GDR Embassy in Bucharest, 'Evaluation on the Visit of the Chinese Military Delegation in the RSR from August 22 to August 31, 1971’

[GDR] Embassy Bucharest

Bucharest, September 1, 1971

Evaluation

on the visit of the Chinese military delegation under the direction of Li Desheng, candidate of the Politburo of the Central Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and Director of the Political Headquarters of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the RSR [Romanian Socialist Republic], from August 22 to August 31, 1971. 

1. The Chinese military delegation’s visit fits into China’s efforts to demonstratively strengthen its activities in the Balkans and to build out its relations with states that accommodate these efforts. 

The Chinese side underlined multiple times that the PRC supports Romania’s struggle against the use of force and for the maintenance of its national sovereignty and will always stand on Romania’s side. With this, China explicitly supported the national position of the Romanian Communist Party and encouraged Romania to continue its policies. 

The RSR confirmed again through this visit that it wants to continue its existing policy  vis-à-vis the Mao Group. By repeatedly attesting to carrying out a Marxist-Leninist policy, it is explicitly supporting the great-power-chauvinistic and anti-Soviet policies of the CCP leadership. 

2. The Chinese military delegation was received by Gen. Ceausescu. It had discussions with Minister Ionita, who also at times accompanied the delegation on its trip inside the country. Nothing concrete is currently known about the contents of the discussions and negotiations. There are nevertheless indications that discussions about closer cooperation in military matters were also had during visits by Romanian delegations to the PRC. The composition of the Chinese military delegation in Bucharest (among others, 2 weapons experts) could additionally indicate that the negotiations have moved on to more concrete measures.

Nothing is known about the function of a tourist group that has been staying in the RSR at the same time, which, significantly, took part in all receptions. 

An extensive program was organized for the Chinese military delegation, in which in striking fashion combat units of the Army and exercises of the Patriotic Guard were predominately visited.

3. The reporting about the presence of this delegation was equal to the reporting of other military delegations, whose leader possessed an even higher rank – Minister. 

The speeches given at official receptions were not reproduced word for word. Elaborate reporting exists regarding the protocolary course of events. 

Excerpts from the published [word unclear] mostly emphasize the mutual successes and the good relations between the RSR and PRC. Both sides argue their positions on the Indo-China problem in elaborate fashion. It was not published whether there were anti-Soviet failures on the Chinese side. 

A formulation by the leader of the delegation at Ionita’s reception that the PRC will support Romania’s struggle against the use of violence and for its national independence and sovereignty was expanded upon publication with the addition, “…against the use of violence by imperialism.”

On the other hand, Ionita’s performance over the RSR’s membership in the Warsaw Pact was reproduced in the press, however the following sentence regarding the fulfillment of the requirements resulting from the Warsaw Pact was not published. 

This fact illustrates once more the efforts of the RSR to continue its balancing act between the Soviet Union and the PRC.