Text/Finish Yan Liang
As the core of the party's second-generation leadership collective, Deng Xiaoping, in addition to formulating correct principles and tactics and giving macroscopic guidance on major issues related to his own destiny and world peace and development, also personally participated in many major foreign affairs activities. In foreign affairs activities, he not only adhered to principles and safeguarded national sovereignty and world peace, but also worked in a vertical and horizontal manner, improvised responses, was measured, moved in and out freely, was witty and humorous, optimistic and witty, and created an international image of a great man in coping with many complicated situations and various opponents, and also created a broader international development space for China and showed excellent diplomatic qualities.
China only plays its own cards
In the 1950s and 1960s, although Deng Xiaoping had held important leading positions in the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, he was not in charge of foreign affairs, but during the period of delicate relations between the Two Parties, Mao Zedong and the Cpc Central Committee appointed him as the head of the CPC Central Committee delegation to the Soviet Union to participate in inter-party exchanges. In the Soviet Union, Deng Xiaoping showed a style of adhering to principles and adapting to changes, and showed the good character of a politician in foreign affairs activities, which was not only praised by Mao Zedong, but even Khrushchev, an old rival who had "passed the tricks" with Deng Xiaoping, had to admit: Deng Xiaoping was a very powerful person, and his wisdom and ideological level were very high.
Deng Xiaoping really dominated China's diplomacy after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. By then, Deng Xiaoping had become the core of the second-generation leadership collective of the CPC Central Committee. At this time, China's diplomacy is also in a period of adjustment. Considering the overall situation of national development and security, Deng Xiaoping began to determine a new diplomatic policy.
Deng Xiaoping once pointed out, "There have been changes in our judgment of the international situation, as well as changes in foreign policy. The two changes deng xiaoping said were, first, to change the view of the inevitability of world war, holding that "it is possible not to have a large-scale world war for a long time, and there is hope for safeguarding world peace."; second, it readjusted the past one-line strategy of opposing Soviet hegemonism, advocating that "whoever engages in hegemonism will oppose whomever engages in hegemonism, and whoever conducts war will oppose whom"; third, he has clearly seen the theme of the world, saying, "The really big problem in the world now has a global strategic problem, and the other is the issue of peace. One is economic problems or development problems. Based on the above three points, Deng Xiaoping decided that under the conditions of a relatively peaceful environment, China should seize the time to carry out construction. The new diplomatic policy was formulated around the basic line determined by the Party. The basic principle is independent diplomacy of peace. The basic goal is to safeguard China's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and create a good international environment for China's reform, opening up, and modernization. Its purpose is to maintain world peace and promote common development. At the heart of this diplomatic policy is independence.
◆ In April 1974, Deng Xiaoping led the Chinese delegation to leave Beijing for New York to attend the Sixth Special Session of the United Nations. This is the first time since the founding of New China that a senior Chinese leader has stepped onto the podium of the United Nations.
Deng Xiaoping, who loved to play bridge, once used "playing cards" to describe china's diplomatic principle of always pursuing independence and self-determination. In May 1984, when receiving foreign guests, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "China does not play the American card, nor does it play the Soviet card, and China does not allow others to play the Chinese card." Deng Xiaoping made these words very clear: China only plays its own cards. With regard to all international affairs, proceeding from the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and the people of the world, we decide our own positions and policies according to the merits of the matter itself, and we do not succumb to any external pressure. China does not form alliances with any major power or group of countries, does not engage in military blocs, does not participate in an arms race, and does not carry out military expansion.
China is a developing country and is inevitably bullied and pressured by hegemonic countries. In the face of the pressure and threat of hegemonism, Deng Xiaoping showed a character of never yielding. In September 1982, he said in his opening speech at the Twelfth National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "China's affairs should be handled in accordance with China's situation, and we must rely on Chinese our own strength to handle them." Independence and self-reliance are our footholds in the past, present and future. Chinese people cherish friendship and cooperation with other countries and peoples, and even more cherish their right to independence and self-determination that they have gained through long-term struggle. No foreign country should expect China to be their vassal, and should not expect China to swallow the bitter fruit that harms our interests. The sonorous and powerful words showed Deng Xiaoping's strong will.
Handle "big triangle" relationships with ease
In the 1980s, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China were at the top of the world, and international politicians called it the "Great Triangle." How China handles its relations with the Soviet Union and the United States is a major issue that China's diplomacy needs to deal with. If it is not handled well, China may be under strong pressure and be isolated, and there will be no good external environment for economic construction. Deng Xiaoping's guidance of China's diplomacy, of course, was to consider handling the issue of "great triangle" relations. However, Deng Xiaoping was full of confidence and comfortable in dealing with this complex and changeable and major issue.
As early as the early 1970s, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai opened Sino-US relations, and since then, the high-level ties between China and the United States on major international affairs have never been interrupted, but China and the United States have not yet formally established diplomatic relations, and trade between the two countries has not yet developed. Deng Xiaoping saw this and personally flew to the United States for a visit in January 1979, shortly after the publication of the Sino-US Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, in order to further promote the development of Sino-US relations. He was the first party and state leader to officially visit the United States after the founding of New China, and was solemnly welcomed and treated by President Carter and the American people. The visit not only enhanced mutual understanding, friendship, and trust between the two countries, but more importantly, achieved many substantive results: President Deng Xiaoping and President Carter signed a scientific and technological cooperation agreement and a cultural agreement on behalf of the Chinese and American governments; Vice Premier Fang Yi and President Press' scientific adviser signed an exchange of understanding on cooperation between the two countries in education, agriculture, and space; Vice Premier Fang Yi and Minister of Energy Schlesinger signed an agreement on cooperation between the two countries in high-energy physics; Foreign Minister Huang Hua. Secretary Vance signed an agreement on the establishment of consular relations and the establishment of mutual consulates-general; the two sides also agreed to sign agreements on trade, air and shipping. These achievements played an important role in the sustainable development of Sino-US relations and the introduction of American technology for China's modernization. In his speech in Atlanta, Deng Xiaoping said something truthful: "Many of your successful experiences are of great significance to us. We are willing to learn from you. ”
After all, China and the United States are countries with two different systems, and the two sides have been opposed and isolated for decades, and Deng Xiaoping will inevitably encounter some provocative problems during his time in the United States. According to Ji Chaozhu, who served as Deng Xiaoping's chief interpreter at that time, during his visit to the United States, Deng Xiaoping's style was friendly and principled, never making concessions on issues of principle, but always ready to seek common ground between the two sides.
During Deng Xiaoping's visit to the United States, an American journalist once asked Deng Xiaoping: "What is the main danger of continuing this pleasant honeymoon period between China and the United States?" "Deng Xiaoping was quick to react and showed great confidence. Without hesitation, he wittily replied, "I don't see danger." Honeymoons will continue to exist. Deng Xiaoping's answer caused the surrounding reporters to laugh heartily.
◆ From the end of January to the beginning of February 1979, Deng Xiaoping visited the United States. Deng Xiaoping and U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the balcony of the White House.
During his visit to the United States, Deng Xiaoping visited Brzezinski's home. During the banquet, Brzezinski half-jokingly asked Deng Xiaoping whether China had similar problems when President Carter was in trouble in Congress over the normalization of Sino-US relations. Deng Xiaoping replied without hesitation: Of course, there are many opponents in Taiwan. Mr. Deng's wit amazed Brzezinski.
But when western countries, led by the United States, interfered in China's internal affairs, Deng Xiaoping resolutely fought back. After the political turmoil in China in 1989, the United States took the lead in drawing some Western countries to impose sanctions on China. Deng Xiaoping resolutely resisted this with his great statesmanship. When meeting with foreign guests, he firmly stated that China is not afraid of US sanctions. To improve Sino-US relations, the United States should take the initiative. If China wants to go to the United States, it can't be done! In the face of Deng Xiaoping's firm principled nature, the United States, out of its global strategic considerations, had to take the initiative to take action to improve Sino-US relations.
On the issue of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Deng Xiaoping also showed his firmness in the face of interference from the United States' ally Britain. During his talks with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he resolutely rejected the British side's demand for "exchanging sovereignty for governing power", never recognized the three unequal treaties of the 19th century, and unequivocally pointed out that China has no room for maneuver on this issue. Frankly, sovereignty is not an issue that can be discussed. The time is ripe for a clear affirmation that China will take back Hong Kong in 1997. That is to say, China wants to reclaim not only the New Territories, but also Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It is on this premise that China and britain negotiate ways and means to resolve the Hong Kong issue. Deng Xiaoping told Margaret Thatcher that taking back Hong Kong was the will of the people of the whole Chinese and even the people of the whole world. "If it is not taken back, it means that the Chinese government is the government of the late Qing Dynasty, and the Chinese leader is Li Hongzhang!" If the UK does not cooperate and Hong Kong fluctuates during the 15-year transition period, China will have to consider the timing and modalities of its takeover. Deng Xiaoping's firmness on the issue of principle laid a solid foundation for China's recovery of Hong Kong in 1997.
In the early 1980s, Sino-Soviet relations were still in a state of tension, with the Soviet Union still deploying millions of troops on the Sino-Soviet border and missiles aimed at China. This is an important threat to China's peacebuilding. How to change this situation is one of the important questions that Deng Xiaoping pondered. Deng Xiaoping judged that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States and the improvement of relations between the two countries would have a major impact on the Soviet side, and the Soviet side would make some moves. Sure enough, on February 1, 1982, the Soviet government took the initiative to send a note to the Chinese government and proposed to hold Sino-Soviet border negotiations again. On March 24 of the same year, General Secretary of the COMMUNIST Party of the Soviet Union Brezhnev delivered a speech in Tashkent, proposing four new contents: First, it does not want to interfere in the internal life of the People's Republic of China, nor does it deny the existence of a socialist social system in China. Second, "two Chinas" is not supported. Third, the Soviet Union did not threaten China and did not make any territorial claims against China. Fourth, recalling the era of Sino-Soviet friendship, it is willing to reach agreement on measures to improve Soviet-Chinese relations without any preconditions.
Deng Xiaoping keenly took note of Brezhnev's "Tashkent Speech" and believed that the Soviet side had taken the initiative. He invited Chen Yun, Li Xiannian, and other central leading comrades to their homes to discuss countermeasures, and unanimously agreed that a major action should be taken to convey information to the Soviet Union and strive for an improvement in Sino-Soviet relations. But it must be principled, provided that the Soviet Union has to do something to remove the military encirclement of China. This proposed that the Soviet Union take the initiative to solve the "three major obstacles", namely, the withdrawal of troops from the Sino-Soviet border in northern China and Mongolia, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, China's western neighbor, and the persuasion of Vietnam to withdraw from Cambodia. The three reached an agreement. Qian Qichen recalled: "Comrade Xiaoping called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and instructed him to react immediately to Brezhnev's speech. ”
According to the instructions of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, on March 26, 1982, the first press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held in the foyer of the main building. Qian Qichen recalled: "At that time, there was no special venue for press releases, and seventy or eighty Chinese and foreign journalists were invited to attend, and everyone stood around me. The translator at the time was the current foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing. As the first spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, I issued a short statement of only three sentences: 'We have taken note of the speech on Sino-Soviet relations delivered by Chairman Brezhnev of the USSR in Tashkent on March 24. We firmly reject the attacks on China in our speeches. In Sino-Soviet relations and international affairs, we attach importance to the actual actions of the Soviet Union. After the statement was read, there were no questions and no answers. The first press conference was over. This unprecedented press conference and three-sentence brief statement immediately attracted great attention from Chinese and foreign journalists in Beijing. The next day, Qian Qichen's short statement of less than a minute was published in the middle of the front page of the People's Daily. By doing so, the Chinese side is also indicating that China is willing to improve its relations with the Soviet Union.
In April 1982, Romanian President Ceausescu paid a friendly visit to China. Deng Xiaoping took advantage of this opportunity to convey to the Soviet side the attitude of the Chinese top brass toward improving Sino-Soviet relations. Deng Xiaoping told Ceausescu that Sino-Soviet relations have not changed much now, and brezhnev's speech in Tashkent, in addition to rejecting his scolding words, we have noticed other information, but we attach importance to practical action, which is mainly the Afghan issue, the Cambodian issue, and the issue of cantonment on our border. Deng Xiaoping said that Brezhnev wanted us to respond to his "suggestions," but "he always had to change his hegemonism, and Brezhnev's words were not bad, but we should look at our actions." When you see Brezhnev, you can tell him to do one or two things first, starting from Cambodia and Afghanistan, and withdrawing troops from the Sino-Soviet border or Mongolia. Without action, we don't approve of it, and no one in the world will approve of it. ”
But Deng Xiaoping did not give up any opportunity to improve Sino-Soviet relations. In March 1982, Jia Picai, director of the Department of Far East affairs of the Usser Foreign Ministry (later appointed deputy minister of foreign affairs of the USSR), visited Beijing at the invitation of China. This is the first official contact between the foreign ministries of the two countries after the tension between China and the Soviet Union. Although official soviet reports described Jia Picai's visit to Beijing as a private visit at the invitation of the Soviet ambassador to China, Jia Picai held talks with Vice Foreign Minister Qian Qichen and Yu Hongliang, director of the Soviet Eastern European Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In April, two Chinese scientists participated in an international symposium in Dushanbe, the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Soviet Union.
After analyzing the situation, Deng Xiaoping decided to speed up the improvement of Sino-Soviet relations. Qian Qichen recalled that in the summer of 1982, "Comrade Xiaoping invited several leading comrades of the Central Committee and principal leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to his home for a meeting to study the issue of Soviet relations." Chen Yun, Li Xiannian, and other veteran comrades were present, and I, as vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of Soviet and Eastern European affairs, also attended as observers. Comrade Xiaoping proposed that a major action should be taken to convey a message to the Soviet Union and strive for a major improvement in Sino-Soviet relations. "In accordance with the principles set out at this meeting, China has taken the initiative. In June and September, Soviet athletes participated in sports competitions held in Beijing. In July, two Soviet economists visited Beijing, the first time since 1966 that a Soviet economist had visited Beijing. After Jia Picai's visit to Beijing, in August 1982, Yu Hongliang, director of the Soviet Union Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (later vice foreign minister), went to Moscow in the name of inspecting the embassy to convey to the Soviet side an important message on removing obstacles and improving relations. The Soviet side made a positive response, expressing its willingness to discuss bilateral relations with China at any time, in any place and at any level in order to "remove obstacles to the normalization of relations." The Chinese side has responded positively to this. The new Party Constitution adopted at the Twelfth Party Congress removed the references to "hegemonism of the two superpowers" and "modern revisionism of the Soviet Union."
In November 1982, Brezhnev died, and Andropov, who advocated the improvement of Soviet-Chinese relations, succeeded Brezhnev as General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee and later Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. Comrade Deng Xiaoping immediately instructed Foreign Minister Huang Hua to attend the funeral in Moscow as a special envoy of the government, seize the opportunity to do Soviet work, and promote the normalization of Sino-Soviet relations. After Huang Hua set off, Deng Xiaoping instructed him to make a concise and truth-seeking speech and specifically asked Comrade Hu Qiaomu to draft it. After Brezhnev's funeral, Andropov met with Huang Hua and talked to him the longest. Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko also met with Huang Hua. After the meeting, TASS reported that Huang Hua and Gromyko agreed that "the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China will continue to engage in political dialogue." On November 16, 1982, the editor of Pravda told a Japanese reporter in Tokyo, "China and the Soviet Union should agree to reduce their armed forces in the border areas between the two countries." He also noted that Soviet troops would eventually withdraw from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union did not intend to establish a Soviet-style regime in Afghanistan. He wanted Afghanistan to become a non-aligned country with good neighborly relations with the Soviet Union. His speech was in perfect agreement with Gromyko's proposal to "remove obstacles." On November 18, 1982, Huang Hua said he had discussed with Gromyko ways to "remove obstacles to talks on outstanding issues between China and the Soviet Union." He was "optimistic" about the prospects for Sino-Soviet relations.
Under these circumstances, Deng Xiaoping analyzed the international situation and concluded that in the international "grand triangle" relations, if China blindly is tough and anti-Soviet, it will not only bring great trouble to China, but also put China in a rather unfavorable position in Sino-US and Soviet triangle relations, and is also not conducive to the formation of an external environment for China's peaceful construction. He decided to seize the opportunity of Andropov, who was the general secretary of the CPSU, to advocate "improving Soviet-Chinese relations" and "restoring the friendship between the Soviet and Chinese peoples" to further promote the improvement of Sino-Soviet relations. On November 22, 1982, Andropov said in a public statement that the Soviet Union wanted to improve relations with its great neighbor, the People's Republic of China. Deng Xiaoping immediately noticed the change in the Soviet side's title to China and instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to respond positively. On November 25, The Chinese Foreign Ministry commented that It had taken note of Andropov's speech. China would like to see "new efforts by the new leaders of the Soviet Union to remove obstacles to the normalization of relations between the two countries." Immediately afterward, the Chinese government sent a congratulatory message to the Soviet government celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Soviet Socialist Union, saying, "The Chinese government sincerely hopes that Sino-Soviet relations will be normalized step by step and that friendly neighborly relations will be established." China and the Soviet Union should take concrete actions through negotiations to remove obstacles and make joint efforts to achieve the above-mentioned goals. On December 26, 1982, Pravda published the full text of the congratulatory message, and two days later, the English Department of xinhua news agency reported on the message. On August 26, 1983, Andropov publicly called for China and the Soviet Union to expand trade, develop bilateral exchanges, and ease border tensions. He said that the Soviet Union is willing to hold dialogue with China on the issue of consolidating world peace and consolidating international security. All of this is necessary for the two countries to achieve their long-term economic tasks. On September 2, 1983, Chinese President Li Xiannian responded to Andropov's appeal by saying that although obstacles to the normalization of Sino-Soviet relations still existed, the Chinese government sincerely hoped that the obstacles to the normalization of Sino-Soviet relations would be removed. In this way, "on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the two countries can develop normal State-to-State relations." "Deng Xiaoping's change in policy toward the Soviet Union has moved beyond the rigid circle of ideological controversy in the past and shifted to The consideration of China's national interests."
◆ On May 16, 1989, Deng Xiaoping met with visiting former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in Beijing.
The Soviet side attached great importance to this and thus accelerated the pace of improving relations between the two countries. At the Plenary Session of the CPSU Central Committee in Moscow in November 1983, Andropov personally proposed to send a representative figure of the pro-China faction within the CPSU, who lived and worked in China from 1950 to 1958 and was familiar with the Chinese leaders, first vice chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, to Visit China to improve bilateral relations. At the same time, Andropov also designated Jia Picai, who is recognized in the diplomatic system as a Chinese expert and also vice foreign minister, to organize as soon as possible the relevant personnel of the First Far East Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formulate a specific schedule and relevant documents for this visit, and to report directly to the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee, for whom he is directly responsible. After the Soviet side sent this message, Deng Xiaoping and the main leaders of the CPC Central Committee at that time immediately responded positively and welcomed Arkhipov's visit to China. There are still "three major obstacles" between China and the Soviet Union, but Deng Xiaoping's determination to promote the improvement of Sino-Soviet relations has not changed, and he pointed out on February 22, 1984: As long as the "three major obstacles" still exist, a "fundamental change" in Sino-Soviet relations is impossible. But this "does not prevent us from improving and developing our relations in a number of other areas". When Andropov died on February 9, 1984, China adopted a proactive policy of improving Sino-Soviet relations by appointing Vice Premier Wan Li to represent China at Andropov's funeral. Chernenko, who succeeded Andropov as General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee after the funeral, held brief talks with Wanli. After Andropov's death, Arkhipov paid a successful visit to China in December 1984, and China gave him great courtesy, and Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yun, Peng Zhen and others met with him successively. His visit was seen as an important step towards normalizing relations between the two countries. Since then, China has taken the initiative again. Qian Qichen recalled: "In July 1985, I accompanied Vice Premier Yao Yilin on a return visit to the Soviet Union. Vice Premier Yao held talks with First Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Arkhipov, and met with Tikhanov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The two sides talked smoothly on the development of economic and trade cooperation, signing documents such as the Sino-Soviet Agreement on the Exchange of Goods and Payments from 1986 to 1990, and the trade volume between China and the Soviet Union increased from 2.65 billion Swiss francs in 1984 to 4.6 billion Swiss francs in 1985. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the substantial increase in high-level exchanges and trade between the two countries. ”
When Chernenko died in March 1985, Gorbachev became General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee. In order to give China a more favorable peaceful environment for economic construction and to curb the aggressive posture of the United States, Deng Xiaoping decided to take more proactive actions to improve Sino-Soviet relations. According to this opinion, the Chinese side resumed calling the Soviet Union a socialist country in a telegram of condolences over Chernenko's death. Qian Qichen recalled: "In order to promote a breakthrough in Sino-Soviet relations, Comrade Xiaoping for the first time put forward the idea of holding a high-level meeting between China and the Soviet Union. Comrade Xiaoping asked Ceausescu to bring a message to Gorbachev: If the Soviet Union and we reach an understanding to withdraw Vietnamese troops from Cambodia, and if this can be done, he is willing to meet with Gorbachev. Comrade Xiaoping said that although his historical mission of visiting abroad has been completed, he can make an exception on this issue. Deng Xiaoping's initiative was extraordinary, and it conveyed two messages: First, Sino-Soviet relations were relations between two socialist countries, and second, Deng Xiaoping, China's main decision-maker, was willing to meet with the supreme leader of the CPSU. This was a major impetus to the improvement of Sino-Soviet relations, an important turning point in the normalization of relations between the two countries, and also prompted the Soviet side to accept Deng Xiaoping's view of removing the three major obstacles to improving Sino-Soviet relations. Qian Qichen recalled: "On November 6, 1985, the Soviet side replied that the oral message had been received. On the 23rd, the Soviet side said that the time was ripe for the Soviet Union and China to hold a summit meeting and restore party relations, and suggested that the top leaders of the two countries meet in the Far East of the Soviet Union or in China to discuss the normalization of Soviet-Chinese relations. "On July 28, 1986, Gorbachev announced in Vladivostok that the Soviet Union would withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in stages; that it was discussing with Mongolia the withdrawal of most of its Soviet troops; that it was willing to discuss with China the reduction of the army in the Sino-Soviet border area; that it agreed to demarcate the border line of the Amur River (Heilongjiang) according to the main channel; and that it would respect and understand China's domestic policy. As the leader of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev also publicly affirmed for the first time the principle of modernization in our country and expressed his understanding and respect. He also put forward concrete ideas for expanding and deepening economic and technical cooperation. This shows that the Soviet side has decided to remove the three major obstacles to Sino-Soviet relations. On September 2, 1986, in an interview with american journalist Wallace Television, Deng Xiaoping once again said that if Gorbachev took a solid step on the Vietnam-Cambodia issue, he was willing to make an exception to meet with Gorbachev anywhere in the Soviet Union. This is actually a public response to Gorbachev's Vladivostok speech.
After that, after long-term negotiations between China and the Soviet Union and the exchange of foreign ministers' visits, Gorbachev took the initiative to say that the Soviet Union was also at fault in what had happened between China and the Soviet Union in the past, and took the initiative to propose that after he was ready to go to Beijing in consideration of various circumstances, the Chinese side immediately issued an invitation to him to visit China, which finally led to Gorbachev's visit to China in May 1989.
Qian Qichen recalled: Deng Xiaoping attached great importance to Gorbachev's visit, and he generally did not give instructions on specific details, and he also took into account the etiquette of this connection, and he demanded that he pay attention to moderation in the arrangement, and that when meeting, he "only shook hands and did not hug." This is not just a simple matter of etiquette, but an accurate summary of the nature of Sino-Soviet relations at that time. As for the theme of the meeting between the two sides, Comrade Xiaoping put forward eight words with profound thinking and clear language: "End the past and open up the future." ”
On May 16, Deng Xiaoping met with General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Gorbachev at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the first meeting between the top leaders of China and the Soviet Union in 30 years, which attracted great attention from all over the world.
Since then, Sino-Soviet relations have been normalized. After the leaders of both countries were replaced, the international situation was unpredictable, and the upheavals in Soviet Eastern Europe, it was not significantly affected and continued to develop. Now China and Russia have developed into a strategic cooperative partnership of close cooperation.
In a complex and changeable international environment, Deng Xiaoping improved China's relations with the United States and the Soviet Union, handled the "grand triangle" relations with ease, improved China's international environment, further enhanced China's international status, and enabled China, as a big country that cannot be ignored, to exert an important influence in restraining hegemonism and safeguarding world peace.
China is not the head
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the international situation underwent major changes, first the regimes of Eastern European countries changed hands, and the Soviet Union also changed hands after experiencing turmoil, and then disintegrated. After the political turmoil in China, it was "sanctioned" by the West, and Sino-US relations reached an impasse. In the turbulent international situation, how can China live on its own? How does the diplomatic situation open up? There are various opinions. Under these circumstances, Deng Xiaoping urged calm observation and immersion in practical work. On September 4, 1989, in a conversation with several responsible comrades of the Central Committee, he proposed, "As for the international situation, it can be summed up in three sentences. The first sentence, calm observation; The second sentence, hold your ground; The third sentence, calmly cope. Don't be in a hurry, don't be in a hurry. Be calm, calm, calm again, bury your head in hard work, and do one thing well, our own business. Deng Xiaoping's mention of stabilizing the position is meaningful. Domestic policy and foreign policy are linked. Deng Xiaoping said: If China wants stability internally, the party's basic line, basic principles and policies are not wrong, and they cannot be changed. "The most critical issue for China to get rid of poverty and achieve the four modernizations is the need for stability." "The people see the tangible benefits of stability, and see the benefits of the current system and policies, so that they can really stabilize." No matter how the international climate changes, as long as we win this one, it will be as stable as Mount Tai. ”
Deng Xiaoping's views were endorsed by the Politburo. Under the guidance of this policy, China has frustrated the Western countries' policy of "promoting change with pressure" against china. After the drastic changes in Eastern Europe and the collapse of the Soviet Union, China did not take the similarities and differences in social systems, ideologies and values as the criteria for determining the closeness of countries to countries, but adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, respected the independent choice of the peoples of all countries, and maintained and developed relations with Eastern European countries. Immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, China recognized the Russian Federation and successively established diplomatic relations with the newly established CIS countries. When Western countries resisted me, china carried out active diplomatic work through international organizations and resumed normal relations with Western countries one by one in a relatively short period of time.
After calm observation, Deng Xiaoping realized that the international situation that has undergone major changes is also beneficial to us. The collapse of the Soviet Union was detrimental to the world socialist movement, but it greatly improved the security environment around our country. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the cohesion of the Western alliance weakened, and the contradictions and frictions between the United States and Europe and between the United States and Japan increased. Economically, the United States, Europe, and Japan have become a three-legged trend, competing with each other and intensifying competition. In terms of defense, the United States strengthens its presence in Europe, while European countries want to establish a "European Europe" and strive for independent defense in order to get rid of American control. In the face of this situation, Deng Xiaoping put forward the eight-character principle of "Taoguang cultivating obscurity and making a difference." "Taoguang yang obscure" refers to modesty and prudence, not to say empty words, to do more practical things, not to be publicized, and not to be head-headed. "Not seeking hegemony" was a national policy determined by Mao Zedong during his lifetime. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some countries hoped that China could become the head of the Third World, but Deng Xiaoping resolutely said: China should not be the head of this, so on the basis of "not seeking hegemony," it has put forward the fundamental national policy of "not being the head of the wrong head." Deng Xiaoping once said: "There are some countries in the third world that want China to take the lead. But we must not take the lead, this is a fundamental national policy. We can't afford this head, and we don't have enough strength on our own. There is absolutely no benefit to being there, and many initiatives are lost. China will always be on the side of the third world, and China will never seek hegemony. Nor will China ever be a head starter. "China does not casually accuse others, does not talk about excessive words, and does not do excessive things." China is a big country and a developing country, so we must talk less and do more, and conscientiously get China's own economy up. On September 16, 1989, when Meeting with Professor Li Zhengdao, a Chinese-American scholar, Deng Xiaoping said: "We can't manage the affairs of other countries, and we have to take care of China's affairs." China cannot do without socialism, and it cannot do without adhering to socialism. At the same time, China must "continue to deal with the Soviet Union and establish good relations; continue to deal with the United States and improve relations; and continue to deal with Japan and European countries and improve relations." This policy has not been shaken for a single day. ”
China wants to "taoguang and cultivate obscurity", but it still needs to "make a difference" on international issues. When Deng Xiaoping met with the Japanese delegation to China in 1985, he said, "People in the world are talking about the great triangle of the international situation. Frankly, our corner of power is very thin. "Despite its thinness, China is also a force to be reckoned with in the world. China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, one of the nuclear powers, and has strong comprehensive national strength. As Deng Xiaoping pointed out in 1990, the world political pattern is changing, and in the future, whether it is the three poles, the four poles, or the five poles, China will always be the first pole. "Inaction on international issues is impossible, or something is to be done." It is necessary to actively promote the establishment of a new international political and economic order. None of us are afraid, but no one should be guilty, act in accordance with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and grasp the principled standpoint. ”
In accordance with Deng Xiaoping's policy, successive leading collectives of the CPC Central Committee in China have calmly observed the international situation, kept a sober mind in the midst of the complex and ever-changing international situation, and created a good international environment for China's peaceful development. China's international influence is also getting stronger.
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