sale of their raw materials. They have not entirely successfully reconciled, however, their support for high prices for the oil producing states and the needs of the poorer developing countries for petroleum, especially for the production of food. China's views on disarmament are clear. Failing what they regard as a meaningful move to bring about general disarmament, the Chinese are unlikely to associate themselves with interim measures. They see a continuing arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union and claim that each nuclear arms limitation agreement between the two superpowers has been followed by a rapid increase in nuclear armaments, notably on the part of the Soviet Union. For their own part, the Chinese disclaim any intention of entering the nuclear arms race. They are continuing their own nuclear arms program in order to strengthen their ability to resist nuclear blackmail. They insist, however, that they will not be the first to use nuclear weapons nor will they divert resources needed for China's economic and social development to engage in a numbers game in weaponry. IV. Concluding Observations The changes in China are overwhelming in the perspective of visits to the old China which began in the 1920's and occurred again in 1944 and in 1946. Even the progress since my previous visit in 1972 is obvious. China's system is operating with great dynamism; it has created a new nation on the theme of self-reliance which looks to the future with confidence. Development is planned on the basis of wide diffusion throughout the country with as much self-sufficiency as possible in each region. Factories, houses, schools and other buildings in great number are under construction in urban areas. Construction in the countryside is equally active. Farm acreage is growing rapidly on the basis of immense irrigation and flood control works. As the tracts grow larger, moreover, tractors and other farm machinery are appearing increasingly in the fields. The nation is alive with constructive activity. Measured against the past, tremendous progress has been made. The basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, and good health care are being met by stressing frugality and restraint and by accenting the common good. China is still a poor country by standards familiar to this nation, a reality which is recognized by the Chinese leaders. Invariably, any reference to material progress anywhere in China is suffixed by some statement such as "much more remains to be done." In short, pride in accomplishment is tempered by a determination to achieve greater advances. Chairman Mao's theories are now imbedded in the fabric of China's daily life. They have produced a system which is here to stay. There may be tinkering with details and political infighting over who administers the system, but the basic framework of Maoism will not be changed. Our policy should be adjusted to that reality. There are no signs that China is bent on the oppression or domination of other nations. All present indications are that the People's Republic is intent on internal progress and that its military efforts are minimal in terms of its own defense. Expressions of superiority are absent from its policies which appear rooted in the principle that all nations should be free of outside domination and influence. To the extent that labels accurately generalize, China is not a "superpower" but a "second world" nation which enjoys great respect in the "third world." There is much that countries in both categories can learn from China. For too long the United States policy toward China was based on myths. Some of those myths have been cleared away by the NixonMao-Chou meetings of 1972 and various exchanges thereafter. Since the Shanghai Communique, liaison offices have opened in both countries with limited functions. Trade and other exchanges have taken place at a modest rate. These developments have been useful but now appear to have reached a plateau. The issue of Taiwan is a block to further significant progress toward normalization. On this issue, it should be noted that U.S. forces have not been reduced appreciably let alone removed from Taiwan. Formal diplomatic relationships with Taiwan have not been terminated; indeed, a defense treaty with the Chinese authorities on Taiwan still links us in a formal sense with their view that the People's Republic is an enemy. U.S. policies on this critical question, in short, are still saddled with anachronisms. We lag behind a hundred nations in dealing with a fundamental reality of the situation in Asia. We remain tied to a past which is fast receding into history and which has little relevance to the contemporary needs of the United States. APPENDIXES APPENDIX A ITINERARY OF THE VISIT OF the Honorable Mike MansfIELD MAJORITY LEADER, UNITED STATES SENATE TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, DECEMBER 9-30, 1974 Monday, December 9, 1974 Afternoon (1) Arrived in Shanghai. (2) Attended working luncheon hosted by the Foreign Affairs Group of the Shanghai Revolutionary Committee followed by a tour of Shanghai. (3) Departed for Peking via Chinese commercial airlines (CAAC). Evening: Arrived in Peking. Tuesday, December 10 Morning: Visited Peking University. Lunch: Attended working luncheon at the International Club, hosted by Mr. Chou Chi-yeh, Vice-Director, Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs; also attended by Vice Foreign Minister Wang Hai-jung. Afternoon: Met with Foreign Minister Ch'iao Kuan-hua. Evening: Attended working dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Ch'iao Kuan hua. Wednesday, December 11 Morning: (1) Met with Ambassador Etienne Manac'h, French Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. (2) Received a briefing from the staff of the United States Liaison Office. Afternoon: Inspected operations of the Peking Number One Tapestry Factory. Evening: Attended reception hosted by John Holdridge, Acting Chief, U.S. Liaison Office, followed by a tour of Ambassador Bush's residence. Thursday, December 12 Morning: (1) Visited the Peking Arts and Crafts Factory. (2) Met with Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-ping in the Great Hall of the People followed by a luncheon hosted by the Vice Premier. Afternoon: Met with Premier Chou En-lai at hospital. Friday, December 13 Afternoon: Met with Foreign Minister Ch'iao Kuan-hua. Evening: Attending working dinner hosted by Mr. Chou Chi-yeh, Vice-Director, Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. Saturday, December 14 Morning: (1) Departed for Cheng-chou, Honan Province. (2) Arrived in Cheng-chou. (3) Visited the Cheng-chou Textile Machine Plant. Afternoon: Members of Mission visited the Yellow River Exhibition showing methods of controlling the Yellow River followed by a visit to the Yellow River. Evening: Members of Mission attended a working dinner hosted by the Vice Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee for Honan Province, followed by a cultural performance. Sunday, December 15 Afternoon: Departed for Hsin-hsiang by car. Enroute visited the Chi Li Yeng Commune. Monday, December 16 Morning: Toured rural areas of Huihsien County. Afternoon: Departed Hsin-hsiang by train for Lo-yang. Tuesday, December 17 Morning: Visited Lo-yang Tractor Factory. Afternoon: Visited Lung Men Cave area on Yi River, followed by a tour of the Lo-yang Museum. Evening: (1) Departed by train for Cheng-chou. (2) Arrived Cheng-chou. Wednesday, December 18 Afternoon: (1) Departed Cheng-chou by plane for Yenan, Shensi Province, via Sian (change of plane in Sian). (2) Visited various sites where Chairman Mao Tse-tung lived or worked from 1937 to 1947. Thursday, December 19 Morning: Visited additional historic sites in Yenan. Afternoon (1) Departed Yenan by plane for Kuei-lin via Sian (change of plane in Sian). (2) Arrived Kuei-lin, Kwangsi Chuang Autonomous Region. Friday, December 20 Morning and Afternoon: Had discussions with local officials concerning the Kwei-lin area, followed by tour of various points of interest. Evening: Attended working dinner hosted by official of the Kuei-lin Revolutionary Committee. Saturday, December 21 Morning and Afternoon: Toured the countryside and visited communes and other points of interest in the Kuei-lin area. Evening: Attended a cultural performance. Sunday, December 22 Morning: (1) Departed Kuei-lin via plane for Nan-ning, capital of the Kwangsi Chuang Autonomous Region. (2) Arrived Nan-ning. Afternoon: Met with local officials for further discussions on the handling of national minorities in the Region. Evening: Attended working dinner given by official of the Kwangsi Chuang Revolutionary Committee, followed by a program featuring folk songs and dancing by national minorities. Monday, December 23 Morning and Afternoon: Toured rural areas in the vicinity of Nan-ning, including a visit to the Double Bridge Commune and discussions with officials of Wu-ming County. Tuesday, December 24 Morning: (1) Departed Nan-ning via plane for Kun-ming, Yunnan Province. (2) Arrived in Kun-ming. (3) Toured the Institute of National Minorities. Afternoon Visited the Kun-ming Industrial Exhibition of Yunnan Province. Evening: Attended working dinner hosted by an official of the Revolutionary Committee of Yunnan Province. Wednesday, December 25 Morning and Afternoon: Toured national minority rural areas and visited the Stone Forest Park. Thursday, December 26 Morning: Visited historic and scenic sites in Kun-ming area. Friday, December 27 Morning: (1) Departed Kun-ming for Kuang-chou (Canton), Kwangtung Province. (2) Arrived in Kuang-chou. Afternoon Toured the countryside in Kwangtung Province; stayed overnight at Chung Hwa. Saturday, December 28 Morning: Returned to Kuang-chou; en route inspected the Lui Hsi Ho power plant and dam. |