Chapter 18 Deng Xiaoping fascinated the founders of "Trilateralism" - Deng Xiaoping and Brzezinski (1)

It is said that someone once asked a question at a banquet of diplomatic envoys in the White House for the participants to answer—in the United States, who is the person who has to talk to the president every day? Some people said it was of course the first lady, some said it was the president's chef, some said it was the president's chief of staff, and some even said it was the president's pets and so on.But neither answer is correct.So who is this person? In the end, it was a White House waiter who inadvertently answered the question correctly — the president's national security adviser.This role as the president's national security adviser is to sort out and report intelligence from the CIA, the State Department, and the Department of Defense to the president almost every day, and propose different plans and countermeasures for the president's reference. It is the most eye-catching in the White House.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was Assistant to President Carter for National Security Affairs from 1977 to 1981, is a professor of political science at Columbia University.Before that, he had worked in the Johnson administration's State Department policy planning team for two years. He became famous on the international anti-communist arena because of his book "The Great Failure", which launched a comprehensive attack on the Communist Party and communism. A well-known anti-communist theorist, so he also won the title of representative of the "hawks".After Nixon became president, he returned to the university podium, but put forward some "dovish" theories.Because he was not born in the United States, but in Eastern Europe, and he had successful research on Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, he became a guest of honor among the upper echelons of the American establishment.His ability to briefly and clearly summarize the complicated affairs of the world into decision-making solutions and his ability to sum up the situation and put forward slogans are also deeply appreciated by American political leaders.During this period, Brzezinski, who was escaping the summer in Northeast Port, Maine, and David Rockefeller, the general manager and chairman of the famous American conglomerate, and David Rockefeller, who had just served as the chairman of the US Council on Foreign Relations not long ago, were in their Port of Seale. The manor hit it off immediately and became a pair of close friends.As a result, they also established an organization composed of the top banks and corporate giants in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan—the famous "Trilateral Commission."This "trilateralism" was Brzezinski's invention.

Later, with the recommendation of Coca-Cola's Paul Austin, David's nomination, and Brzezinski's consent, Carter, who had not yet been elected president of the United States, was able to become a "tripartite."After Carter successfully ran for the presidency, he first consulted Brzezinski when forming members of the government team.And Carter also said to him: "When I first joined the 'Trilateral Commission', I thought in my heart, if I can be president, I will ask you to be the national security affairs assistant." And I hope that Brzezinski" Give me a hand."And Brzezinski said without humility: "This is my honor! Jimmy, you will never regret your choice." Carter did publicly say to reporters: "I have the best consultant!"

Like Kissinger, Brzezinski became well-known in the political circles of the world for his outstanding role in the process of normalizing relations between China and the United States after taking this position. Brzezinski secretly expressed his desire to visit China to the Chinese Liaison Office in the United States.Carter met with Brzezinski in secret alone and gave him "special authorization", indicating that "the main purpose of Brzezinski's visit to China this time should be to establish diplomatic relations." Brzezinski specially prepared rock samples retrieved by American astronauts from the moon and a five-star red flag brought to the moon as gifts to the Chinese people, "as a symbol of our common pursuit of a better future."

In April 1978, for Jimmy Carter, the most considered issue was probably the normalization of US-China relations.He has internally and secretly decided on the implementation strategy report for the normalization of US-China relations, suggesting that the date for the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US be "January 1, 1979".Carter thinks that the Chinese call January 1 every year "New Year's Day", which means the beginning of auspiciousness, and the Chinese will like this day very much.And it is less than 8 months away from this date. Can the US and China eliminate obstacles and differences in such a short period of time?The U.S. "minimum" plan has been adjusted to require China to accept the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan.This is the core basic point of the negotiations on the establishment of diplomatic relations.Can China accept it?No one can know.What will happen?For this reason, he once instructed Woodcock, the director of the Liaison Office in China, to go back to Beijing with the "minimum" conditions for the establishment of diplomatic relations to make some tests, trying to accurately convey this idea of ​​the United States to the Chinese people, and to get more information from the Chinese people. An acceptable response for some Americans.However, Woodcock has tried his best to do everything possible, but still has not received any response from China.Perhaps the only way is to fly a presidential envoy to Beijing to communicate directly with China's top leaders.Due to time constraints, the autumn and winter of that year (1978), after the congressional election, happened to be an extremely rare "opportunity window", which was conducive to the normalization of relations. At this time, Congress was adjourning. Due to personnel adjustments, the opposition forces are relatively weak, and it is difficult to immediately organize a strong counterattack.This "window of opportunity" lasted from autumn to mid-January 1979 before the new Congress convened.If the normalization of U.S.-China relations is not completed within 1978, this "window" will be closed after the congress meets next year due to two factors: one is that once an agreement on reducing strategic nuclear weapons with the Soviet Union is reached, it is bound to be difficult for the Senate to approve it. The second is that 1979 will be the year of the presidential election, and Carter's group must concentrate on dealing with the presidential election. At this time, partisan struggle and congressional criticism of certain foreign policies must be considered.

As Brzezinski, he is naturally unwilling to give up, just like Kissinger's secret visit to Beijing made him an outstanding figure in the history of Sino-US relations. He has repeatedly urged the president to improve US-China relations.And as early as November 3, 1977, when U.S. Vice President Mundell hosted a banquet at the White House for Huang Zhen, the director of the Chinese Liaison Office in Washington, who was about to return to China (President Carter said to Huang Zhen and the reporters at the time: There is no precedent in the history of American diplomacy."), Huang Zhen completed his last important mission during his five and a half years in office, which was to send a public message to Brzezinski. Oral invitation to visit China.In fact, this is what Brzezinski instructed his assistant, Oxenberg, to propose to Han Xu, "I hope the Chinese leader invites him to visit Beijing."Woodcock, the director of the U.S. Liaison Office in Beijing, also suggested that Carter allow Brzezinski to visit Beijing.Huang Zhen's verbal invitation this time is the Chinese government's important response to Brzezinski.Naturally, Brzezinski was secretly delighted and happily accepted the invitation.This was naturally strongly opposed by Vance, who was the Secretary of State, and a quarrel broke out for this.

However, when Secretary of State Vance's trip to Beijing on January 24, 1978 encountered "Deng Xiaoping's nail" in China and failed to reach any agreement on the normalization of Sino-US relations, Brzezinski naturally could not let go of such a situation. Chance, it's time for him to play. On March 16, 1978, Washington officially notified Beijing that Brzezinski had accepted the invitation. The specific date is to be determined. On April 26, the White House announced that the date of Brzezinski's visit to China will be May 20.This indicated that President Carter was beginning to prepare for one of the most critical challenges in his foreign policy decisions.

On the morning of May 12, Brzezinski went to the Oval Office to present the latest briefing to the President in accordance with the usual work procedures. After introducing the situation around the world in the last 24 hours, when he got up to leave, Carter asked him to stay and said: : "Zbigniew, wait a minute, I want to talk to you specifically about your visit to Beijing." After Brzezinski sat down, Carter said: "I have already thought about it, and I hope to speed up the pace of normalization of relations. You have come to Beijing this time. If you see the situation correctly, you can play by ear and seize the situation." Opportunity to take the normalization of the relationship one step further. I give you special authorization."

Hearing the president's decision, Brzezinski was so excited that he almost jumped up and said, "This is great!" Carter continued: "When you meet Chinese leaders, you say that the United States accepts China's three basic conditions for the normalization of relations. The issue will be resolved peacefully, please do not refute it; second, the US should be able to continue selling arms to Taiwan." "Okay, I will do what you ask." Immediately after the conversation, Brzezinski organized the president's conversation into a five-page written instruction with the assistance of Oxenberg, an expert on China issues. , submitted to Carter for review, and asked Carter to sign it as the basis for the president's authorization.

But Carter did not immediately sign the written instruction.He was going to hold a meeting to ventilate several important officials. On the morning of May 16, President Carter personally presided over a special meeting in the Oval Office to discuss Brzezinski's upcoming visit to China.Usually when the president convenes such a policy meeting involving foreign affairs, Vance usually speaks first.This time, everyone, as usual, first look at Vance.Vance sat on the sofa, uncharacteristically, silent. Carter knew that Vance was not happy because his opinion was not adopted.So, Carter signaled Secretary of Defense Brown to speak first.Brown has a clear attitude this time, strongly advocating that the president authorize Brzezinski to conduct more extensive and substantive talks with China."We should use this visit to take the normalization of U.S.-China relations a big step forward," Brown said.

Brzezinski also said: "I think we not only need to substantially advance the normalization of relations, but also further develop the US-China military strategic relationship. Assistant Secretary of Defense Abramowitz was added to the mission list, and he was tasked with briefing the Chinese side on the global strategic situation in Beijing." Based on the rapidly changing US-Soviet relations and the international situation, Carter accepted the views of Brzezinski and Brown, so he stated at the meeting: "The main purpose of Brzezinski's visit to China should be to establish diplomatic relations. .” The President made a decision at such a meeting, and Vance, though displeased, dropped his objections. On May 17, Carter slightly revised and signed the written instruction on the normalization of US-China relations.In this document, President Carter made some important and highly confidential decisions on China.It mentioned two key issues, namely, the strategic relationship between the United States and China and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China. On the first question, Carter directed Brzezinski to tell the Chinese: "We view the US-China relationship as a central aspect of US global policy. The US and China share certain common interests, and both sides have long-term goals that align with each other. Strategic interests. The most important of these is that both sides oppose any country seeking global or regional hegemony. So your visit is not tactical, but to show our interest in establishing a strategic cooperative relationship with China, and this interest has The fundamental and enduring nature. From the very beginning of the visit, you want to emphasize that." Regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, Carter gave instructions of historical significance: "You should explain that on this issue, the United States has made up its mind and is ready to move forward, actively negotiate, and remove various obstacles on the road to the normalization of relations." Therefore, Brzezinski's visit to China was given an extraordinary mission of negotiating the normalization of US-China relations.Compared with the exploratory visit to China made by Secretary of State Vance last time, Brzezinski's visit is the real substantive visit. Brzezinski attached great importance to this visit. In order to show his friendship, he specially prepared the rock specimens retrieved by American astronauts from the moon and a five-star red flag brought to the moon as gifts, and successfully persuaded President Carter to give Hua Chairman Feng wrote a personal letter: "Chairman Hua: A special lunar rock specimen is presented to you and the Chinese people as a symbol of our common pursuit of a better future." Vance was a little worried about Brzezinski's actions. After Brzezinski's plan to visit China was confirmed, it was originally agreed not to greet the Soviet Union in advance.But later, Brzezinski learned that someone from the State Department had greeted the Soviet embassy in the United States without the permission of the White House.As a result, the Soviet Union hastily sent the long-departed Soviet ambassador to China Ilichev back to Beijing before Brzezinski arrived in Beijing. When Brzezinski was about to make his trip, Vance suggested to Carter that before Brzezinski's visit to China, Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko should be invited to visit the United States, in order to weaken Brzezinski's visit to China. strategic significance.Brzezinski strongly disagreed.According to Brzezinski's account in his book "Strength and Principles", in order not to let Soviet factors interfere with his visit to China, he persuaded Carter to reject Vance's proposal.In this way, the plan to invite Gromyko to visit the United States was postponed until after Brzezinski's visit to China with Carter's agreement. Before Brzezinski's departure, Taiwan's "ambassador" to the United States, Shen Jianhong, asked to see officials from the U.S. State Department and Brzezinski's assistant Oxenberg, hoping that the United States would consider changing the date of the visit to China, because that day happened to be Taiwan's new "New Taiwan" The day of the inauguration of President Chiang Ching-kuo.Officials from the ROC Division of the State Council had no choice but to say they regretted the coincidence.Oxenberg didn't even have an apology, just said coldly: "This matter can't be changed." Still not reconciled, Shen Jianhong asked to meet Brzezinski himself.However, Brzezinski replied that he was too busy and could only consider the meeting after returning from his visit to Beijing.Shen Jianhong keenly felt that the situation was not good. On May 19, Brzezinski and his party finally flew out of Washington on a special plane, started his trip to China, and arrived in Beijing on May 20 as planned.