fang Hsien, Stenographer
US
Secretary of State William P. Rogers
Assistant Secretary of State Marshall Green
Ron Ziegler, Press Secretary to the President
John Scali, Special Consultant to the President
Alfred le S. Jenkins, Director for Asian Communist Affairs
Nicholas Platt, Assistant to the Secretary Commander
John Howe, National Security Council Staff
Charles W. Freeman, Jr., Interpreter
Calvin Mehlert, Interpreter
PLACE: Guest House, Peking, PRC
COPIES TO:
S S/S
U EA
J
White House - Dr. Kissinger
[Page 2]Contacts and Communication
The Foreign Minister opened by apologizing for being so late and said that since there was only a half hour left until the reciprocal banquet, he would be pleased to hear the Secretary’s views.
The Secretary said that he wanted to talk about contacts and communications, items discussed during the first day of our talks.
The Foreign Minister responded if the Secretary had any specifics to add he would be delighted to hear about them.
The Secretary said he wanted to learn what facilities for improved contacts in communications were acceptable to the PRC. Both sides had agreed that better communications and contacts were in mutual interest. However, we could discuss it at a later time if the Foreign Minister preferred.
The Foreign Minister said that he preferred to discuss this topic at the end of the talks.
Southeast Asia
In the past two days, the Secretary said, the PRC had criticized US policy and charged the United States with a number of alleged wrongs against the people of China. The United States side had answered these criticisms, but has not recorded our own criticisms or those of our allies against the PRO. Although we think there is a better way to spend our time, we should record our criticisms briefly. The United States opposes the propaganda, material aid and subversive activities which the PRO is applying against the countries of Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand. The US is aware that the PRO is supporting with arms and equipment North Vietnamese troops who are threatening Thailand’s northern borders. The United States Government has consulted with the Thai Government and they have stopped their broadcasts against the PRO. Why has the PRO continued its hostile activities against Thailand, the Secretary concluded?
[Page 3]Common Support for the Public Welfare
The Secretary continued his statement saying that the talks had shown that both sides operate from different premises but our goals and principles and interests are similar in many respects. We share, for instance, an interest in the welfare of our peoples and in a peaceful world. It is apparent to the United States that the PRC Government has worked diligently and successfully for the improvement and the welfare of its people. Compared to past periods of history the Government has made progress in feeding and clothing the Chinese people. The Prime Minister had said yesterday that constituted governments should be dealt with on the basis of the five principles regardless of the form the government takes. The United States agrees with this and feels that proceeding from this common ground, we can move gradually to improve our relations.
PRC-Thai Relations
The Foreign Minister said he would first like to speak to the question of PRC-Thai relations. Historically, China had maintained good relations with the people of Thailand. However, after the civil war, Chiang Kai-shek troops withdrew to Thailand and the Thai Government made use of these troops. The Thai Government has pursued anti-China policies since the founding of the PRO. That is why we have had no contacts and still have none. Despite the fact that the cabinet has been reshuffled, the Thai Government continues to pursue its old policies.
The PRO is not interfering in the internal affairs of Thailand. If the Thai people want revolution, that is their affair. We are willing to have normal relations on the basis of the five principles. However, as long as they pursue a policy which is against China and which supports the Viet-Nam War, we will not be able to establish relations. Thailand is a good friend of the United States which is used as a base to unleash war in Indochina. The United States and the PRO have very different views on this question and I hope that you will convey them to your old friends. The PRO makes no secret of the fact, the Foreign Minister continued, that Thai leaders of guerrilla forces waging revolution in [Page 4] Thailand live in Peking. This is because we share their ideological beliefs in Communism, Marxism and Leninism. But ideology and State relations are different and the fact that we share different ideological views does not mean we cannot improve the ties between governments. When the Thai guerrilla leaders return to their country, and whether they support the government there or not, is their affair. We will not interfere.
The Foreign Minister said that he wanted the Secretary to be clear on the PRC position.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Nodis; Homer. Drafted by Platt and approved in S on March 8. Copies were sent to S, S/S, U, J, EA, and Kissinger at the White House. The meeting was held in the Guest House.↩
- Topics discussed at the fourth counterpart meeting between Secretary of State Rogers and Chinese Foreign Minister Chi P’eng-fei included contacts and communication, U.S. and PRC commitments to public welfare, and Thailand.↩