Office of the Historian

318. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter1

Washington, August 27, 1980

SUBJECT

  • U.S.-Chinese Relations

Bush’s visit to Beijing has precipitated a further Chinese reaction, reported by Ambassador Woodcock.2 In effect, the Chinese have been provoked into reaffirming to us their right to liberate Taiwan by force of arms, a theme that has been muted since normalization; the Chinese have stated their opposition to the Taiwan Relations Act, and they assert that it must be rescinded if Sino-U.S. relations are to develop further; and the Chinese have stated that “we do not believe that the person who damages relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China will produce an intelligent foreign policy or possess a correct strategic perception.”

The Chinese have asked that their communication to us not be publicized, though they are continuing their public attacks on Reagan and Bush.

I have marked some of the salient passages in the enclosed cable.

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 10, China (PRC): 8–9/80. Secret. A handwritten “C” at the top of the page indicates that Carter saw the memorandum.↩
  2. A copy of telegram 8226 from Beijing, August 27, is attached but not printed.↩