79-01-A3
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Taiwan II[edit]
Transcript[edit]Today I’d like to talk a little more about the normalization of relations with Red China and what it means. I'll be right back. In the President’s announcement December 15th that we were establishing diplomatic relations with the Peoples Republic of China on the mainland, the inference was given that this was somehow a breakthrough.... the result of successful negotiations. This is a little less than accurate. It didn't require any negotiations to do what the administration has done nor was this any victory as the announcement also implied. The legitimate government of China some 3 decades ago was overthrown by a military coup led by Mao Tse tung. That government fled to Taiwan and set itself up as the government in exile of China. Mao set up a communist government in Peking. Both claimed to represent all of China. The United States continued it's recognition and diplomatic relations with the exiled government on Taiwan. In 1972, President Nixon made his historic visit to Peking and opened the door to a relationship with the mainland Chinese. In the discussions and negotiations that followed, trade and cultural relations were established. But the Red Chinese government made 3 demands which would have to be met before there could be full diplomatic recognition. Those demands were, the breaking of our defense treaty with Taiwan, the cancellation of diplomatic relations, and the removal of all American military from Taiwan. For almost 7 years this has been the impasse between the US and Mainland China. Neither President Nixon nor President Ford would accede to these demands. We must remember also that Red China was the supplicant. The rulers in Peking wanted full diplomatic recognition, mainly because of their hostile relations with the Soviets. They had everything to gain by recognition, we gained virtually nothing we didn't already have. The breakthrough the president announce on December 15th, was, as I said earlier, not a breakthrough at all. We simply gave in to Peking's demands. This could have been done anytime in the last 6 or 7 years whenever we were willing to throw a loyal ally overboard. During those years, poll after poll showed that while three-quarters of the American people wanted to better relations with the mainland, three-quarters of them did not want to do this by dumping Taiwan. Now I believe there are things the Congress can do to lessen the damage that has been done and I'll talk about this on the next broadcast. But, one thing cannot be changed; the nations of the world have seen us cold bloodedly betray a friend for political expediency. That memory will not go away. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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