Chapter 19 Deng Xiaoping fascinated the founders of "Trilateralism" - Deng Xiaoping and Brzezinski (2)

Brzezinski said that Deng Xiaoping was "small in stature but big in spirit, which immediately broke my heart. After talking to him, I understand more why he can withstand all the setbacks in his political career, but more importantly, his sense of purpose I was impressed with his drive and drive. He was a political leader who knew what he needed and who he could deal with." After listening to Brzezinski's report, Carter said: "You are fascinated by Deng Xiaoping." When Brzezinski flew over the Pacific Ocean, the superficial calm could not conceal the turmoil in his heart, which heaved like the waves of the Pacific Ocean.Later, when he recalled this trip to Beijing in his memoirs, he said: He could not help comparing his visit with the "Operation Buro" that Kissinger secretly flew over the Himalayas 10 years ago in the summer of 1971. "Connect.He even thought that it was very coincidental that Kissinger, who had contributed to the normalization of US-China relations, and himself were both non-American immigrants (Kissinger was born in Germany, he was born in Poland) , and had never been to China when they accepted this task, they knew almost nothing about China, and they had no special feelings, they just had the same strategic considerations.

On the plane, he is also very concerned about what kind of courtesy China will give him, which pays attention to etiquette.He asked aides who greeted Kissinger and Vance at the airport when they first flew into Beijing.Oxenberg, an expert on China issues, told him that when Kissinger first flew there, he was greeted by Marshal Ye Jianying, who had worked with General Marshall in the Military Adjustment Department in the past, and later was the vice chairman of the Military Commission, and It was Huang Hua who had just announced his appointment as ambassador to Canada at that time; and last year, it was Huang Hua, who had already served as foreign minister, who welcomed Secretary of State Vance.Brzezinski asked the question out of fear of being snubbed when he flew to Beijing.Will his assistant to the president for national security affairs, the equivalent of the secretary of state, be greeted with the same protocol?

At noon on May 20, 1978, Brzezinski and his party of ten arrived in Beijing.He was accompanied by his wife, as well as Samuel Huntington of the National Security Council, Morton Abramowitz of the Department of Defense, Richard Holbrooke of the State Department, Ben Huberman, an aide to Frank Pray and Oxenberg et al. He was very happy when the US special plane landed at the Capital Airport and Foreign Minister Huang Hua and his wife appeared under the gangway."It's a signal that the Chinese have decided to give this visit the same level as the visit of the secretary of state," he had said.

This is Brzezinski's first visit to Beijing, and his impression is very fresh.In his memoirs, Brzezinski said: In order to bring the Chinese into the talks on the broader relationship that I want to move forward, four of us are going to give the Chinese a broad briefing: Samuel Huntington of the National Security Council on our relationship with the USSR Estimates of the Balance of Power and the Strategic Issues That Arose; Morton Abramowitz, Department of Defense, for a comprehensive presentation on military intelligence and a proposal for mutual visits between military delegations from the two countries; Richard Holbrooke, State Department, on expanding cultural and economic cooperation; Ben Huberman, who served on Frank's press team and on the National Security Council, on expanding scientific cooperation, including a possible visit to China by Presidential Science and Technology Advisor Dr. Press.Mitchell Oxenberg, my closest adviser on China affairs, worked directly with me to prepare my comprehensive presentation on U.S. foreign policy, a more blunt introduction to the Chinese leadership. Prelude to the discussion.

That evening, the Foreign Minister hosted a formal dinner for me, at which we toasted each other—we toasted carefully to signal the seriousness of our intentions. On Sunday morning, we first went to visit Mao Zedong's memorial hall.Seeing that the educated Chinese followed the example of the Russians and embalmed the remains of their revolutionary leaders and put them on display, I do not agree with them. For the so-called scientific materialists, this is a kind of Paradoxical style.The rest of the morning was devoted to further exchanges with the Chinese foreign minister, who presented China's position on foreign policy issues.In the afternoon, I visited the Forbidden City.This extraordinary combination of palaces and handicrafts makes people understand that China has always been a civilization in itself, which is quite unusual and distinctive to a degree unmatched by any other country in the world.Then, I had the first meeting with Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, and I also had an exquisite dinner with him in the evening at Fangshan, a restaurant located in Beihai Park in central Beijing, with a small lake in front of it.After dinner, go to listen to Beijing opera, the performances are all traditional Beijing opera, which is obviously different from the recent practice of foreign guests.

Brzezinski, who is well versed in the art of negotiation, has made full preparations for this visit to China. After studying and analyzing the negotiation records of the United States and China in the past 10 years, he carefully set up a negotiation plan.He knew that before meeting with Deng Xiaoping or Hua Guofeng, the Chinese side would conduct a comprehensive study of his conversation with the Chinese foreign minister.Therefore, on the first day of his meeting with Foreign Minister Huang Hua, he spent three and a half hours, including an interpreter, "consciously giving a very long and comprehensive opening remark outlining US foreign policy", clearly and fully Explain what the United States agrees with and what the Carter administration wants to do.The purpose is to discuss the matter privately with the top leaders once some consensus has been reached on strategic issues.In other words, "the real consultations and really important exchanges of views were mainly carried out during the talks with Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping and Premier Hua Guofeng."

From 4:05 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on May 21, Deng Xiaoping met with Brzezinski in the reception hall of the South Gate of the Great Hall of the People.Deng Xiaoping had this meeting just after Brzezinski visited the Palace Museum. Brzezinski said in his memoirs: "When meeting with the Chinese foreign minister, the two delegations sat facing each other on both sides of the long table, but in this meeting, Deng and I sat side by side in armchairs, and Deng was on my left. , with his usual spittoon on his left. I was accompanied only by Mike Oxenberg, who spoke Chinese and took detailed notes, and Ambassador Leonard Woodcock. The delegation None of the other members had a problem with not being able to attend, except for Holbrooke, who made a big fuss about personal privilege for not being able to attend the meeting. I was however limited by the president's explicit instructions to keep the meeting small and conservative. Confidential, then the ambassador should obviously be ahead of him. The meeting started with a caring word from Deng. Deng said: 'You must be very tired.' I replied: 'I feel inspired.' This sentence expresses accurately After a few more pleasantries, Deng got back to business."

Brzezinski told Deng Xiaoping that he had read all the records of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Deng Xiaoping's conversations with major American politicians and senators. Deng Xiaoping said: "I have met many American friends. It is not difficult to understand China's issues. You can understand our views, viewpoints and propositions from past conversation records. We have stated them directly. Chairman Mao Zedong is a soldier, and so is Zhou Enlai." Soldiers, and so do I." Brzezinski replied: "Military people are straight-talking, but Americans have a reputation for being straight-talking. I hope you don't find anything difficult about Americans or the United States."

Immediately afterwards, Brzezinski "jumped headlong into" the topic he avoided during the meeting with Foreign Minister Huang Hua, that is, the normalization of relations."The president wants me to convey to you that we are ready to have serious talks not just about the international situation, not just about how our parallel actions might help advance the same goals or counter the same dangers, but we're ready to start talking about more active talks on more direct relations between the two countries." Deng Xiaoping was still skeptical, because the meeting between Brzezinski and Huang Hua on the first day did not specifically involve this substantive issue.So, Deng Xiaoping said: "Your Excellency, the problem now is to make up your mind. If President Carter has made up his mind on this issue, I think it will be easier to solve this problem... In order to achieve normalization, what do you think should be done? "

Regarding this question, when answering this question, Brzezinski tried to let Deng Xiaoping understand the obligations of the United States to its allies and the difficulties the United States faced at home, especially the difficulties encountered on the Taiwan issue.Brzezinski spoke at length about this, saying: "In private discussions with Your Excellency and in the confidentiality of this small circle, I can also say that the President himself is prepared to resolve the issue as soon as practicable. This issue. We have no intention of artificially delaying its resolution... As such, the President is prepared to take the political responsibility domestically to resolve outstanding issues between our two countries. He acknowledges that it is our responsibility, not yours. In our relationship, we will Continue to follow the Shanghai Communiqué and follow the principle that there is only one China and the resolution of the Taiwan question is your own business. However, at the same time, we still have certain domestic problems and certain problems left over from history that must be overcome. These problems Complex, difficult, and in some ways quite emotional. That's why we must find some way that allows us to express our hopes and expectations in terms of a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue, even though we recognize that this is your domestic affairs, we are doing so in accordance with the spirit of the Shanghai Communiqué..."

Deng Xiaoping replied: "Both sides can express their opinions, and the Chinese can say that when and how we liberate Taiwan are internal issues that should be resolved by the Chinese themselves. We can express our views." "After normalization, Taiwan, feeling insecure, may turn to the Soviet Union," Brzezinski said. Deng Xiaoping replied: "We have considered this possibility, but since the United States wants to maintain economic relations with Taiwan, this issue is not a problem." The positions of the two sides are so close. It can be said that throughout the process, as Brzezinski puts it, "We tried to turn the exchange of views into a genuine dialogue between friends, I spoke extemporaneously, weaving together global, strategic, and bilateral issues, gradually Get closer to the normalization issue in order to explore China’s flexibility, and then get back to global issues that don’t lead to major debates.” During the talks, Brzezinski "intentionally" used the "historical turning point era" as an "ambiguous term to describe the state of separation that Taiwan was in before it was eventually reunified in some way", trying to make it clear to Deng Xiaoping, " Even after normalization, U.S. security obligations to Taiwan will continue." After further exchanging several views, Brzezinski continued: "I am ordered to confirm to you that the United States accepts China's three basic points, and reiterates once again the five points (commitment) made to you by the previous US administration. Repeating what I have said several times when I came to Beijing, that the United States is determined on this issue." Brzezinski then proposed that the two sides begin highly confidential consultations on normalization next month. Deng Xiaoping immediately accepted the proposal on behalf of China.Afterwards, Deng Xiaoping still couldn't help saying in a "sarcasm" tone: "I think that's all for talking about this issue. I look forward to the day when President Carter makes up his mind. Let's change the topic." But the keen Brzezinski immediately added affirmatively: "I have already told you that President Carter has made up his mind." Subsequently, the topic of the talks between Deng Xiaoping and Brzezinski returned to the international situation.Deng Xiaoping roughly reiterated the opinion of Foreign Minister Huang Hua the day before.He emphasized China's interest in getting more U.S. technology, though he expressed concern that the U.S. might not cooperate.Afterwards, they moved on to discussing strategic relations, with Deng Xiaoping insisting that talks to limit strategic nuclear weapons would not be good for the United States. Brzezinski pointed out: "The talks are aimed at achieving strategic stability, and it is used in conjunction with efforts to revive the defense." Deng Xiaoping didn't have his opinion, saying: "To tell you frankly, whenever you go to conclude a treaty with the Soviet Union, it is always the United States making concessions, and it is always a product of pleasing the Soviet Union." Brzezinski felt that "this is the time for us to satirize the other party a little bit", so he said to Deng Xiaoping: "We are not naive and ignorant in dealing with the Soviet Union. In the past 30 years, it has been the United States that has opposed the Soviet Union's hegemony. Roughly twice as long as yours, so we still have some experience in that." But as Brzezinski later recalled: "It would be a mistake to conclude from this overview that we exchanged harsh words or attacked each other. There were quarrels during the exchange, But the overall trend is positive. Deng's comments on normalization were not as rigid as the foreign minister's, and he did not make substantive concessions, but Woodcock and I both felt that there might be some flexibility. Deng did not refute my comments on the US and Some of the talk about Taiwan, and we've felt that way more since then. Our discussions have continued into the evening, although our conversations have been more personal in nature. As we talk about our respective families, Deng can't stop talking to my Appetizing delicacies were put on the plate, we toasted frequently, and Deng made some veiled hints about his interest in visiting the United States. He also made a mysterious comment, to the effect that he himself, as a senior The leader has only 3 years, and when he said this, he seemed to be emphasizing some urgency in the progress of the US-China relationship. I told him that I hoped to welcome him back at my home in Washington, D.C., in return for the dinner , Deng accepted with a smile." Deng Xiaoping accepted Brzezinski's invitation during their talks that night.They talked all afternoon in the Great Hall of the People.When we were about to have dinner, we changed places and came to Beihai Fangshan Restaurant to eat and talk. Ji Chaozhu, who used to translate for Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, served as the interpreter. Beihai Park at dusk that day was recorded in the annals of history because of this special banquet.The surface of the lake is sparkling, the lights are shimmering, the weeping willows are lingering, and the breeze is blowing.In the Fangshan restaurant on the west side of the park, the antique palace dishes and snacks are endlessly memorable.The Chinese host in a black tunic suit and the American guests in suits and leather shoes were a little excited because the meeting went smoothly. This is a conversation that played a major role in Sino-US relations.A few years later, Brzezinski found out that Deng Xiaoping hosted him at the Fangshan Restaurant in Beihai Park this time because Deng Xiaoping knew him well and knew that his visit to China was not easy, so he gave him special courtesy.Brzezinski later recalled the conversation many times, saying it was a night he would never forget.He said: "Shortly after the meeting, as mentioned above, he took me to a hotel, where we continued our discussion in a more informal atmosphere until very late. Deng was small, but he was big, which broke my heart immediately. He is intelligent, alert, shrewd, quick to understand, quite humorous, tough and forthright. Talking to him I understand more why he has weathered all the setbacks in his political career, but more importantly, his sense of purpose and drive I was impressed. He was a political leader who knew what he needed and who he could deal with." The next afternoon, Premier Hua Guofeng also received Brzezinski.Brzezinski submitted the rock samples taken from the moon and the five-star red flag brought back from the moon. At the farewell banquet, Brzezinski deliberately added a paragraph about President Carter's determination to normalize US-China relations in his originally prepared toast.In his toast, he first expressed the United States' three fundamental beliefs about China: first, the normalization of friendship and relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China is extremely important and beneficial to world peace; second, a safe and strong China Good for the US; third, a strong, confident and engaged US in global affairs is good for China.He then added the following: "The President of the United States of America wishes to have friendly relations with a mighty China. He is determined to work with you, within the confines of the Shanghai Communiqué, to overcome remaining obstacles in the path of normalization of relations between the two countries. In this On this issue, the United States has made up its mind." Immediately upon his return to the United States, Brzezinski submitted a written report to President Carter, calling the visit "very successful." On May 26, Carter, who had just returned to Washington after going out, listened to Brzezinski's face-to-face report.Carter also believed that although Brzezinski's mission to China was not to negotiate any final agreement on Sino-US relations, he did a good job and laid the foundation for later progress. On this day, Carter wrote in his diary: "When I returned to Washington (from Illinois and West Virginia), Zbig had already returned from China. He was fascinated by the Chinese. I said he wrote Fascinated." Western media responded positively to Brzezinski's trip to Beijing.French "Le Monde" called it "a decisive milestone in Sino-US relations."Germany's "Frankfurt Zeitung" said that "Chinese leaders received Brzezinski grandly, and its specifications can be compared with Kissinger's reception."