Chapter 16 The handshake between "Dr. Mimeograph" and the American doctor——Deng Xiaoping and Kissing (4)

Deng Xiaoping was aggressive, with strong words, and confronted Kissinger sharply.Mao Zedong supported Deng Xiaoping in stabbing Jiang Qing's hornet's nest, and praised Deng Xiaoping for "using steel companies to steel companies."Soon, Deng Xiaoping "stand aside" again. This is Kissinger's eighth visit to China.This time he came to China with the important mission of preparing for US President Ford's official visit to China at the end of the year. At this time, China's political arena has reached an extraordinary moment.Premier Zhou Enlai was unable to receive foreign guests because of his serious illness.Although Deng Xiaoping is still in charge of the work of the central government, an unhealthy trend has begun to blow up politically.Mao Zedong reviewed and approved the "Key Points of the Greeting Speech", and said that the current problems "are by no means isolated, but a reflection of the current struggle between the two classes, the two roads, and the two lines. This is a right-leaning trend of overturning the verdict."Criticizing Deng Xiaoping without naming names has already begun.

On October 19, Kissinger arrived in Beijing.Deng Xiaoping received Kissinger as the main representative of China, and held three long talks with Kissinger in the reception hall of the South Gate of the Great Hall of the People. During the talks, Kissinger said to Deng Xiaoping: "The relationship between the United States and China is based on a sound foundation, because neither country wants anything from the other." Deng Xiaoping said: "We very much appreciate what President Nixon said first when he met with Chairman Mao. He said that he came to China out of America's own interests. China appreciates Nixon's brave step. We understand what he said. Authenticity, not a language of diplomacy. That is, he’s dealing with China in America’s own interest.”

Hearing what Deng Xiaoping said, Kissinger couldn't help admiring Deng Xiaoping's shrewdness, and felt embarrassed that he knew he was wrong. Deng Xiaoping went on to say: "Chairman Mao has repeatedly emphasized that there are of course bilateral issues between China and the United States, but more importantly, international issues. When dealing with international issues, we believe that we must always consider them from a political perspective in order to see them more clearly. Only when we are clear can we achieve coordination in some respects. It is for this that we appreciate President Nixon's demeanor as a statesman."

During this trip to China, Kissinger was told that Mao Zedong would meet him at the last moment when he was about to leave Beijing. From 6:25 to 8:05 in the evening on October 21, Mao Zedong and Kissinger had a conversation in Mao Zedong's study in Zhongnanhai.Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, Foreign Minister Qiao Guanhua, Director of the U.S. Liaison Office Huang Zhen, and Director of the U.S. Liaison Office in China Bush all attended the meeting. At this time, Mao Zedong's body was already very weak, but he still insisted on standing to welcome them, shook hands and asked photographers to take pictures.Judging from the existing video materials, Mao Zedong spoke very slowly and his gestures were also difficult.When Mao Zedong shook hands with Kissinger's wife, he said that Mrs. Kissinger was taller than Kissinger, and joked with Kissinger about what it felt like to marry a tall woman.

Mao Zedong's speech was not very clear. Tang Wensheng and Wang Hairong repeated what he said to confirm that there were no mistakes, and then translated it.Or else his nurse would hold a notepad and ask him to write in it what he had to say.Throughout the talks, Mao was constantly gesturing vigorously with his hands and fingers to emphasize his points.But his mind is still very clear, and his thinking is very clear.Mao Zedong also pointed to his head and said: "This part is okay, I can eat and sleep." Then he patted his legs and said, "These parts are not working anymore. I feel weak when I walk, and my lungs have problems. In short , I feel bad."

Their specific conversations, we can learn some wonderful fragments from the book "Kissinger's Secret": Mao Zedong: You know I'm sick all over, and I'm going to heaven soon. Kissinger: No. Mao Zedong: Soon.I have received an invitation letter from God. Kissinger: I hope it will be a long time before you accept the invitation. Mao Zedong: I accept the doctor's orders. Kissinger: Thank you. The (U.S.) president very much hopes to visit China, and also very much hopes to meet Chairman Mao. Mao Zedong: We sincerely invite him to visit. Kissinger: We attach great importance to our relationship with the People's Republic of China.

Mao Zedong: It is quite important, but not that important. (gesturing with fingers) You are this (the space between the two fingers is relatively large), we are this (the space between the two fingers is relatively small); you have the atomic bomb, we do not. Kissinger: Yes, but the Chairman used to say that military power was not the only determining factor. Mao Zedong: Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping said that millet plus rifles. Kissinger: We have some common enemies. Mao Zedong: Yes. Kissinger: You said it in English and you wrote it down.Can you give me this? Mao Zedong: Good. (He hands Kissinger his written note).

Kissinger: I think the chairman has made great progress in learning English.As I said, we have common enemies. Mao Zedong: No (hold two fingers very close).So you got into a dispute with him (pointing to Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping).Yesterday, you said to him that the United States has nothing to ask from China, and China has nothing to ask from the United States.In my opinion, this statement is partly true and partly false.Taiwan is a small problem, but the whole world is a big problem. (begins to cough, nurse helps) If neither side wants anything from the other, why do you come to Beijing, and why should we host you and your president?

Kissinger: We're in Beijing because we have a common enemy, and because we think you have a better view of what's going on in the world than any country we deal with, and we share some of your views... quite a lot. Mao Zedong: That's unreliable.Those words are not reliable. ... (Patting self on both shoulders) We think what you are doing is jumping to Moscow from our shoulders, which are useless now. Kissinger: We get nothing in Moscow. Mao Zedong: But you can get Taiwan in China. Kissinger: Can we get Taiwan in China? Mao Zedong: But you now have China's Taiwan. Kissinger: But we will resolve this one day.

Mao Zedong: Within a hundred years. Kissinger: Last time I was here, the Chairman said the same thing. Mao Zedong: Indeed. Kissinger: At least, I don't think it will take a hundred years. Mao Zedong: If you send it back to me now, I don't want it either.Because it is unnecessary now.Now there are very many counter-revolutionaries there.In a hundred years, we will want it. ... Kissinger: Not a hundred years. Mao Zedong: (gesturing, counting) It's hard to tell.Five years, ten years, twenty years, a hundred years, it's really hard to say. Then, Mao Zedong talked about welcoming President Ford's visit, and also talked about the specific condition of his illness.

Kissinger: Chairman, I read the transcript of our conversation two years ago.I think it's one of the most in-depth records of international affairs.We take it very seriously. Mao Zedong: But there are some things we have to wait and see. Some of my assessments still need to be driven by the objective situation. After the two discussed the US-Soviet competition in Europe and whether they would use nuclear weapons in a war in Europe, Mao Zedong and Kissinger also talked about the international news they often like to read in newspapers, and they talked about the "New York Times" , "Washington Post" are all owned by Jewish families, and in response to the West's criticism of China, they laughed at themselves and said, "I allow foreigners to pat the table in front of me. If they scold me, I will only be happy." It can be seen that Mao Zedong affirmed Deng Xiaoping's views on Sino-US relations.The next day, on the eve of Kissinger's departure from Beijing, Kissinger and Qiao Guanhua discussed the draft statement of the United States.Qiao Guanhua rejected the communiqué proposed by the US side and proposed a communiqué that the US side found unacceptable. Kissinger also rejected it.Qiao Guanhua made it clear that China was going to hold a high-level meeting without a communique, which annoyed Kissinger.The meeting was broken off in the early hours without agreement.At the time of parting, Qiao Guanhua said that the Chinese government could not guarantee that the American president would receive a warm welcome.Some commented that Kissinger returned to Washington from Beijing empty-handed this time. On December 1, 1975, "Air Force One" landed at Beijing Capital Airport. Ford, who had just stepped out of the cabin, had a gloomy expression.The sharp-eyed Kissinger reported excitedly behind the president and his wife: "Well, Deng Xiaoping has already greeted the president in front of the gangway." A smile appeared on his face, and he knew that China still attached great importance to Ford's visit. In response to a series of U.S. violations of the Sino-U.S. Shanghai Communiqué, Deng Xiaoping emphasized at the welcome banquet held in the name of Premier Zhou Enlai that night: "More than three years ago, when President Nixon visited China, China and the U.S. issued the famous Shanghai Communiqué. .This is a unique international document, which clearly states the fundamental differences in policy determined by the different social systems of China and the United States, and also points out that the two countries have many commonalities in today's world. Neither country should seek hegemony, and both oppose the efforts of any other country or group of countries to establish hegemony. The communique provides the basis for the development of Sino-US relations, and also points out the direction and goals. The publication of this communiqué not only conforms to the common interests of the two peoples aspirations, and in the interest of the people of the world, had far-reaching consequences internationally." Of course Ford understood the undertones of the tough little man.Although his visit to China this time will not bring substantial progress to Sino-US relations, he is not going to propose the plan of "inverting the liaison office" (that is, setting up an embassy in Beijing and a liaison office in Taiwan) during the talks. up. During the talks, Ford told Deng Xiaoping that due to the needs of the domestic situation in the United States, the normalization of Sino-US relations must be postponed until the 1976 election before taking action in the Japanese manner.Prior to this, it is planned to reduce the number of US troops stationed in Taiwan in half, that is, from 2,800 to 1,400.He also repeatedly emphasized that the United States cannot abandon its "old friends" when it expects a future other than a peaceful solution, and "expects the Chinese government to resolve the Taiwan issue peacefully." Deng Xiaoping also clearly pointed out: the so-called "Japanese way", that is, to accept the three principles of severing diplomatic relations (with Taiwan), abolishing the treaty, and withdrawing troops, and the non-governmental trade between the United States and Taiwan can continue; China's internal affairs should be decided by China itself.Deng Xiaoping also said that China was in no rush to resolve the issue of normalization until the United States accepted the three principles. The day after President Ford and his party arrived in Beijing (December 2) at 4:15 pm, Mao Zedong received President Ford and Secretary of State Kissinger in his study in Zhongnanhai. Deng Xiaoping, Huang Zhen and Bush also attended the meeting. After Mao Zedong shook hands with the guests one by one, he invited everyone to sit down. Mao Zedong first asked Ford: "How are you?" Ford nodded and said, "I'm fine, and I hope you're fine, too." Mao Zedong pointed to his chest and patted his legs: "I'm not good, I'm sick. How is the doctor?" Kissinger smiled and said, "Very good. I'm glad to be here with you." Just as Mao Zedong personally grasped the details of Zhou Enlai's talks with Nixon and Kissinger in the past, Mao Zedong had a detailed understanding of the specific content of Deng Xiaoping's talks with Ford even though he was already suffering from illness.After exchanging pleasantries, Mao Zedong looked around at everyone present, and asked knowingly, "What did you talk about?" Before Deng Xiaoping could speak, Ford said first, "We talked about the international situation this morning. Your country and mine need to make parallel efforts to achieve results that are beneficial to both of us." Mao Zedong personally controlled the process of Sino-US relations. Compared Nixon with Ford, he was very dissatisfied with Ford's China policy.He squinted at Ford, and said with a touch of irony in his characteristic humor: "We have no capital, so we just shoot empty guns." Ford, not realizing that Mao was implicitly criticizing him for firing empty guns, said, "I don't believe that." Mao Zedong continued to express his dissatisfaction with humor: "It's just cursing, we still have some money." All the Chinese present couldn't help laughing.After translating into English, Americans laughed.After Ford laughed, he understood the meaning, and then he showed embarrassment, and said, "(swearing mother) we will too." Mao Zedong said sharply: "You will too? Then reach an agreement." "We can speak powerfully against a troubled country," Ford said. Mao Zedong smiled: "Yes, another agreement has been reached." The atmosphere in the room is relaxed.Mao Zedong raised his hand and pointed to Kissinger and said, "Your Excellency, your Secretary of State is interfering in my internal affairs." Both Ford and Kissinger tensed up and looked at Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong said unhurriedly: "He forbids me to see God." Ford and Kissinger breathed a sigh of relief, and Kissinger said proudly: "We insist on this." Mao Zedong pointed to Kissinger and said: "He dares to disobey God's order! God invites me, but he won't let me go." Kissinger feigned surprise and said: "If you are with God, the power of your union is too great!" Mao Zedong was very used to having humorous conversations with Kissinger, so he happily said: "Your Excellency, Doctor, is an atheist who opposes God and destroys my relationship with God. It's amazing! I can't do anything with him, so I have to obey him." command. The command is 0RDER." Ford asked a little puzzled: "Is he giving orders to God?" Mao Zedong responded sharply: "The doctor gave me an order." Although the meeting between Mao Zedong and Ford had a relaxed, humorous and friendly atmosphere, it could not conceal the lack of substantive content of this high-level meeting.Regarding Ford's visit to China, Hu Sheng, an expert on the history of the Communist Party of China, commented in the book "Seventy Years of the Communist Party of China": "Compared with the promises made by the previous Nixon administration, the US government's position on the Taiwan issue is a Regression. The normalization of Sino-U.S. relations has been delayed due to the inability of the U.S. government to make a correct decision to deal with (the Taiwan issue). " Robert Ross, an expert on U.S.-China relations in the United States, also commented in his monograph "The Changing U.S.-China Relations" Said: "Ford's talks in Beijing were friendly but unremarkable. One participant recalled that the summit meeting was the most dull meeting he had ever attended. But on the surface everything seemed to be going well. When When Ford and Mao talked, there was nothing to say for half an hour. They were just fulfilling their agenda, not to show the world that there was any disharmony between them." Although Ford's visit to China did not make substantive progress in removing the fundamental obstacle to the normalization of Sino-U.S. relations—the Taiwan issue, it still helped to maintain and expand the relationship between China and the U.S. that began four years ago. momentum for dialogue and cooperation on normalization.Once again, Ford told Chinese leaders that they cannot expect to normalize relations until after the U.S. presidential election.But soon, Ford was defeated by Carter in the presidential election, and the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States missed him. However, during this meeting, Deng Xiaoping's mood was already very complicated.Western diplomats and China analysts in Beijing at that time, based on the law of Beijing's political climate over the years, had already judged that Deng Xiaoping had "began to be in an extremely uncomfortable situation after his power fell to the sidelines."Foreign media reported that Deng Xiaoping "appeared to be very preoccupied when he held talks with visiting President Ford in early December, probably thinking about how much it would affect him if Premier Zhou died of illness."Recalling the meeting with Deng Xiaoping, President Ford said that he "found Deng to be polite but firm and stubborn" and seemed to be "in no hurry to establish full diplomatic relations, nor to ask the United States to release its long-standing obligations to Taiwan." .Holdridge, an expert on China in the United States, analyzed that given that the "Gang of Four" was rampant in China at that time, it is not surprising that Deng Xiaoping had reservations about what he said. After the New Year's Day in 1976, Deng Xiaoping suddenly found himself free.In addition to the critical illness of Zhou Enlai, whom he regarded as his comrade, comrade-in-arms and elder brother, which made him feel heavy, a "counterattack against the Rightist overturning the verdict" against him became more and more urgent, and now he is only "specializing in foreign affairs".But the last two foreign affairs activities, one was at noon on New Year's Day, and I met and entertained Nixon's daughter Julie and son-in-law David Eisenhower. Mrs. Hegler is the head of the delegation, and Mrs. Patch Mink, the Democratic Congressman, is the deputy head of the US Congresswomen's visit to China.After that, he "stepped aside" again. Originally, from the end of 1974 to the beginning of last year, Mao Zedong had always supported Deng Xiaoping in his efforts to rectify the situation in an all-round way.Mao Zedong put Deng Xiaoping in the most important position, and also supported Deng Xiaoping in stabbing Jiang Qing's hornet's nest, and praised Deng Xiaoping for "using steel companies to steel companies."For this reason, Mao Zedong criticized Jiang Qing many times.But later, when Mao Zedong instructed the Politburo to meet to discuss the evaluation of the "Cultural Revolution", Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping's opinions diverged. The "Gang of Four" were so happy that they wished to overthrow Deng Xiaoping immediately.However, Mao Zedong had his own plans. He hoped that Deng Xiaoping would change his mind and agree with himself on the evaluation of the "Cultural Revolution", so he proposed that Deng Xiaoping preside over the Politburo to make a resolution on the "Cultural Revolution". It is "three to seven: seven points for grades and three points for mistakes".Mao Zedong very much hoped that someone as authoritative and influential as Deng Xiaoping would come forward to affirm that the mainstream of the "Cultural Revolution" was good, so as to achieve the goal of the two continuing to cooperate and blocking the mouths of Jiang Qing and others at the same time.However, Deng Xiaoping never compromised on this issue of principle.He politely rejected Mao Zedong's proposal.He said: "It is inappropriate for me to preside over this resolution. I am a native of Taohuayuan. I don't know Han, regardless of Wei and Jin." How can a word be linked to a seven-point score?" Under such circumstances, the Politburo stopped Deng Xiaoping's work, but Mao Zedong still left a little room for him to "specialize in foreign affairs."Soon, Liu Bing, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Tsinghua University, wrote a letter of complaint asking Deng Xiaoping to forward it to Mao Zedong.This letter is to report the serious problems of Chi Qun and Xie Jingyi of the Army Propaganda Team.Mao Zedong believed that Liu Bing's motivation for writing the letter was not pure, and the target was directed against me. Mao Zedong also commented: "I am in Beijing, why don't you write the letter directly to me, and have to go through Xiaoping. Xiaoping is partial to Liu Bing. The issues involved in Tsinghua University are not isolated, but a reflection of the current struggle between the two lines.” On November 3, Mao Zedong’s instructions were conveyed, so Tsinghua University first began to criticize Deng’s so-called “counterattack against the rightist style of overturning verdicts.” In late November, according to Mao Zedong's instructions, the Politburo held a "greeting" meeting attended by more than a hundred veteran cadres and party, government, and military leaders, and formally deployed the "counterattack against the Rightist wind of overturning verdicts." As the rhetoric of "fighting back against the Rightist style of overturning verdicts" became louder and louder, Deng Xiaoping's appearances became less and less frequent.After Deng Xiaoping met foreign guests for the last time on January 2, 1976, he was never seen in public again.But after two weeks of "disappearing", Deng Xiaoping suddenly reappeared! ———At 3 p.m. on January 15, 1976, when Zhou Enlai's memorial service was solemnly held in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People, Deng Xiaoping, wearing a black Chinese tunic suit, appeared on the TV camera, representing the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, the Central Military Commission and the people of the whole country. General eulogy. Soon, Deng Xiaoping was defeated for the third time.And Kissinger also left the White House because of Ford's defeat in the election.