Editing 78-09-A2 (section)

= U.S. - China Relations =

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=== Transcript ===
In my last broadcast I talked about what seems to be the White
House' determination to go through with so-called "normalization" with
the Communist Chinese in the next few months.

Now, most Americans (according to many public opinion polls) favor
being friends with the mainland Chinese, but they don't want to do it
at the expense of our longtime allies and friends of the Republic of
China on Taiwan. But the trouble is, we can't have it both ways.
Peking has set three demands as the price for so-called "normalization".
One is that we break diplomatic relations with Taipei to open an embassy
in Peking. Another is that we break our mutual security treaty with
the Republic of China; and the third is that we withdraw our military
advisers from Taiwan.

Ever since Mr. Brzezinski came back from visiting Peking, the
administration seems to be nudging its way toward accepting the
Communists' terms. First, our government announced the closing of two
popular U.S. information libraries on Taiwan, though they had been in
business for many years. Then, the word went out that our government
would not object to our European allies selling Peking armaments even
if these included American technology.

Understandably, our allies on Taiwan are wondering what they have
done to deserve the increasingly cold shoulder they are getting from
Washington.

But, while official Washington is ignoring American public opinion
in favor of moves which may turn out to be both expedient and mistaken,
there isn't much question but what the people of these United States
are strong friends of the Chinese on Taiwan.

Our trade with Taiwan last year -- a not-so-large island with 17
million inhabitants -- was nearly $6 billion, while our trade with
the mainland and its nearly 900 million people amounted to a little
more than $300 million worth.

To underscore the importance it attaches to good trade relations
with us, the Republic of China in June sent over its second trade
mission this year with a $750 million shopping list of American goods
it wants to buy. They'll be sending a third delegation over in
September. The purpose is to help balance the balance of trade.
Meanwhile, friendship is being expressed in other quarters. The
Democratic National Committee, at its meeting in Washington last
month, passed a resolution urging the President and Congress to continue
"maintenance of our historical policy of supporting the independence
and freedom of the Republic of China".

And, in Plains, Georgia a delegation from Kaohsiung, its sister
city on Taiwan, dedicated a Chinese garden to the people of Plains,
as a gift from its citizens. A group of the visitors even called on
the President's mother, "Miss Lillian". 

This is Ronald Reagan.

Thanks for listening.
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=== Details ===
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<TR><TD WIDTH="150">Batch Number</TD><TD WIDTH="150">{{PAGENAME}}</TD></TR>
<TD>Production Date</TD><TD>06/27/[[Radio1978|1978]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Book/Page</TD><TD>[https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/2024-07/40-656-7386263-014-009-2024.pdf#PAGE=36 Online PDF]</TD></TR>
<TD>Audio</TD><TD></TD></TR>
<TD>Youtube?</TD><TD>No</TD></TR>
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===Added Notes===

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