Chapter 4 The "Navigators of Sino-US Relations - Deng Xiaoping and Carter (4)

The prime time of American mainstream television has become "Deng Xiaoping time". "Deng Xiaoping's whirlwind" blows all over the United States. In Washington, Deng Xiaoping held three talks with President Carter. The third meeting was held in the Oval Office of the President at 9 am on January 30, and it was actually between Deng Xiaoping and Carter.Deng Xiaoping only brought his translator Ji Chaozhu.This time Carter is not as cautious as he was in yesterday's meeting.He read aloud a note he had in his hand, outlining his disapproval of the Chinese invasion of Vietnam.Then hand this note to Deng Xiaoping.

Deng Xiaoping firmly talked about Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia as a serious problem, part of the Soviet Union's strategic deployment.He also used "dumbbells" to vividly compare the Soviet Union's ambition to expand and dominate the Indochina Federation through Vietnam on the one hand, and directly southward to the Persian Gulf through Afghanistan, Iran, and India on the other end.Deng Xiaoping said that even considering the worst, China can withstand it.He emphasized that if China took action, it would not be long before the Chinese army would retreat.And the results of that action will be beneficial, and likely long-term.

After that, Deng Xiaoping and Carter walked out of the Oval Office and continued to participate in the talks in the cabinet meeting room.The two sides negotiated for more than two hours on most-favored-nation treatment, exchange of students and the key Taiwan issue.Because the Taiwan issue was being debated in the U.S. Congress at the time, some members even got angry about it, so Carter hoped that Deng Xiaoping would use the words "peaceful" and "patient" when talking about the Taiwan issue in public during his visit to the United States . But Deng Xiaoping already had a plan in mind.He said that the United States can contribute to China's peaceful settlement of the Taiwan issue, and hoped that the United States and Japan would persuade Taiwan to negotiate instead of doing things that are not conducive to the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan issue.He also emphasized: "We do not approve of selling any weapons to Taiwan. After this year, your government must be cautious when selling any weapons to Taiwan in the future. We do not approve of your selling any weapons to Taiwan."

After the talks, Deng Xiaoping and Carter walked from the presidential office into the rose garden known as the "Presidential Garden" to meet with reporters.When reporters asked what the talks had yielded, Carter said: "The deputy prime minister is meeting with us tomorrow to sign some of the upcoming agreements. Our discussions were far-reaching, frank, sincere, cordial and harmonious, and extremely beneficial and helpful." Constructive." When they shook hands in front of the reporters' cameras, Deng Xiaoping said excitedly: "Now the people of the two countries are shaking hands."

Deng Xiaoping's words deeply moved Carter, as well as the reporters.Their hands tightened. During Deng Xiaoping's eight days in the United States, in addition to meeting Carter in Washington, he also met with the leaders of the U.S. Congress and the House of Representatives. At noon on the 30th, in the Senate chamber of the Capitol, Deng Xiaoping had lunch with 85 senators, talking while eating.In the afternoon, Deng Xiaoping attended the tea party of the House of Representatives and had tea talks with the leaders and members of the House of Representatives.They talked about the Taiwan issue, Sino-US trade issues, North and South Korean issues, etc., and outlined the concept of "one country, two systems" for the first time, which was widely praised by members of the parliament.On Capitol Hill, which symbolizes the American democratic system, those lawmakers who think they have seen the world, when they hold luncheons and tea parties, they hold the "Time" magazine with Deng Xiaoping's portrait on the cover and wait in line to shake Deng Xiaoping's hand. Ask him to sign as a souvenir.Because Deng Xiaoping had just been named "Man of the Year in 1978" by the magazine.

In the evening, Deng Xiaoping visited the National Gallery of Art in the United States and delivered a speech, strongly condemning the Soviet Union's support for Vietnam's large-scale invasion of Cambodia.He said that China will always support oppressed and invaded countries and nations in their just struggle against hegemons, "Although China is poor and has limited strength, we will resolutely fulfill our internationalist obligations, and we will not even hesitate to to undertake the necessary sacrifices in order to safeguard international justice and the long-term interests of world peace and stability."

On January 31, after having breakfast with members of Carter's cabinet, Deng Xiaoping went to the Lincoln Memorial to lay a wreath and visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.Then went to Blair Building to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Temple University in Philadelphia.At noon, Deng Xiaoping also had lunch here with 11 famous American journalists, and once again called on China, the United States, Japan, Western Europe and other countries in the world to unite against Soviet hegemony. On the afternoon of January 31, Deng Xiaoping met again with journalists from the American radio and television circles at the Blair Building.Then he and Carter went to the White House to sign the Sino-US scientific and technological cooperation agreement and cultural agreement and other documents.After the signing, President Carter first delivered a speech, announcing that the United States will open consulates in Shanghai and Guangzhou in the near future, and China will open consulates in Houston and San Francisco.At the same time, hundreds of Chinese and American students will study at each other's universities.Deng Xiaoping said in his speech: "We have just completed a meaningful work, but this is not an end, but a beginning..."

In the evening, Deng Xiaoping held a grand appreciation banquet at the Chinese Liaison Office in the United States. The number of people present at the meeting exceeded the number scheduled, and the hall was packed.Ms. Fei Fei, who interpreted Deng Xiaoping's speech, could hardly stand on the improvised podium.Everyone hoped to clink glasses with Deng Xiaoping, say something, and snap a shot. The atmosphere was warm and moving. Before leaving Washington, Deng Xiaoping and Carter cordially embraced farewell at the White House.The talk between Deng Xiaoping and Carter started with smoking, and the farewell also ended with the topic of smoking.Carter said to Deng Xiaoping: "As long as your health is not affected, you are welcome to my hometown Georgia next year, where I can let you taste some of the best tobacco leaves."

With a cigarette in his hand, Deng Xiaoping said with a smile: "Although I cannot live without cigarettes, my doctor assured me that I will not get cancer." On February 1, 1979, the Sino-US Joint Communiqué was published.This morning, Deng Xiaoping attended a brief farewell ceremony held by the U.S. government—a 19-gun salute and a review of the guard of honor—and then took a special plane to Atlanta, the famous industrial auto city, Houston, Seattle and other "American Sunbelts." Known as the southern city to visit.With great interest, he visited Ford Motor Company, Houston National Space Center, Boeing Company, and got acquainted with the famous world oil tycoon Amon Hammer in Houston.Everywhere Deng Xiaoping went, he attracted people's attention, received a warm welcome, and brought happiness and joy to the local people.Many people want to meet him, shake his hand, cheer and say hello to him, and ask him to sign autographs.It can be said that Deng Xiaoping's visit this time caused a nationwide "China craze" in the United States.

In Seattle, Deng Xiaoping met Henry Jackson, a heavyweight Democratic Senator in Washington and a good friend of the Chinese Communists.Here they had a friendly talk.Jackson was still holding the first issue of "Time" in 1979, pointing to the image of Deng Xiaoping on the cover and said: "At that time, I am afraid I also thought you were one of the red devil leaders, and it was impossible to imagine that you could be named as a member of "Time" magazine. A weekly news figure. Another important reason is that the United States does not understand China. I have always believed that the United States failed to understand the differences between China and the Soviet Union is one of the most shameful failures of the American intelligence community.” Deng Xiaoping’s trip to Seattle made Boeing Became one of the first large American companies to enter China.

Before Deng Xiaoping concluded his visit to the United States, he also specially received the security guards from the United States and took a group photo with them.He was very happy to accept a special gift related to the security work --- a Seattle Police Department chief card with a badge on which Deng Xiaoping's photo was affixed.Deng Xiaoping said to the US security personnel: "Thank you for your thoughtful service, which has guaranteed the success of my visit to the United States. In the future, I welcome any of you to visit China." On February 5, Deng Xiaoping successfully concluded his friendly visit to the United States and returned home via Tokyo.Deng Xiaoping delivered a farewell speech at Seattle Airport.Before flying away from the United States, Deng Xiaoping also called President Carter, affirming the success of his visit to the United States, and saying that Sino-US relations would achieve significant development under the new historical conditions.The telegram is as follows: President Carter: As I leave your beautiful country at the end of an official goodwill visit to your country, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks once again to you and Mrs. Carter and your government for the hospitality extended to our party. My visit to your country this time has been a complete success.My talks with you and my mutual understanding with friends from all walks of life in the United States have deepened the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.The relationship between China and the United States will achieve significant development under the new historical conditions.I believe this is of great significance to our two countries, and to the entire world. I look forward to welcoming you and your wife to my country in the near future. Although Deng Xiaoping and Carter had not been together for a long time, in just a few days, Deng Xiaoping's words and deeds left a deep and unforgettable impression on Carter.He said: "Deng left a good impression on me. He is short in stature, strong in character, intelligent, frank, brave, extraordinary, confident and friendly. Negotiating with him is a pleasure." He regards receiving Deng Xiaoping's visit as a One of the happiest things about his presidency, for him "everything is going as expected, and the Chinese leaders are also very satisfied", he even thinks: "The achievements we have achieved together in the past three days are extraordinary, but Our goal is to make this kind of interaction between our two countries no longer the exception but the rule, no longer a matter of headlines or historians, but a matter of daily life for the people of China and the United States." He believes that In this diminutive but very strong Chinese leader, "harmony perfectly embodies wit, boldness, courage, grace, self-confidence and friendliness".He said: "During this process, I understand why some people say that the Chinese are the most civilized nation in the world." International public opinion generally believes that Deng Xiaoping's visit to the United States is of great significance to the development of bilateral relations and is a new milestone in the history of the traditional friendship between the two nations. "World Tribune" stated that "Deng Xiaoping is a lever for world peace."During the 8-day visit, Deng Xiaoping worked tirelessly and raced against time to conduct various talks and met with hundreds of congressmen, governors, mayors, and people from the business and cultural circles.Deng Xiaoping delivered speeches to thousands of people on different occasions and answered questions from nearly a hundred journalists.More than 2,000 reporters reported on this historic visit, and the prime time of the three major television networks in the United States became "Deng Xiaoping Time" or "Deng Xiaoping Channel". A "Deng Xiaoping whirlwind" blew up in the United States.According to a veteran of the White House's Protocol Department, the warm welcome to Deng Xiaoping was unprecedented and extremely rare in the diplomatic history of the United States and the world. And Deng Xiaoping's legendary experience, lovely personality and political demeanor also deeply attracted the American people.Representative Lester Wolf of New York State said: "Acupoint Deng Xiaoping Xue is not only honest and frank, but also amiable. It must have left a deep impression on the American people." Washington State Senator Henry Jackson said: "He is calm Calm and self-controlled." James Towson of the University of Washington said: "(Deng Xiaoping) is strong and powerful, his language is brilliant, straightforward, and witty." Reporters from China's Xinhua News Agency and "People's Daily" said in the reporter's commentary: "China Never before have positions on current international affairs and U.S.-China relations been directly and deeply understood by the American public in such an effective manner." Another point worth remembering is that on the 10th day after Deng Xiaoping returned to Beijing after his visit to the United States, the Chinese border guards began a month-long self-defense counterattack against Vietnam in the border areas of Guangxi and Yunnan.This is what he told Carter at the White House half a month ago.Deng Xiaoping kept his word and did what he said.