98. Memorandum of Conversation, Beijing, February 25, 1972, 2:35-2:45 p.m.1 2
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
- Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
- John H. Holdridge, NSC Staff
- Winston Lord, NSC Staff
- Jonathan T. Howe, NSC Staff
- Ch’iao Kuan-hua, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Chang Wen-chin, Director of Western Europe, North American, and Australasian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Chao Chi-hua, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Chi Chao-chu, Interpreter
- Three Notetakers
DATE & TIME: Friday, February 25, 1972 - 2:35-2:45 p.m.
PLACE: Guest House, Villa 2, Peking
VM Chiao: In this counter-proposal we had absorbed some of the things which you put forward in your last suggestion and we will suggest as follows, on the last sentence: “With this prospect in mind, the United States anticipates the progressive reduction and final withdrawal of all U.S. forces and military installations from Taiwan.”
Now I will read the whole thing: “The U.S. side declared: The U.S. acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves. With this prospect in mind, the United States anticipates the progressive reduction and final withdrawal of all U.S. forces and military installations from Taiwan.”
That is according to instructions given to me by Premier Chou En-lai.
[Page 2]Dr. Kissinger: May I see the text?
As you said, this is a very serious matter for both of us because it is a matter of great political consequence for the President, of how it will be represented when he returns. Well, I think we are very close to we are moving closer together. Will you be in this villa for awhile?
VM Chiao: Yes, surely.
Dr. Kissinger: Why don’t I talk to the President and get his reaction because I think it isn’t sensible to give a quick reaction. We can meet again in a little while, about half an hour, 3:00. So we will tell our colleagues we had a terrible row.
VM Chiao: Should we issue a communique to that effect?
Dr. Kissinger: Of course.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 92, Country Files, Far East, China, Dr. Kissinger’s Meetings in the People’s Republic of China during the Presidential Visit, February 1972. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. No drafting information appears on the memorandum; presumably drafted by either Lord or Howe. The meeting was held at the Guest House, Villa 2.↩
- Discussions resumed on the Taiwan portions of the communiqué.↩