"Both
sides are of the view that it would be against the interests of
the peoples of the world for any major country to collude with another
against other countries, or for major countries to divide up the
world into spheres of interest."
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Joint
Communique between the People's Republic of China and the United
States of America Issued in Shanghai, February 28, 1972
President Richard Nixon of the United States of America visited
the People’s Republic of China at the invitation of Premier Chou
En-lai of the People’s Republic of China from February 21 to February
28, 1972.
Accompanying the President were Mrs. Nixon, U.S. Secretary of State
William Rogers, Assistant to the President Dr. Henry Kissinger,
and other American officials.
President Nixon met with Chairman Mao Tsetung of the Communist Party
of China on February 21. The two leaders had a serious and frank
exchange of views on Sino-U.S. relations and world affairs.
During the visit, extensive, earnest and frank discussions were
held between President Nixon and Premier Chou En-lai on the normalization
of relations between the United States of America and the People’s
Republic of China, as well as on other matters of interest to both
sides. In addition, Secretary of State William Rogers and Foreign
Minister Chi Peng-fei held talks in the same spirit.
President Nixon and his party visited Peking and viewed cultural,
industrial and agricultural sites, and they also toured Hangchow
and Shanghai where, continuing discussions with Chinese leaders,
they viewed similar places of interest.
The leaders of the People’s Republic of China and the United States
of America found it beneficial to have this opportunity, after so
many years without contact, to present candidly to one another their
views on a variety of issues. They reviewed the international situation
in which important changes and great upheavals are taking place
and expounded their respective positions and attitudes.
NOTE: Two versions of
the Shanghai Communiqué were signed, one in English and one
in Chinese. The American version had the USA position first, whereas
the Chinese version had the Chinese position at top. The translanted
Chinese version is presented here.
The Chinese side stated: Wherever there is oppression there
is resistance. Countries want independence, nations want liberation
and the people want revolution-this has become the irresistible
trend of history. All nations, big or small, should be equal; big
nations should not bully the small and strong nations should not
bully the weak. China will never be a superpower and it opposes
hegemony and power politics of any kind. The Chinese side stated
that it firmly supports the struggles of all the oppressed people
and nations for freedom and liberation and that the people of all
countries have the right to choose their social systems according
to their own wishes and the right to safeguard the independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity of their own countries and
oppose foreign aggression, interference, control and subversion.
All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries. The
Chinese side expressed its firm support to the peoples of Viet Nam,
Laos and Cambodia in their efforts for the attainment of their goal
and its firm support to the seven-point proposal of the Provisional
Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet Nam and the
elaboration of February this year on the two key problems in the
proposal, and to the Joint Declaration of the Summit Conference
of the Indochinese Peoples. It firmly supports the eight-point program
for the peaceful unification of Korea put forward by the Government
of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on April 12, 1971,
and the stand for the abolition of the "U.N. Commission for the
Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea". It firmly opposes the
revival and outward expansion of Japanese militarism and firmly
supports the Japanese people’s desire to build an independent, democratic,
peaceful and neutral Japan. It firmly maintains that India and Pakistan
should, in accordance with the United Nations resolutions on the
India-Pakistan question, immediately withdraw all their forces to
their respective territories and to their own sides of the ceasefire
line in Jammu and Kashmir and firmly supports the Pakistan Government
and people in their struggle to preserve their independence and
sovereignty and the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle
for the right of self-determination.
The U.S. side stated: Peace in Asia and peace in the world
requires efforts both to reduce immediate tensions and to eliminate
the basic causes of conflict. The United States will work for a
just and secure peace; just, because it fulfills the aspirations
of peoples and nations for freedom and progress; secure, because
it removes the danger of foreign aggression. The United States supports
individual freedom and social progress for all the peoples of the
world, free of outside pressure or intervention. The United States
believes that the effort to reduce tensions is served by improving
communication between countries that have different ideologies so
as to lessen the risks of confrontation through accident, miscalculation
or misunderstanding. Countries should treat each other with mutual
respect and be willing to compete peacefully, letting performance
be the ultimate judge. No country should claim infallibility and
each country should be prepared to reexamine its own attitudes for
the common good. The United States stressed that the peoples of
Indochina should be allowed to determine their destiny without outside
intervention; its constant primary objective has been a negotiated
solution; the eight-point proposal put forward by the Republic of
Viet Nam and the United States on January 27, 1972 represents a
basis for the attainment of that objective; in the absence of a
negotiated settlement, the United States envisages the ultimate
withdrawal of all U.S. forces from the region consistent with the
aim of self-determination for each country of Indochina. The United
States will maintain its close ties with and support for the Republic
of Korea; the United States will support efforts of the Republic
of Korea to seek a relaxation of tension and increased communication
in the Korean peninsula. The United States places the highest value
on its friendly relations with Japan; it will continue to develop
the existing close bonds. Consistent with the United Nations Security
Council Resolution of December 21, 1971, the United States favors
the continuation of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan and
the withdrawal of all military forces to within their own territories
and to their own sides of the ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir;
the United States supports the right of the peoples of South Asia
to shape their own future in peace, free of military threat, and
without having the area become the subject of great power rivalry.
There are essential differences between China and the United States
in their social systems and foreign policies. However, the two sides
agreed that countries, regardless of their social systems, should
conduct their relations on the principles of respect for the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of all states, non-aggression against
other states, non-interference in the internal affairs of other
states, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. International
disputes should be settled on this basis, without resorting to the
use or threat of force. The United States and the People’s Republic
of China are prepared to apply these principles to their mutual
relations.
With these principles of international relations in mind the two
sides stated that:
--progress toward the normalization of relations between China and
the United States is in the interests of all countries;
--both wish to reduce the danger of international military conflict;
--neither should seek hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region and each
is opposed to efforts by any other country or group of countries
to establish such hegemony; and
--neither is prepared to negotiate on behalf of any third party
or to enter into agreements or understandings with the other directed
at other states.
Both sides are of the view that it would be against the interests
of the peoples of the world for any major country to collude with
another against other countries, or for major countries to divide
up the world into spheres of interest.
The two sides reviewed the long-standing serious disputes between
China and the United States. The Chinese side reaffirmed its
position: The Taiwan question is the crucial question obstructing
the normalization of relations between China and the United States;
the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal
government of China; Taiwan is a province of China which has long
been returned to the motherland; the liberation of Taiwan is China’s
internal affair in which no other country has the right to interfere;
and all U.S. forces and military installations must be withdrawn
from Taiwan. The Chinese Government firmly opposes any activities
which aim at the creation of "one China, one Taiwan" "one China
two governments", "two Chinas", an "independent Taiwan" or advocate
that "the status of Taiwan remains to be determined".
The U.S. side declared: The United States acknowledges that
all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is
but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States
Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest
in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves.
With this prospect in mind, it affirms the ultimate objective of
the withdrawal of all U.S. forces and military installations from
Taiwan. In the meantime, it will progressively reduce its forces
and military installations on Taiwan as the tension in the area
diminishes.
The two sides agreed that it is desirable to broaden the understanding
between the two peoples. To this end, they discussed specific areas
in such fields as science, technology, culture, sports and journalism,
in which people-to-people contacts and exchanges would be mutually
beneficial. Each side undertakes to facilitate the further development
of such contacts and exchanges.
Both sides view bilateral trade as another area from which mutual
benefit can be derived, and agreed that economic relations based
on equality and mutual benefit are in the interest of the peoples
of the two countries. They agree to facilitate the progressive development
of trade between their two countries.
The two sides agreed that they will stay in contact through various
channels, including the sending of a senior U.S. representative
to Peking from time to time for concrete consultations to further
the normalization of relations between the two countries and continue
to exchange views on issues of common interest.
The two sides expressed the hope that the gains achieved during
this visit would open up new prospects for the relations between
the two countries. They believe that the normalization of relations
between the two countries is not only in the interest of the Chinese
and American peoples but also contributes to the relaxation of tension
in Asia and the world.
President Nixon, Mrs. Nixon and the American party expressed their
appreciation for the gracious hospitality shown them by the Government
and people of the People’s Republic of China.
Information from Agencies, Sinomania!
research were used in this report.
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