Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–13, Documents on China, 1969–1972

112. Message From the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Government of the United States, undated¹ ²

undated

In the fortnight since the conclusion of President Nixon’s visit, the United States has carried out incessant, large-scale bombings against the Democratic Republic of Viet Nasa. On March 10, the U.S. Government further proclaimed the week from March 26 to April 1 a so-called “national week of concern for prisoners of war.” The Chinese Government cannot but express grave concern over all this.

The Chinese Government would like to state frankly that the United States will not be able to attain its goal by this line of action. If the U.S. Government truly wants to bring about an early release of its prisoners of war, it should accept the seven-point proposal and the two points of elaboration put forward by Viet Nam and enter into earnest negotiations with the Vietnamese side. Any attempt to exert pressure by war threats can only arouse the people of the three countries of Indochina to even stronger resistance. With the war continuing and the casualties of the three Indochinese peoples increasing, how are the prisoners of war to be released? The Chinese people, who share weal and woe with the people of the three countries of Indochina, can only express their indignation and support the three Indochinese peoples in their war of resistance through to the end.

We hope that the U.S. Government will give serious consideration to this view.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 849, President’s File-China Trip, China Exchanges, March 1, 1972-June 24, 1972. No classification indicated. A notation on the memorandum indicates Nixon saw it. Attached to the March 24 memorandum of conversation; Document 114.
2. In reference to President Nixon’s proclamation of March 26-April 1, 1972, as a “national week of concern for prisoners of war,” and the U.S. bombing campaign in North Vietnam, Chinese officials indicated that the U.S. Government would not obtain the release of U.S. prisoners of war unless the United States accepted the seven point proposal offered by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam delegates to the Paris Peace talks.