In February 1972, Nixon began a trip to China and spent a "week of changing the world" in China, which surprised Japan, and in July of the same year, Kakuei Tanaka became Prime Minister of Japan, and he demanded that relations with China be established as soon as possible. After a series of preparations, at noon on September 25, the Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka arrived in China and began to visit China.
Two days later, the elderly Chairman Mao personally received Kakuei Tanaka and jokingly asked him, "Are you done fighting?" Kakuei Tanaka was stunned by the question, and then nodded his head and said, "The quarrel is over, the quarrel is over." The "quarrel" here refers to the negotiations between the two leaders on the Taiwan issue and the issue of compensation, and after four negotiations, a treaty was finally signed, but in this treaty China gave up claiming compensation from Japan, which caused great controversy.
Nixon visited China
Why did Chairman Mao give up demanding war reparations from Japan? What kind of explanation did Premier Zhou give? Today's video takes you to understand the truth behind this matter, and new friends can first point to pay attention, which is convenient for reviewing the wonderful content of previous periods and can receive the latest video sharing.
After the end of World War II, although Japan was a defeated country, it was supported by the United States after the war, and its economy soon returned to its original state and slowly developed into a world economic power. However, Japan has always lacked the ability to develop independently, and almost everything must follow the example of the United States; after the Korean War, China's relations with the United States have stiffened, and Japan has also stopped basic trade exchanges with china. Later, however, under the correct leadership of Chairman Mao and Zhi Qiyi, the economy of New China was restored, and Sino-Japanese relations also took a turn for the better.
"On August 7, 1958, Premier Zhou put forward three principles: Japan will not implement its policy of hostility toward China; it will not create a conspiracy between the two Chinas; and it will not obstruct the restoration of normal relations between the two countries."
The proposal of these three principles well showed Japan China's attitude, and at the same time laid a solid foundation for Tanaka Kakuei's visit to China later, and the turning point that really promoted the improvement of Sino-Japanese relations was THE visit of US President Nixon to China, and the relations between the two countries entered a new chapter, which aroused heated discussion in the Japanese political arena.
However, Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato at the time always adhered to the principle of "pro-Chiang Kai-shek and anti-China," and during the more than seven years that he was in power, Sino-Japanese relations made no progress, and it can even be said that they had deteriorated. The signing of the treaty between the United States and China has given the Japanese government a "stick to the head," and some politicians who are aware of current affairs have expressed the need to quickly improve relations with China and follow in the footsteps of the United States.
Eisaku Sato, who had been slow to act, was strongly opposed by the Japanese masses and was eventually ousted from power. In 1972, Japan held a presidential election, and Kakuei Tanaka was successfully elected. Kakuei Tanaka, who has just taken office, directly proposed that the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China should be accelerated, and after consultation with the Japanese government, they will change the "economic diplomacy" they implemented at the beginning into an "independent multilateral diplomacy" policy.
Kakuei Tanaka also said: "Fully understand" the three principles of normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations that the Chinese government has always advocated, namely: first, the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China; second, Taiwan is part of China's territory; and third, the Japan-Taiwan Treaty is illegal and invalid. Foreign Minister Masayoshi Ohira made it even more explicit: In order to normalize diplomatic relations, it is necessary for the prime minister or foreign minister to visit China at a certain time. ”
Since World War II, all the japanese prime ministers have followed the pace of the United States, not willing to fall behind but do not dare to take a step ahead, what kind of policy the United States proposed, Japan followed it and promulgated, at that time many people said that the Japanese prime minister is an "empty shell", the Japanese government never needs to make any decisions, they just obediently follow the United States will be satisfied. However, after taking office, Tanaka Kakuei said that this time we must rush ahead of the United States to make diplomatic relations with the Chinese side.
Premier Zhou saw the hope of establishing diplomatic relations between China and Japan from Tanaka Kakuei, so a few days after Tanaka Kakuei delivered a speech, he sent two emissaries, Sun Pinghua and Xiao Xiangqian, to Japan to invite Tanaka Kakuei to visit China. Premier Zhou's move was in line with the Japanese government's wishes, and they quickly responded by saying that Tanaka Kakuei was honored to go to China to discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Japan with the Chinese leaders. On August 11, 1972, foreign minister Taiping told the Chinese emissary that Tanaka Kakuei had decided to visit China by invitation and set the time for September 25.
On 21 September, China and Japan separately issued a proclamation: "Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka has decided to visit China and will hold discussions on the issue of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations with Chinese leader Premier Zhou Enlai, which is scheduled for September 25-30." And Tanaka Kakuei also expressed the hope that after visiting China, the two countries can establish diplomatic relations in one fell swoop, and after the announcement was announced, it caused quite a stir in the international community, and many countries are watching how China will negotiate with Japan.
Four days later, Kakuei Tanaka came to China as planned, and Premier Zhou and his party came to the airport to receive him, and Premier Zhou said to Kakuei Tanaka, who had just stepped off the plane, "Welcome to come." The two clasped hands together, and soon the photo made headlines in the press, with people calling Premier Zhou's handshake a manifestation of China's overcoming hatred.
According to Chairman Mao's arrangement, premier Zhou first received Tanaka Kakuei, and then the two began negotiations on various issues left over from the war, and Chairman Mao deliberately stressed that during the negotiations, we must have a tough attitude, Chinese people need a substantive explanation from the Japanese government, and we can only make friends after they realize their mistakes. After Premier Zhou concluded negotiations with him, Chairman Mao personally received Tanaka Kakuei.
In fact, Chairman Mao did not have any hope for Kakuei Tanaka's visit to China this time, because in front of the international media before, Japanese officials never admitted the various crimes they had committed, and former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato wanted to visit China, but Chairman Mao refused, and Chairman Mao said that we can have diplomatic relations with Japan, but not with "Sato Eisaku." Coupled with the fact that Chairman Mao is now elderly and in poor physical condition, Nixon's visit to China a few months ago consumed a lot of his mental efforts, and at this time, he really did not have enough energy to talk with Tanaka Kakuei for a long time.
Premier Zhou arranged Foraka Tanaka's residence at the Diaoyutai Hotel, where US President Richard Nixon stayed during his visit to China. When Tanaka Kakuei saw such a magnificent hotel, he couldn't help but sigh, "Premier Zhou, when was this building built?" So beautiful! Premier Zhou replied with a smile: "This is one of the top ten buildings for the tenth anniversary of China's founding, and it is also the residence of President Nixon when he visited China." Thus began the discussion between the two men.
In the evening, Premier Zhou invited Kakuei Tanaka to a dinner party, at which an "incredible" thing happened. At that time, the translations of the state leaders were all brought by themselves, and when you heard Kakuei Tanaka's translation of the disasters brought by Japan to the Chinese people as "adding trouble," there was an instant uproar in the hall, and Premier Zhou suddenly changed color, and immediately said: "What Japan has brought to the Chinese people, I am afraid that you know in your heart, if these disasters are used as the word 'add trouble' to indicate what you have done, the Chinese Government and people will not be able to accept it, and I am afraid that there will be no need for our conversation to continue."
Seeing Premier Zhou, who was screaming, Tanaka Kakuei was a little overwhelmed, and after hearing the interpreter's explanation, he immediately explained: "I don't mean this, and I also mean to apologize for causing trouble in Japan, and I hope you can understand." At this time, Xiao Tang, the translator next to Premier Zhou, also whispered that the three words "add trouble" were used too lightly, and finally learned that the translator next to Kakuei Tanaka was Chinese in Taipei, and this misunderstanding was solved.
However, This sentence of Kakuei Tanaka has been circulating for 30 years, and at later press conferences about China and Japan, many reporters will still ask this question: "Is this what Tanaka meant at that time?" Is the translation translated from the original words? In the face of their questions, the staff around Premier Zhou said that Tanaka Kakuei's words may be a little rude, and the translator also has some responsibility, but Tanaka Kakuei does have the intention of apologizing, and it is not worth reminding enough that the disaster that Chinese people have suffered is undeniable, and the government will not tolerate anyone to describe the disaster with an "understated" tone.
In the days that followed, Premier Zhou held four negotiations with Kakuei Tanaka, and although there were also ambiguities during the negotiations, a good result was achieved through Premier Zhou's maneuvering. Kakuei Tanaka acknowledged the disaster brought to our people and expressed his heartfelt remorse. After the negotiations with Premier Zhou, Tanaka asked in a earnest tone, "Can I meet Chairman Mao now?"
Premier Zhou then telephoned Chairman Mao: "Chairman, our negotiations are over and we have achieved a good result, Prime Minister Tanaka now wants to visit you. Chairman Mao agreed after hearing this. Premier Zhou took Tanaka Kakuei to Zhongnanhai, and on the way, he smiled and told Premier Zhou that he was still a little cramped.
After arriving at the place, Kakuei Tanaka walked toward Chairman Mao with a relatively fast stride, held out his hand to greet him, and Chairman Mao replied to him with a smile: "Hello, Prime Minister Tanaka, have you finished arguing with our premier?" When Kakuei Tanaka heard Chairman Mao's question, he was stunned and explained: "After the quarrel, it has long been over!" In fact, Chairman Mao had already guessed Tanaka Kakuei's cramped uneasiness, so he would joke to ease the atmosphere, and Tanaka Kakuei did relax a lot after hearing Chairman Mao's words.
Chairman Mao and Tanaka Kakuei had a very smooth conversation, and in the end Chairman Mao also gave Tanaka Kakuei a copy of "Chu Ci." Tanaka Kakuei asked why, and Chairman Mao proudly said: "This book is very powerful, he records all aspects of the history of Chu province in our country, highlights the rich Chinese culture, and is also my favorite romantic style." After listening to Chairman Mao's words, Tanaka Kakuei graciously shook Chairman Mao's hand and kept thanking him.
The next day, China and Japan signed a new joint communiqué, and people noticed that the first few articles of the communiqué were all stipulated around the Taiwan issue, but the seventh article was impressively written with a sentence: Renounce war reparations against Japan. This caused great controversy at the time, and the masses believed that Japan had brought irreparable disasters to China, and that compensation was justified, so why did they give it up?
Later, Premier Zhou explained the reasons for Chairman Mao's decision to the outside world, and when discussing the matter of reparations, Chairman Mao thought that once during the Sino-Japanese War in the Qing Dynasty, Japan demanded 130,370,000 taels of indemnities from our country, because of the devastation of the war, it was difficult for the people to eat enough, and everyone had to take out one or two pieces of silver when the reparations were evenly divided, which made the poor people even worse.
Isn't today's Japan the same as the Qing Dynasty at that time? After experiencing the devastation of World War II, their economy was also hit, although later they got the economic support of the United States, but the money ran to the government, their people are "self-made", the compensation demanded by China, in the end, the Japanese people to repay, we have an old saying in China called "do not do to others what you do not want", the people are the victims of the war. Moreover, the war reparations given by Japan are all material compensation, and most of them are shoddy things.
Chairman Mao's broad-mindedness has been highly recognized by the Chinese people and even the international community, and Premier Zhou also said that Chairman Mao has a vision that ordinary people cannot touch, and later Tanaka Kakuei voluntarily provided a loan of 20 billion US dollars to China. However, Chairman Mao's statement is only the superficial reason for abandoning the reparations.
Chairman Mao always looked at problems based on the international development trend, although China's national conditions at that time were relatively stable, but the national economy had not yet reached the ideal state, if we want to go further and further along the future development path, now China can not stand still, it is conceivable that abandoning the claim to Japan can not only allow Tanaka Kakuei to give up greater interests in the negotiations, but also ensure that China may get more support in the future development, such a two-pronged decision. Only a far-sighted leader like Chairman Mao can do it!