In 1990, the Gulf War broke out, and the Gulf region was in turmoil, and this large-scale local war that shocked the world had a profound impact on the pattern of the entire world.
Perhaps with the passage of time, few people remember that before the two sides officially met with each other, in order to prevent the outbreak of war, China sent Foreign Minister Qian Qichen to visit four countries in the Middle East and personally persuade Saddam Hussein.
The treacherous Middle East
On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein brazenly sent troops to Kuwait, and it took only 17 hours to capture all of Kuwait.
On the day of the fall of Kuwait, the United Nations Security Council convened a general assembly and adopted Resolution 660, condemning the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Saddam Hussein.
Six U.S. warships quickly sailed to the Gulf, and developed a "desert shield" plan, which began to send a large amount of military power to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region, and other NATO countries have followed suit.
Saddam Hussein refused to withdraw his troops, and by mid-October, the situation in the Gulf had seriously deteriorated, and war was on the verge of breaking out.
At a time when the gulf situation is tense and many countries are dispatching troops to the Gulf region, China is also making efforts for international mediation.
First of all, as a responsible major country, China's position is very clear: Iraq must withdraw its troops and restore Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity; And the crisis cannot be linked to any other issue, such as the question of Palestine.
However, China does not advocate the use of force, and hopes to resolve this dispute peacefully, and if it fails, it will be determined according to the actual situation and depending on the resolutions of the Security Council.
Many Arab countries have suggested to China that it send high-level envoys to Iraq and the Gulf.
There is a great reason why they are pinning their hopes on a chinese visit.
First of all, China is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, and has also maintained friendly relations with Arab countries for a long time; China seeks peace, opposes all forms of hegemonism, takes a fair stand, has no selfish intentions, and can speak with any country in the dispute, and is the most suitable object for mediation.
After careful consideration, the CPC Central Committee decided to send Foreign Minister Qian Qichen to visit Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq to strive for a peaceful settlement of this international dispute, even if there is only a glimmer of hope.
The mission's schedule is to visit Egypt from 6 to 7 November, Saudi Arabia from 7 to 9, Jordan from 9 to 11 and Iraq from 11 to 12 November.
Before leaving, Qian Qichen stressed the policy of the visit: listening to the opinions of all parties extensively, not making plans in advance, nor acting as a mediator, but only persuading Iraq to withdraw its troops from Kuwait.
The implication is that we do not take all the money out of the way, do not blindly intervene in the disputes of grievances in other countries, and only do our best to resolve the Gulf crisis peacefully.
While preparing for the visit, news came that US Secretary of State Baker would visit the Middle East on November 3 and hoped to meet with Foreign Minister Qian Qichen before leaving Egypt.
The Chinese side acceded to this request.
America's Temptations
The main purpose of the US move was to find out what china's position was in the dispute between Kuwait and Iraq, so as soon as the two sides met, without a few words of greeting, Baker described the US position.
He stressed that the United States will continue to sanction Iraq, nor will it give up on continuing to increase troops to the Gulf region, and if the final sanctions do not work, the United States must take necessary measures, such as military operations.
At that time, I hope that China will not oppose and obstruct this.
The Chinese side is well aware of the temptations and demonstrations of the United States, and Qian Qichen has once again reiterated the policy of this visit to the Middle East.
Chinese delegates would persuade Saddam Hussein to see clearly the two lines that lay ahead of Iraq: either withdraw their troops unconditionally or wait for war to strike above Iraq.
After the meeting with Baker, Qian Qichen went to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Mubarak told Qian qichen that he had also visited Iraq and Kuwait in July, when Saddam Hussein personally told him that Iraq would not take military action against Kuwait.
As a result, a month later, Saddam Hussein sent troops.
Mubarak hoped that when Qian Qichen met Saddam Hussein, he would make this untrustworthy guy realize how difficult the situation in Iraq was at this time, and let him understand that if he did not withdraw his troops, he would be in great trouble.
Before it was over, Qian Qichen asked the president if there were any other ways to avoid bloodshed.
Mubarak said solemnly, "There is no other way not to shed bloodshed, and if war breaks out, it will affect the whole gulf." ”
After leaving Egypt, Qian Qichen went to Saudi Arabia and Jordan one after another.
Both the Prince of Saudi Arabia and the King of Jordan expressed the importance they attach to China's role in Gulf affairs, appreciated China's principled position, and hoped that China would play the greatest role in the next meeting with the Iraqi leader and contribute to gulf peace.
After a non-stop trip to three countries, the highlight of the trip was a meeting with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Saddam Hussein's attitude directly determines the fate of the entire Gulf region.
Deep-thinking Aziz
On the morning of the 11th, the special plane of the Chinese delegation landed at Saddam Hussein International Airport.
Due to multinational sanctions, most international flights have been suspended in Baghdad, and this modern airport with excellent facilities is particularly deserted.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Aziz and other senior officials waited on the tarmac to greet them.
On the way to the hotel, the members of the delegation sat in their cars and looked out the window at the streets of Baghdad, as they had seen in previous countries, when they felt the energy, the happiness and the vitality.
But here there was only a dead atmosphere, and the cold atmosphere spread, which made the hearts of the members of the delegation also heavy.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, the talks officially began, and before meeting Saddam Hussein, Qian Qichen needed to face Aziz, the core member of Saddam's ruling clique, a sleek fox-like man.
Many Western countries have reported on Aziz, described as "clever tongue" and "deep-minded", and many experienced senior officials have a headache about him, and this person is really a very difficult figure to deal with.
Sure enough, at the beginning of the talks, Aziz put himself in the initiative position, and he calmly said: "Please talk first." ”
Qian Qichen said: This visit is to express the Chinese Government's concern for the Gulf situation and hope to explore with the leaders of several countries the possibility of peacefully resolving the Gulf crisis.
At the same time, Foreign Minister Qian mentioned the negative public opinion caused by the August 2 incident in the international community.
Aziz listened silently and did not open his mouth.
Qian Qichen continued to preach that the leaders he met during this visit hoped to resolve the crisis peacefully, and the current situation is very tense and severe, and once war breaks out, the entire Gulf region will face a crisis of life and death.
But Aziz made it clear that Iraq would never surrender, and that war was indeed not in Iraq's interests, but if it was necessary to impose it on Iraq, they had no choice.
Foreign Minister Qian was surprised by Iran's iron-blooded and cold-blooded attitude.
When Aziz was constantly talking about "the conspiracy of Western countries," "Iraq was premeditated," and "Kuwait had caused Iraq's economic difficulties," Qian Qichen interrupted him out loud.
Foreign Minister Qian once again stressed the possibility of war, hoping that the foreign minister, who was immersed in the anger of persecution, would calm down and carefully weigh it.
China has been trying to turn the topic back to "Iraq's invasion of Kuwait".
Aziz, on the other hand, repeatedly avoided the topic of the invasion of Kuwait, repeating some official clichés.
The foreign minister, who has always been at ease in other diplomatic occasions, lost his former composure in the face of Qian Qichen's questions, his face was expressionless, and his expression was cold.
Aziz brought up Kuwait and even argued that Kuwait was already part of Iraq.
What is the problem with iraq snatching something that has been taken away by outsiders with a conspiracy and brought back by Iraq?
Aziz, a veteran of diplomacy, quickly regained his composure after the panic.
He smiled: "Can Kuwait be considered a country?" ”
Aziz turned his head to Qian Qichen and said contemptuously: "The total population is hundreds of thousands, almost half of the population has lived abroad for many years, and in the hot season, there is almost no one in the country, and they all run to Europe and the United States to escape the summer." ”
The implication is that Kuwait is not a sovereign State at all, and is it not justified to be occupied by Iraq?
The decent man was most afraid of encountering someone without shame, and this shameless reversal of black and white made Foreign Minister Qian also silent.
Stubborn Saddam Hussein, Chinese: There is no salvation, the illness is not light
The second day was the day to meet Saddam Hussein.
The convoy first circled around the city for a long time, and then suddenly stopped in front of a building.
The delegation entered the reception room, sat for a while, was invited out again, the car and the driver were all changed, and the convoy drove very fast, driving to a place similar to a military base, heavily guarded.
Everyone couldn't help but think of the widely circulated saying that "Saddam Haddam has many stand-ins", and wondered if it would really be Saddam himself who saw him this time?
Standing in the hall waiting was indeed Saddam Hussein, who was like a fake bag.
After listening to Foreign Minister Qian's intentions, Saddam Hussein said slowly: "Dialogue is the best way to exchange views and the best way to reach an agreement." ”
However, he turned sharply and compared Kuwait with the Hong Kong analogy.
Saddam Hussein said Kuwait is Iraqi territory, just as Hong Kong belongs to China.
However, now Kuwait is relying on the support of the United States to exert pressure on Iraq and encroach on Iraq's territory, and the United States is also trying to fully control Middle East oil, seriously harming Iraq's interests.
Finally, Saddam Hussein suddenly asked, will the United States really go to war?
Since he mentioned Hong Kong, Foreign Minister Qian's look has become even more severe.
After Saddam Hussein finished speaking, Qian Qichen began to retort: The relationship between Hong Kong and Iko is completely different, Hong Kong has been Chinese territory since ancient times, occupied by the British for a hundred years, and finally negotiated with China and reached an agreement to solve the Hong Kong issue.
Kuwait, on the other hand, is a state with clear sovereignty and even has diplomatic relations with Iraq.
Saddam Hussein's remarks are simply strong words.
In response to Saddam's question about whether the United States will fight a war, Qian Qichen said that it is not accurate at present, but it is obvious to all that Western countries have been increasing their troops to the Gulf region.
As for whether they are really preparing for war or showing off their muscles, it is only up to Saddam Hussein to decide.
With a single word, Saddam Hussein could detonate a war.
After listening to Foreign Minister Qian's words, Saddam Hussein said that if the United States did not give a clear guarantee of withdrawal of troops, Iraq would not make any statement.
To put it ugly, the whole dead pig is not afraid of boiling hot water - anyway, the United States does not give the right head, what Iraq does may cause serious consequences, it is better for the United States to withdraw its troops first, lift the sanctions on Iraq, and then talk about it when the time comes.
After speaking, Saddam Hussein suddenly got up, and Foreign Minister Qian quickly got up to shake hands with him and say goodbye.
The talks ended there.
After leaving Baghdad, the delegation flew to Saudi Arabia and met with King Fahd, and the two sides discussed the dialogue between Foreign Minister Qian and Saddam Hussein.
The king was also very upset about Saddam's head iron, "Saddam Hussein must leave Iraq and stay in another country, promising to find him a place." ”
Qian Qichen said that he had clearly expressed his Chinese position to Saddam Hussein, and the king sighed that he had done a good job himself, so let him correct it himself.
The Chinese delegation's trip can also be regarded as a doctor and touched Saddam's pulse.
After the pulse diagnosis, everyone agreed that Saddam Hussein was indeed "not lightly ill", and it really didn't make sense to talk to this kind of person, you tried hard to save him, and he punched you away.
What to do with this kind of guy who can't get in the oil and salt, everyone has no choice but to look at each other, and they all see the four big words of "resigned to fate" on each other's faces.
From Aziz's performance to Saddam's question, the Chinese side clearly understands that the Iranian side knows the seriousness of the problem, and they are also afraid of the consequences of the war.
After all, the United States has spent so much effort to increase its troops in the Gulf, how can it be purely to scare you, it is simply planning to do a real battle.
Saddam Hussein understood, but he refused to bow his head, refused to give up his immediate interests, and used Iraq's future to wrench the wrists of Western countries.
He bet that the Americans had just escaped from the war, and the country was full of anti-war-weary emotions, and in this situation, would the United States launch another big war?
I don't know if he underestimated or overestimated America's eagerness for war.
Later endings are written in the history books, the United States rolled up its sleeves and really got on, this game, Saddam Hussein lost a complete defeat.
The Security Council has adopted 11 resolutions condemning and sanctioning Iraq, and Saddam Hussein is stubborn, even if Iraq is in a desperate situation of isolation and helplessness.
On 29 November 1990, the Council adopted resolution 678, which issued an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein demanding that Iraq withdraw its forces from all of Kuwait by 15 January 1991.
When voting, everyone turned their attention to Foreign Minister Qian, who had direct exchanges with Saddam Hussein, and they were eager to know what choice China would make.
Although he agrees to take all means when necessary, all this is really Saddam Hussein's own fault, but after all, China has fought for a peaceful solution to the problem, and it cannot directly vote in favor, which is equivalent to directly helping to start the war.
So the Chinese side did not choose anyone, did not agree or oppose, and everything came according to the process.
The resolution was passed smoothly and unimpeded.
The war officially began, the United States unimpeded fighter jets into the upper echelons of Iraq, this modern war, can be described as the shooters all the way forward, the beaten casualties are heavy, onlookers are stunned, directly has a profound impact on the entire world pattern.
Saddam's insistence on going his own way eventually brought ruin to Both Iraq and himself.
Sources of information:
Demystifying the confrontation between Qian Qichen and Saddam Hussein before the Gulf War People's Daily News