TNAG-0005-FCO40-41-Departmental-briefs-about-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 72

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

D. 32855 Ed (4200)

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Confidential

{

UNITED STATES

12. At the moment, China is contained largely

by the conventional and nuclear power of the

United States, which is very heavily committed

in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand.

While having to avoid a direct confrontation

with the Americans, the Chinese must aim to

eliminate their resence in Asia.

13.To what extent will the Americans wish to

remain committed on the mainland, the islands

or the horizon of Asia? The domestic, political

and economic pressures to reduce the commitment

will probably remain strong in the long run,

however temporarily diminished they may be by

recent Russian action in Czechoslovakia.

14. The key to American action lies in the

kind of settlement they are able to achieve in

Vietnam. If it is one which enables them to

withdraw their forces, will whey take the

opportunity to pull them out of Thailand also,

relying on economic aid from the West and Japan

to strengthen indigenous resistance to Chire se

domination?

15.America's allies can only peculate as to

where she will judge her interests lie and as

to how far whe will feel she can disengage, at

least militarily, from developments in Asia.

The extent of her persent engagement is remarked

where appropriate in the sections that follow.

?

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