Chapter 20 Deng Xiaoping fascinated the founders of "Trilateralism" - Deng Xiaoping and Brzezinski (3)

To Brzezinski's "really quite surprising" is that "the leader of a billion people" rushed to his house to eat American-style roast beef only two hours after arriving in the United States! Brzezinski asked Deng Xiaoping: "Have you encountered many difficulties in Chinese politics?" Deng Xiaoping immediately replied: "Yes! In Taiwan!" After Brzezinski left China, China and the United States formally started negotiations on the establishment of diplomatic relations in July.However, after the United States accepted the three principles of "severing diplomatic relations, abolishing the treaty, and withdrawing troops" with Taiwan, the United States will not make any concessions on the issue of arms sales to Taiwan.Until November, the negotiations still had no progress.Until December 4th, the sixth meeting of Sino-US diplomatic relations negotiations was held in the conference room of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Han Nianlong replaced Huang Hua as the Chinese representative and told Woodcock, director of the US representative's liaison office in China, that the Chinese government agreed with the US proposal to transfer the 1979 He made New Year's Day of 2010 the date for the normalization of Sino-US relations, and told him that Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping would meet with him on December 13. The normalization of Sino-US relations was truly a major turning point.When Carter heard the news, he immediately instructed Brzezinski to meet with Chai Zemin, director of the Chinese Liaison Office in the United States, before Deng Xiaoping met Woodcock.Since then, Deng Xiaoping held talks with Woodcock three times on this issue, on the morning of December 13, the afternoon of the 14th, and the afternoon of the 15th.In the end, Deng Xiaoping made the final decision, and the two sides reached a consensus on the Taiwan issue and put aside their differences.

According to the plan, on January 1, 1979, China and the United States formally established diplomatic relations. On January 28, Deng Xiaoping was invited to visit the United States. As the first Chinese leader to visit the United States in 30 years, he was grandly welcomed by the Carter administration of the United States. Deng Xiaoping's special plane Boeing 707, after a 15-hour flight (stopped at Anchorage Air Force Base in Alaska for 1 hour in the middle), arrived at 4:30 in the morning on the 29th Beijing time (3:00 pm on January 28th in the US Eastern Time). 1:30 p.m.) to Andrews Air Force Base, Washington.

The auspicious snow heralds a prosperous year.A heavy snow that just ended covered Washington with silver.At the airport, Deng Xiaoping and his wife Zhuo Lin were warmly welcomed by US Vice President Mondale and his wife, Secretary of State Vance and his wife. After the brief welcoming ceremony, Deng Xiaoping and his party stayed at the Blair Building opposite the White House. 74-year-old Deng Xiaoping, regardless of the long-distance travel, kept his promise at Fangshan Restaurant in Beihai, Beijing, eight months ago. American family dinner --- eat roast beef. In order to welcome Deng Xiaoping's arrival, the Brzezinski family has been extremely busy these days.Brzezinski himself was responsible for purchasing a cabinet full of wine; his wife carefully selected and drew up the menu, and cooked roast beef, crab meat, vegetable and fruit salad with strong American flavor; The children - Ian, Mark and Mika serve as the banquet waiters responsible for serving the food and pouring the wine.Brzezinski also invited Oxenberg, Vance, Woodcock, Holbrook and others to accompany him.At dinner they ate American food and drank good Soviet vodka.

Brzezinski raised his glass happily to Deng Xiaoping and said: "I pay tribute to you with Brezhnev's favorite wine." After hearing this, Deng Xiaoping burst out laughing. Before the dinner began, Brzezinski and Deng Xiaoping also had a brief talk. Brzezinski asked Deng Xiaoping: "What are the restrictions on private property in China? Do people have private housing? Can they hire people? Are there any private enterprises in the cities?" Deng Xiaoping replied: "China has private housing. When living conditions improve in the future, people can buy cars, but that may be more than ten years later. People can be hired in China. Now people's wages are low, and in the future wages will be high. I can’t afford to hire them. There are some small businesses in Chinese cities, which were canceled during the Cultural Revolution and will be restored in the future.”

After the banquet began, Brzezinski expressed his insight in public, saying: "The Chinese and the French have one thing in common, that is, they both believe that their civilization is superior to all other countries." Deng Xiaoping responded quickly, and replied unhurriedly: "We can say that in East Asia, Chinese food is the best; in Europe, French food is the best." Deng Xiaoping's humor made everyone laugh happily. Brzezinski asked Deng Xiaoping again: "Since President Carter decided to normalize relations with China, he has encountered some political difficulties at home. Are there people in China who oppose the normalization of relations and have encountered political difficulties? Many difficulties, right?"

This is a sensitive and somewhat difficult question.Everyone present cast their eyes on Deng Xiaoping. Unexpectedly, Deng Xiaoping quickly replied: "Yes!" Everyone fixed their eyes on Deng Xiaoping, waiting for his answer.And Deng Xiaoping boldly and openly said "yes", which is admirable.Oxenberg, a senior aide to Brzezinski and a China expert who was present at the time, later recalled his own mental activities at the time: "This will be a happy night. How frank! We will learn about China's policy making what happened in the process.” After a short pause, Deng Xiaoping continued: "There are people in Taiwan who oppose it."

Deng Xiaoping's answer that "Some people in Taiwan oppose the normalization of Sino-US relations" was naturally unexpected by Brzezinski.This also made him feel the impression left on him when he met Deng Xiaoping for the first time——intelligent, alert, shrewd, quick to understand, quite humorous, tough and straightforward.After talking to him, I understand better how he has weathered all the setbacks in his political career, but more importantly, I am impressed by his sense of purpose and drive.He is a political leader who knows what he needs and who he can deal with. " Later, some people analyzed that if Brzezinski could have expected that Deng Xiaoping would use his question so cleverly to reiterate that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory, he would most likely avoid this "stupid" question.

During Deng Xiaoping's visit to the United States, Brzezinski attended almost all important talks and banquets.In his memoirs, he recalled the past events with Deng Xiaoping many times, and described Deng Xiaoping's demeanor full of admiration with many pens and inks. And Deng Xiaoping's visit to Brzezinski's home this time was clearly to publicly praise his positive contribution to the normalization of Sino-US relations, which brought great honor to the Brzezinski family.Because, last spring, Secretary of State Vance complained that some of Brzezinski's public statements prevented him from effectively performing the role of Secretary of State, so President Carter once lowered Brzezinski's image and let him hide behind the scenes .This situation did not change until he participated in the negotiations on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States.

So, many days later, when Brzezinski met with reporters in his office, he still couldn't hold back his excitement and said: "When you think about it, you will be surprised. A billion people The leader came to my house for dinner only two hours after arriving in the United States!" "I mean, it is indeed quite amazing!" It can be seen that Deng Xiaoping had a dinner at his house, which gave him such a great surprise and pride. On July 19, 1981, Deng Xiaoping met with Brzezinski who had just left office in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. They exchanged views on major international issues and Sino-US relations.During the meeting, Brzezinski conveyed the good wishes of former President Carter.Deng Xiaoping also asked him to convey his regards to Carter and Mondale after returning home.They also fondly recalled the situation during Brzezinski's first visit to China in 1979. Deng Xiaoping said with a smile: "You and I have overcome the last difficulty together..."