Mr Longmire
Research Dept (G64/5)
wp.
CONFIDENTIAL
"Ent
HKK 021/1
NO
2515% fão 15lu
HEADS OF MISSION CONFERENCE: BANGKOK, DECEMBER 1982
1.
We are very largely content with the draft paper on Sino- Soviet competition for influence in SE Asia attached to your minute of 9 November, and I offer you only a few suggestions on points of detail, as follows:
Para 5:
The term 'sphere of influence''seems rather an ambiguous and possibly a misleading way of describing Chinese views of their role in the region. It might be better to replace the first sentence with something like 'The Chinese are sensitive about political developments in SE Asia.' On the third sentence, although the Chinese certainly believe that Soviet policy exploits all opportunities to increase its pressure on China (and the West), we are far from certain that the Chinese have an obsession about the danger of their being 'encircled'.
Para 8:
The last sentence might be amended to read 'By contrast, the Chinese naval presence in SE Asian waters is very limited both numerically and geographically with a small number of vessels being deployed around the Paracel Islands (...).
Para 9:
1
Line 4 after 'nor' insert (in consequence)'.
Line 13 substitute 'a' for 'of great'.
Para 11:
At end of first sentence add 'but has changed in form.' Amend second sentence to read 'The Chinese are now more concerned with the reality of Soviet 'hegemony' than with the details of their revolutionary theory, which they formerly denounced as 'revisionist'. In line 14 delete 'greatly'.
CONFIDENTIAL
/Para 14
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