713. Telegram 300 to Geneva1
300. For Johnson.
Following is excerpt relating to Taiwan from Liu Shao-chi speech September 15 Chinese Communist Party Congress:
QUOTE Furthermore in order to defend our country we must continue to strengthen our national defense, we must continue to strengthen our national defense army—the glorious Chinese people’s liberation army. Our armed forces must strive to raise their fighting capacity to a higher level, guard our frontiers and coast lines vigilantly and defend our territorial integrity.
Our territory Taiwan is still under the occupation of the US imperialists. This is a most serious threat to the security of our country. The liberation of Taiwan is purely China’s internal affair. We are willing to bring Taiwan back to the embrace of the motherland through the peaceful means of negotiation and avoid the use of force. If force has to be used it would only be when all possibilities for peaceful negotiation have been exhausted or when peaceful negotiations have failed. Whatever means we adopt we are convinced that we will win the ultimate victory in the just cause of liberating Taiwan. END QUOTE
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–1756. Official Use Only; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Clough.↩