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November 8, 1986

The Secret Parts of General Secretary Hu’s Statements

[illegible handwritten text]

 

Secret

Indefinite Period

 

The Secret parts of General Secretary Hu’s statements are as follows.

 

1. Relations between China and the United States: The United States has invited me three or four times to visit the United States next year. I thinks that I would be able to go if there were a new understanding between the two countries but I think that it would be difficult. Furthermore, I have promised to visit countries in Eastern Europe. I cannot do both next year. The reason why is that I am pouring my energy into the 13thNational Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and will not have the time for it. I am thus thinking to make neither visit next year but to consider each again the year after next. I have not yet told the United States but am telling you alone this, Excellency, as a friend with whom it is easy to talk.

 

2. Korean Peninsula:

 

(1) We hope for the North and South to ease relations with one another. It would be good for them to achieve peaceful relations through the promotion of dialogue. Thereafter, it would probably be good to transition to a loose confederal system. We conveyed this to the North, the South, and the United States, but the United States has given no response. The North was very angry. The situation has ended in stalemate. The North’s sense of independence is extremely strong.

 

China knows well that the South hopes for improved relations with China. However, under the present circumstances we can take no new step. If we did, the North would become angry and China would cease to have a say in regard to the North and the other socialist countries. But we are certain that in the future there will come a day for improved relations with both the North and the South.

 

(2) (Prime Minister Nakasone said that the Republic of Korea hopes for an expansion in relations with China. He received word that the Republic of Korea, other than strongly hoping for China’s participation in the Olympics, thinks that such measures as direct trade and the mutual establishment of LT offices would be desirable. If that happened, he would be ready to undertake similar measure between Japan and the North. I am telling you this in strict secrecy. Hu thereupon said:) We know that the South has such hopes for an improvement in relations, which is good. However, it has to be in a form acceptable to the North and the other socialist countries.

 

It is fine if you convey what I have just said to the North and feel out their response.

 

3. China’s domestic affairs:  The foremost issue for next year’s 13th CPC Congress will be the succession of new cadres to posts held by old ones.  (Chinese Foreign Ministry participants in the meeting were emphatic that this point in particular be treated as secret.)

 

4. Japan-China air routes: When the Prime Minister remarked that air routes over the North and the South would save over 40 minutes on flights between Japan and China and that he would thus like to realize something in that regard, Hu answered that there was nothing to be done about it, as the North would not accept it.

 

 

 

General Secretary Hu discusses China's influence in the Korean Peninsula, the upcoming 13th Congress, better relations with Japan, and the Japanese Prime Minister's interest in allowing Chinese-Japanese flights over of the Korean Peninsula.



Document Information

Source

2017-0639, Act on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs, published online by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, January 12, 2017. Translated by Stephen Mercado.

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