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

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• 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
• Publication Date: January 8, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

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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.
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INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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