TNAG-1156-FCO40-1436-Visits-by-FCO-Ministers-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 171

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often differences between election rhetoric and actions once

in office.

9.

Asked about the current state of Sino-Soviet relations,

Mr Zhang said that these continued to be abnormal because of

Soviet hegemonism. The Chinese people had waged protracted

struggles to win independence, territorial integrity and the

freedom to engage in 'Socialist construction'. But after

liberation the Soviet Union had still wanted to control China

and hence Sino-Soviet relations had deteriorated. Mr Zhang said that he was aware of discussion abroad about the possibility of

the normalisation of China's relations with the USSR. However,

while the Soviets continued to pursue hegemonistic policies there

would be no possibility of improved relations. Soviet policies

had been consistently two-faced: its leaders had on the other

hand loudly advocated détente, peace and dialogue while on the

other redoubling efforts towards military build-up, aggression,

interference in the internal affairs of other countries and

subversion. The Soviet Union continued to adopt these tactics

with China, proposing discussions about confidence-building

measures aimed at reaching a non-aggression treaty while

increasing troops and equipment deployed along the Chinese

border. Mr Atkins asked whether the Soviet Union had themselves

proposed border talks. Mr Zhang replied that Sino-Soviet talks

on state relations had been suspended following the Soviet

invasion of Afghanistan. In these talks it had been decided

some years ago that boundary talks should take place alternately

in Peking and Moscow. These had begun in 1969 and continued for

ten years in Peking. On 25 September 1981 the Soviet Union had

proposed the resumption of boundary talks. In reply the Chinese

Government had repeated its consistently held view that boundary

issues should be solved peacefully through negotiation but that,

since ten years of talks had already been held with no progress,

each side must first make adequate preparations before resuming

negotiations. The timetable for resumption could be discussed

through diplomatic channels.

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/10.

Mr Zhang