TNAG-1464-FCO40-1991-Visits-by-Chinese-officials-to-the-UK--including-visit-by-Hu-1986 — Page 14

CONFIDENTIAL

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The Foreign

ediate about. The Soviet Union should withdraw.

Secretary referred to the installation of a new hard-line régime in Afghanistan. He wondered whether there was any prospect of a change in the Soviet position. Hu Yaobang said that the Soviet Union appeared more anxious to act on

Afghanistan than on Cambodia. He believed that the families of Soviet troops in Afghanistan were complaining openly.

Relations with the United States

Hu Yaobang said that Chinese relations with the United

States were developing steadily. China was satisfied with

them. The United States did not like it when China treated

them and the Soviet Union on a par, by describing super power rivalry as the main cause of international tension. He had two complaints about the United States. First, China did not agree with United States policies on some international issues. Were they to do so, they would be isolated in the

Third World and among other socialist countries. So on these

issues China was forced to make its position clear, although

it was not their intention to criticise the United States very

often. China hoped for co-ordination among friends. If there was good co-ordination, there would be less criticism.

Secondly, there continued to be problems over Taiwan.

China asked four things of the United States on Taiwan: no

mediation, but no obstruction of a solution; determination to

make new friends, but no desertion of old friends. China

would like the United States to urge Taiwan to agree to

exchanges with China in the fields of postal services, trade, air links and shipping. If the United States could exert some

influence on these issues, no harm would be done to Taiwan and

the United States would earn even more profound friendship

among the people of China.

The Prime Minister said that she was sure that relations

between China and the Soviet Union would continue to improve.

It was important that they should be good. Hu Yaobang said

that China wanted long term friendship with the United States.

CONFIDENTIAL