Settlement Of The Question Of Restoration Of Diplomatic Relations Between China Andjapanstill Dependson The Government Of The Liberal Democratic Party

Date: 1972-09-27
Source: en:FLP-Diplomacy
SETTLEMENT OF THE QUESTION OF RESTORATION
OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA
AND JAPAN STILL DEPENDS ON THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY*
(September 27, 1972)
This visit of yours to Beijing makes the whole world tremble with fear,
chiefly the two big powers, the Soviet Union and the U.S. They are rather anxious
about this: God knows what trick you are playing.
The U.S. is a bit better, but still feels uncomfortable, saying that President
Nixon came to China in February without being able to establish diplomatic
relations, but now you have gone ahead. So it is just a little uneasy.
An agreement may not be reached after decades, even 100 years, but can also
be settled within a few days. Both sides have this necessity at present, this being
told me by Nixon himself. He asked me if we had this necessity or not; I
answered affirmatively. I said, "I have a bad reputation because I am now
collaborating with rightists," and further said, "There are two political parties in
your country, the Democratic Party, which is alleged to be relatively enlightened,
and the Republican Party, which is rather rightist. But I hold that the Democratic
Party isn't up to much; I don't appreciate it and am not interested in it." I told
Nixon, "I voted for you when you ran for President. You still don't know."
I also voted for you this time. Just as you said, how could the question of
restoration of diplomatic relations between China and Japan be settled if you
— the mainstay of the Liberal Democratic Party — didn't come?
That's why some people blame us for collaborating solely with rightists. I
maintain that the party not in office is unable to solve any problem. The
settlement of the question of restoration of diplomatic relations between China
and Japan has to depend on the government of the Liberal Democratic Party.
(From the verbatim record)
* These are excerpts from Mao Zedong's talk with Tanaka Kakuei, Prime Minister of
Japan.