RESTRICTED
Mn Menis
Mus
Bans Jand
8 January 1993
па
20/1
WAST
NB
(s/i
L Bristow-Smith Esq
FED
Dear Lawrence,
British Embassy
Peking
11 Guang Hua Lu Jian Guo Men Wai
Peking
People's Republic of China
Telephone: 532 1961/2/3/4/5 Cable: Prodrome Peking
Telex: 22191
Facsimile: 532 1939 ext. 239
CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY
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1. I enclose a translation of Qian Qichen's New Year review of Chinese foreign policy, which appeared in the People's Daily of 30 December. It is an upbeat account though its review of the past year opens with the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The People's Daily complemented it with a list of the foreign Heads of State or Government who visited China during the year.
2. The article does not provide conclusive evidence of whether Lee Kuan Yew's conspiracy theories have taken root here. The first part of the article seems confident noting that the age of Cold War alliances is over; that all countries are stressing their economic interests; and that all western countries are optimistic about China's economic development. Later, however, the questions of Taiwan arms sales, human rights, democracy, Tibet and Hong Kong are linked as pretexts which a small number of nations use to put pressure on China so as to interfere in China's internal affairs: not all people welcome China's success and some have false expectations of future developments and want to interfere and create trouble. According to Qian, China wages reasonable, justified and limited struggle against these countries: we have to observe things with sober heads and deal with such proble.ns after considerable thought. I read this as Qian seeking to keep matters in perspective and, without sounding complacent, to cool the hot-heads.
Your ever Nigel.
cc: R A Bunten Esq, HKD, FCO
RF Wye Esq, RAD, FCO
S Bradley Esq, DPA, Hong Kong
N J Cox
HKD 01/2
F
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2 OJAN 1993
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