ATTACHED FOR YOUR INFORMATION IS A LETTER FROM PRIME MINISTER CHOU EN-LAI IN RESPONSE TO YOUR LETER OF JANUARY 3, 1973

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4
Release Decision: 
RIPLIM
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
12
Document Creation Date: 
January 11, 2017
Document Release Date: 
July 26, 2010
Sequence Number: 
3
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
January 8, 1973
Content Type: 
MEMO
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PDF icon LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4.pdf853.05 KB
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 ARMY review completed. SANITIZED COPY FOLLOWS ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 25X1 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 25X1 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 25X1 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 25X1 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 Mi-Os-60d=1 (Translation) Peking, January 6, 1973 Mr. President, I have received your letter of January 3, 1973. Chairman Mao has read the letter and also takes satisfaction in bilateral developments since last February. We appreciate Mr. President's wish for continued improvement in Sino-U.S. relations as was expressed in the letter. The Chinese side believes that the normalization of relations between China and the United States step by step in accordance with the principles of the Shanghai Communique is not only in the interest of the Chinese and American peoples, but will also corftribute to the easing of tension in Asia and the world. However, Mr. President, we would not be frank if we did not point out at the same time that the continuation of the Viet Nam war, particularly such bombings as recently carried out by the United States against the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, are bound to affect the progress of Sino-U.S. relations. We believe, as Mr. President correctly mentioned in the letter, it is in the interest of us all to bring the Viet Nam war to a rapid conclusion and thus remove the major obstacle to many constructive developments in international relations. ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 2 0111 As the Chinese saying goes, one should not lose the major for the sake of the minor, and I think it would be of significance to reflect upon these words again at this important juncture. We hope in this round of private meetings between Viet Nam and the United States, inter- ferences can be overcome and an agreement to end the Viet Nam war finally concluded through serious reciprocal negotiations and joint efforts. It is understandable that Dr. Kissinger's planned visit to Peking cannot materialize as originally envisaged. You 'are welcome to send Dr. Kissinger to Peking for a meeting at an appropriate time after the negotiated settle- ment of the Viet Nam war. With regard to the series of international issues and questions concerning the development of Sino-U.S. bilateral relations as referred to in the letter, we prepare to have a direct and thorough exchange of views with Dr. Kissinger during his visit to Peking. My wife and I thank you and Mrs. Nixon for your good wishes and extend our regards to you. Chou En -lai No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 111 At about 2020 hours on December 23, 1972, while carrying out wanton bombings of the DRV's Lang Son area, which adjoins Chinese borders, U.S. military aircraft went to the extent of firing a missile into the area of Tunghsing County, Kwangsi Province, China. The point of impact was at 21?39'15" N, 107?29'25" E. On the splinters are markings showing that the missile was made in the U.S.A. The Chinese side hereby lodges a strong protest with the U.S. side against this and demands that it take effective measures to ensure against the recurrence of similar incidents. No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON ja..t ry 8, 1973 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM: RICHARD T. KENNEDY Attached for you Prime Iviireleter letter of January 3, 197 rn is a letter from espouse to your No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 SO e ARA Daft.. a PEKING, 1973. Chairman Mao has read the letter and also takes satis a bilateral developments since last February. 6 1973 We appreciate Mr. President's wish for continued improvement in Sino.U. S. relations as was expressed in the letter. The Chinese side ves that the normalization of relations between China and the United ordance with the principles of the Shanghai y in the interest of the Chinese and American ribute to the easing of tension in Asia and the sident, we would not be frank if we did not that the continuation of the Viet Nam war, as recently carried out by the United States retie R.epuhhc of Viet Nam, are bound to affect the relations. We believe, as Mr. President correctly mentioned letter, it is in the interest of us all to bring the Viet Nam ar to a rapid conclusion and thus ve the major obstacle to many const: developments in international relations. As the Chinese saying goes, one should not lose the major for the sake of the minor, and I thinkit would be of significance to reflect upon these words again at this important Juncture. We hope in this round of private meetings between Viet Nam and the United States, interferences can be overcome and an agreement to end the Viet Nam war finally concluded through serious reciprocal negotiations and joint efforts. It is understandable that Dr. Kissinger's planned visit to Peking cannot mate riaU:zeas originally emrisagedc Tou u.s welcome to send Dr. Kissinger to Peking, for a meeting at an appropriate time after the negotiated settlement of the Viet Nam con co o in t Jews to the series of interne.tional issues and question evelopment of Sino?U, 8. biLateral relations as referred we prepare to have a direct thorough exchange of . Kissinger during his visit to Peking. and I thank you and Mrs. Nixon for your good wishes and extend our regards to you. Chou En -Lal No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 I, No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 B 0 JANUARY 1975. TH OF STEP IN CIDMMON AMER ICC OF TEN WE WOULD TINE THAT T JCH OMBI Ti NET Attic NOT I ASIA A LE FRANK T OPMENTSINCE wisH FOR oDITINUED AT IONS AS WAS EXPRESSED TN SIDE BELIEVES THAT THE NORMALIZATION NA AID THE UNITED STATES STEP BY THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SHANGHAI N THE INTEREST OF THE CHINESE AND L ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EASING E voRLD, HOWEVER, MR. PRESIDENT, E DID NOT POINT OUT AT THE SAME TINUAT ION OF THE VTET NAM WAR, PARTICULARLY ECENTLy CARRIED BUT BY THE UNITED STATES ICREPUBLIC OF VIE NAM, ARE BOUND TO r stNowu4s, RELATIONS. WE BELIEVE, EOILT MENTIONED IN THE LETTER, IT US ALL TO BRING THE VIET NAM WAR TO O THUS REMOVE THE MAJOR STACLE TO opmENTS IINTERNATIONAL RELATIONS A MANY No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4 ts--t)p. ORS, ONE SHOULD NOT LOSE THE MAJOR NOR, AND I INIRE IT WOULD BE UPON THESE 10040s AGAIN AT THIS WE ROPE IN THIS ROUND OF PRIVATE AND THE ONIttO STATES, INTER O AN AGREEMENT TO ENO THE VIET RROUGR SERIOUS RECIPROCAL FFORTN., V IT THAT DR. KISS V PLA T MATERIALIZE AN ORIGINALLY ENVISAGED. DR. ntssINeER TO PEKING FOR A TIME AFTER THE TIATED SETTLE.. LiENT OF THE it WITH REGARD TO THE OF INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND GUEST IONS CONCERNING T BILATERAL'RELATIONSRED IN T E PREPARE TO A A CT AND THOROUGH EXCHANGE OF EVE WITH DR. KISSINGER DURING HIS VISIT TO PEKING. Y WIFE AND I THANK YOU AND MRS. NIXON FOR YOUR GOOD WISHES AND EXTEND OUR REGARDS O. No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/07/26: LOC-HAK-462-1-3-4