Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China

by Ezra F. Vogel

In these two statements, Kissinger and Ford both indicated that the United States was ready to accept the Japanese formula for normalization that would keep only unofficial American representatives in Taiwan. Deng claimed that, at present, the United States was occupying Taiwan, which was a part of China, and so was blocking Taiwan's unification with the mainland. Further, he said that the U.S. request for China not to use force to absorb Taiwan amounted to interference in the internal affairs of another country. In answer to Vance's assertion that the United States was concerned about the security of Taiwan, Deng told him that “the Chinese people themselves are more concerned about the issue pertaining to their own country than the United States.” China was patient, Deng explained, but America should realize that the Chinese would not put off the resolution of this question indefinitely.6 Deng criticized Vance's proposal for trying to maintain personnel in Taiwan as creating, in effect, a “flagless embassy.”