In November 1990, Qian Qichen led a delegation to the Middle East to persuade Saddam Hussein to withdraw his troops from Kuwait. On the way to Saddam's office, the convoy traveled around the city for a long time, changing cars and drivers in between. Everyone around Saddam Hussein was armed with guns...
Before meeting Saddam Hussein, Qian Qichen stopped in Egypt and met with US Secretary of State Baker first. The Us side revealed that if the sanctions do not allow Iraq to withdraw its troops, they will use force. After finding out the bottom card of the United States, Qian Qichen visited Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
On November 11, a special plane of the Chinese delegation landed at Saddam Hussein Airport in Baghdad.
Saddam's residence was mysterious, and the delegation's motorcade circled around the city, not knowing how long it took, before finally stopping in front of a tall building. Everyone got out of the car, walked into the living room, stopped for a while, and was led out again, got into another batch of cars, changed drivers, and continued to set off.
After that, finally stopped at a place that resembled a military garrison, where the gatekeepers and officials were wearing guns, pistols or armed submachine guns.
Entering the office, everyone finally saw Saddam Hussein, tall and burly, with a thick beard. After a brief greeting, the two sides entered the main topic, Saddam Hussein's tone was very slow, and his speech looked like a kind of self-esteem and arrogance.
When it comes to Kuwait and Iraq, Saddam Hussein goes so far as to say that Kuwait is part of Iraqi territory, just as Hong Kong is Chinese territory. He also said that he would not let the United States control Middle East oil. Suddenly he paused again and asked, "Is the United States really going to war?" ”
Foreign Minister Qian did not answer his question, but first refuted his analogy, solemnly pointing out: The Hong Kong issue is different from the relationship between Kuwait and Iraq, and Hong Kong has been Chinese territory since ancient times, but it has been occupied by Britain through the Opium War for more than a hundred years. China has adopted peaceful negotiations with Britain to resolve the Hong Kong issue. Iraq and Kuwait are different, and the establishment of embassies between the two countries is a diplomatic relationship.
Then Foreign Minister Qian said: China has always maintained that contradictions between countries should be resolved through peaceful negotiations and cannot be used by military means. As for whether the United States really wants to fight, Foreign Minister Qian said very frankly, although the United Nations does not authorize it, the United States and its allies have organized a coalition army, and the United States has said publicly and privately that it can move freely. The danger of war is growing.
Saddam Hussein said that any clear statement by Iraq without prior assurances of the withdrawal of U.S. troops could lead to serious consequences. After speaking, Saddam Hussein suddenly stood up. Foreign Minister Qian also immediately got up to shake his hand and say goodbye, and would talk about the end of the matter.
The delegation spent two days in Baghdad and first touched saddam's pulse, and saddam was indeed "not lightly ill".
