(March and September 1957)
I would also like to discuss with you certain policy issues concerning our country’s foreign relations.
The situation in Taiwan has changed. The United States now seeks to overthrow Chiang Kai-shek. It is fostering a certain faction, intending to use this group to replace him. At present, we need to assist Chiang Kai-shek in opposing the United States. The question is: Is it better for Taiwan to remain as it is—a semi-occupied territory under U.S. control—or should it become fully occupied by the United States?
The United States, Britain, and other countries are hatching a plot to create “two Chinas.” They want to recognize us on one hand while simultaneously recognizing Taiwan on the other. Our stance is clear: if they recognize us, they cannot at the same time recognize Taiwan. We are not afraid of their non-recognition. The later the United States recognizes us, the better it is for us, as it will allow us to consolidate our internal affairs more effectively. Should they maintain an embassy here, they would engage in various subversive activities within our country. This is our actual policy. On the international front, we are also conducting negotiations with the United States, precisely to adopt an offensive diplomatic posture. These talks have been ongoing for over a year, and the reason they have not yet broken down is that both sides are eager to place the blame for any failure on the other party.[1]
This document consists of two parts: first, an excerpt from a conversation between Mao Zedong and a delegation from the Czechoslovakian government; second, an excerpt from a conversation between Mao Zedong and delegations from the Czechoslovakian National Assembly and the Prague City People’s Committee.

As long as they are willing to continue the dialogue, we will keep talking—with them, even for decades. It appears there is a good chance the process could drag on indefinitely.
With Britain, we have not established formal diplomatic relations but rather maintained semi-official contacts, adopting a policy of alternating closeness and distance.
Regarding participation in international organizations—such as the Olympic Committee or subsidiary bodies of the United Nations—some fraternal countries do not fully understand our position. Driven by good intentions, they consistently urge us to join these organizations. I am unsure whether this includes you, but they tend to view us as too left-wing. Our position is as follows: if representatives of the Kuomintang are present in such organizations, we will not participate; joining would amount to recognizing “two Chinas.” We argue that we can rely on cooperation with the Soviet Union and other people’s democratic states. As a major power, we are also engaged in cooperation with Asian and African nations. Even without these Western countries, we can still develop our economy and culture. The United States has imposed an embargo upon us, and we welcome it. Were it not for the embargo, we would be compelled to engage in trade with the United Kingdom, France, West Germany, and other Western nations. However, due to our relatively backward economic conditions, we currently lack the goods needed to conduct such trade. Of course, our official slogan is to oppose the embargo; when the United States enforces it, we denounce them—this too serves as part of our diplomatic offensive. By the time the embargo is lifted after the Second or Third Five-Year Plan, we will have more products to exchange with them, at which point we can establish formal relations.
(22 March 1957)
Our principles of foreign policy are as follows: First, to strengthen unity with the socialist camp; second, to establish relations with countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and parts of Northern Europe; third, with regard to the major Western powers, we are primarily engaged in struggle at present and are not in a hurry to establish diplomatic ties. Thus, our approach aligns with that of Dulles: they fear that we might stir up trouble and therefore refrain from establishing diplomatic relations with us.
(29 September 1957)