The reasons actually have been given by the Doctor yourself just now.
Secretary Kissinger: The defense treaty can have no international status after the normalization of relations.
Vice Premier Teng: But still it has a substantial meaning.
So it appears that time is not ripe yet to solve this question, because according to your formula, it would not be possible for us to accept this method of normalization. It still looks as if you need Taiwan.
Secretary Kissinger: No, we do not need Taiwan. That is not the issue. I think that it is important to understand. That would be a mistake in understanding the problem.
What we would like to achieve is the disassociation from Taiwan in steps, in the manner we have done until now. There is no doubt that the status of Taiwan has been undermined by the process which we have followed. And this process would be rapidly accelerated by the ideas which we have advanced.
Vice Premier Teng: And the other question is the way method to solve the Taiwan problem. As for solving the Taiwan question, suppose you have broken diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Then the Taiwan question should be left with us Chinese to solve among ourselves.
As to what means we will use to solve the Taiwan question, I believe Chairman Mao Tse-tung made it very clear in his talk.
Secretary Kissinger: Chairman Mao, if I understood him correctly, made two statements: One was that he believed that the question would ultimately have to be solved by force. But he also stated that China could wait for one hundred years to bring this about, if I understood him correctly.
Vice Premier Teng: That was true. He did say that.
Of course, the number of "one hundred years" is a symbolic one.
Secretary Kissinger: Of course, I understood this. I was going to say that in one hundred years I will not be Secretary of State.
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