CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES

Report of Senator Henry M. Jackson

CHINA-AMERICAN RELATIONS

The leaders of the People's Republic of China continue determined to turn their great nation into a modern industrial state by the year 2000. They are making some readjustment of priorities, targets, and timing in their modernization drive. They remain committed, however, to the achievement of the late Premier Chou En-lai's "four modernizations" of agriculture, industry, science and technology, and national defense. The present leadership is also resolved to do what is in its power to insure the security and territorial integrity of China so that the modernization of the nation can proceed without interruption. In fact, the Chinese are playing a significant strategic role in world affairs, including the struggle to deter Soviet expansionism in key areas of tension.

In our discussions of foreign policy the Chinese continued to emphasize the importance of considering problems in their strategic world context. There was an explicit recognition of shared and parallel interests with other nations, notably with Japan, the NATO nations and the United States.

For our part, we have a significant stake in the continued existence of a strong, independent China. We share with China a common interest in key strategic issues, and in many areas our interests run parallel. It was this motivation that led us to normalize our relations with China, and it is the bedrock upon which the relationship between our two countries rests.

During this visit I noted far less emphasis on ideology than on earlier visits. We saw new signs of openness and freer expressions of view on the part of the Chinese people-including a start on the easing of restraints in the religious area, and the granting of limited freedom to voice dissent to one or another aspect of policy.

During the past 2 years China has turned outward to the West in an effort to accelerate its development drive. We should not underestimate the domestic risks which the present Chinese leadership incurs in pursuing this new course and in departing from many aspects of the former ideological line. It is in our country's own interest to encourage and contribute to the success of this new policy.

The current leaders of China have given us an unprecedented opportunity to show that cooperation with the Western world and involvement with the international community will benefit China far more than a policy of noncooperation and looking inward.

It is imperative that the United States not miss this opportunity by creating self-defeating linkages between our efforts to assist China and our global strategic posture vis-a-vis the Soviet Union. China has a right to become a modern industrial state. Efforts to aid China along that road and work with her where our strategic and bilateral concerns run parallel are in American as well as Chinese interests.

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