Cable from the Foreign Ministry, 'Forwarding the Central Committee Notice regarding Propaganda Points on Diplomatic Relations between China and France'

EUROPE FRANCE JANUARY No.151

27 January 1964

Outgoing Telegram of Foreign Ministry

Before Sending: Has been read

Approved by: Han Nianlong

Sent: See the telegram title

Foreign Ministry Outgoing (64) January No.1076

Grade: Ultra urgent & Prior

Footnote.

Forwarding the Central Committee’s Notice regarding Propaganda Points on Diplomatic Relations between China and France

To All Overseas Embassies, Offices of Charge d'Affaires, and Overseas Organs,

Foreign Affairs Bulletin 13

The notice of the Central Committee from 24 January [1964] is forwarded as follows:

The “Propaganda Points on Diplomatic relations between China and France” are now being distributed to you for your use with foreign contacts. All public written propaganda should be based on the statement of the Foreign Ministry spokesman and the editorials of People’s Daily.

Propaganda Points on Diplomatic relations between China and France

I

China and France have formally established diplomatic relations. We should have a correct understanding of the worldwide significance of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France is another great victory of our country’s foreign policy, reflecting the bankruptcy of the imperialist US policies toward Asia and China. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France is also a significant political step of the De Gaulle administration to confront the US, to strive for a great power status, and to restore its great power role in world affairs, especially in Asian affairs. This matter gives a direct blow not only to the imperialist US, expanding the contradictions among imperialist powers, but also to the conspiracy by the revisionist Soviet Union of solving world problems through Soviet-American cooperation. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, some countries of the French African Community, the European Common Market, and other countries who are still taking a wait-and-see policy toward China may follow the French example one after another, therefore leading to a situation in which our foreign relations are going to develop further, having a great influence on the future international situation.

But on the other hand, although the De Gaulle administration confronts the imperialist US, we must also pay attention that France is also an imperialist country, so it has dual character in its attitude toward us and its stance on the “two Chinas” issue. Meanwhile, those African and European countries influenced by France may take different attitudes and conducts. We cannot harbor any unrealistic notions when we are exploiting Franco-American contradictions, maximizing the isolation of the US imperialists, and pulling the Second Intermediate Zone over to our side to form the most extensive united front against the US imperialists.

II

Our foreign propaganda should welcome and affirm the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, but it should not be exaggerated. We should avoid creating an impression that we want favors from France or overemphasize this event. [Although we should] expose that the imperialist US is insisting on a hostile policy toward our country and opposes the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and exploit Franco-American contradictions, we should not make a fanfare over this event against the US. Our reports should fulfill the aim to objectively support De Gaulle’s opposition to the US, but should not affirm all of the stances of the French government.

As to the content of our propaganda, we should emphatically clarify that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France conforms to the essential interests of the peoples of both countries and to the interests of world peace; that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France is a great achievement of our country’s peaceful foreign policy and is another failure of the imperialist US’s hostile policy against our country; and we should stress the resolute stance that our country will always establish and develop friendly relations with all countries of different social systems based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Moreover, we should clarify that the Government of the People's Republic of China reached the agreement to establish diplomatic relations with the French government as the sole legal government representing the Chinese people and reiterate the stance that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and China opposes the US plot of creating “two Chinas.”

III

The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France is a significant event, attracting the attention of the world, so many foreigners may raise all kinds of questions. In contacts with foreigners, we should affirmatively elaborate our country’s stances and attitudes according to the statement by our Foreign Ministry Spokesman and the editorial of People’s Daily on 28 January [1964], instead of getting entangled in specific questions with others. If they raise questions with ill intentions or provocation, we should resolutely hit back at them. Possible questions and answers in foreign contacts are listed as follows:

1. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France is an important event. How does the Chinese side evaluates it?

The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France is an event worth celebrating. It conforms to the interest of peoples from both countries. It is favorable to the further development of the friendship between both countries’ peoples, to the reinforcement of economic and cultural connections between the two countries, to the realization of the peaceful coexistence of countries with different social systems, and to the world peace.

2. Why does China now agree to establish diplomatic relations with France? Is it because China now feels “isolated”?

At all times, China is willing to establish diplomatic relations with all countries that are willing to establish diplomatic relations with China, under the principles of equality, reciprocity, and mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China’s role and influence in the international affairs is increasing, China’s international status and international prestige is improving, and our friends are all over the world. All the facts have proved that the isolated party is not China, but the US imperialists, who pursues a policy of antagonizing China and “not recognizing China,” and its followers.

3. Does the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France mean that China’s policy of opposing “two Chinas” has changed?

The Chinese government and the Chinese people resolutely oppose the US government’s plot to create “two Chinas.” The US government attempts to separate Chinese territory and to infringe on China’s sovereignty by making “two Chinas,” legitimizing the US occupation of Taiwan. Opposition to the US plot is China’s consistent stance. It is totally impossible to exploit the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France to distort China’s stance. As the statement of our Foreign Ministry Spokesman on 28 January says, the Government of the People’s Republic of China held negotiations and reached the agreement of establishing diplomatic relations with the French government as the sole legal government representing the Chinese people.

4. Does the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France mean that China has lowered its conditions for establishing diplomatic relations?

China is willing to establish diplomatic relations with all countries which are willing to comply with the principles of equality, reciprocity, and mutual respect for territory and sovereignty and all of the countries which make no plot of “two Chinas” or “two Chinas” in a disguised form. China has established diplomatic relations with more than forty countries, and now has established diplomatic relations with France. The Chinese principle of establishing diplomatic relations with other countries is consistent, and there exists no problem of lowering or raising the conditions of establishing diplomatic relations.

5. Does China still insists that countries which establish diplomatic relations with China must support the restoration of China’s legitimate rights in the United Nations and expelling the Jiang Jieshi clique? If some countries supporti China’s joining the United Nations, while do not support expelling the Jiang Jieshi clique, then what would be your attitude?

For a long time, the US has been controlling the United Nations, forcibly making the Jiang Jieshi clique that was overthrown by the Chinese people unjustly occupy the Chinese seat in the United Nations, depriving the People’s Republic of China with a population of 650 million of its legitimate rights. The Chinese government and the Chinese people resolutely oppose the arbitrary behaviors of the United States. The Chinese government insists that the United Nations must expel the Jiang Jieshi clique and restore China’s legitimate rights. Any country who has established diplomatic relations with China should respect China’s legitimate rights in the United Nations and in other international organizations or conferences, instead of allowing the so-called “representatives” of the Jiang Jieshi clique to stay in these organizations, since it has recognized that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the Chinese people.

6. Before and after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, someone has preached that Taiwan should exist as an independent country. What stance the Chinese government is taking on this point of view?

Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. This was confirmed by the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, both signed by the US. Taiwan was formally returned to China on 25 October 1945, and became a province of China. Preaching the so-called Taiwanese independence is an attempt to separate Chinese territory, to infringe upon Chinese sovereignty, and to interfere in China’s internal affairs, which could never be permitted by the Chinese government or the Chinese people.

7. Since both China and France issued a joint communiqué on establishing diplomatic relations, why would the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman publish a separate statement?

The stances of the Chinese government and the Chinese people of opposing “two Chinas” are well known throughout the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and our country’s sovereignty over our own territory, Taiwan, can never be changed. But recently during the process of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, someone distorted and slandered the well-known stance of the Chinese government. So, the Chinese government believes that it is necessary to publish such a statement to reiterate this stance.

8. If some one asks if France is to keep consulates in Taiwan, do not give a direct answer.

Foreign Ministry

26 January 1964