(August 16, 1958)
Large countries and small countries should treat each other as equals. There is a view that large countries are not to be trifled with, while small countries can be bullied at will. Such a notion is utterly groundless. As for large and small countries, a large country is often formed by the union of many smaller states. In ancient China, there were roughly ten thousand small states; later the number decreased to eight hundred, then to seven, before finally being unified into one large state. Even today, China consists of numerous provinces. Between a deer and a tiger, which is stronger? In my view, the tiger is not necessarily superior to the deer. In 1900, the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing; among those nations were also some smaller ones, yet they still dared to bully a major power like China.
Japan, too, is a small country, and it has also launched aggressions against us. This was because Japan had already become an industrialized nation, whereas we remained an agricultural country with a deeply corrupt government.
The size of a country is merely a matter of form. Our two countries are entirely equal, standing in the relationship of friendly partners. We hope to see your country prosper; I believe this is entirely feasible.
[l]
This is part of a conversation between Mao Zedong and His Royal Highness Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.