Foreign Ministers. and one said to me, "We know you are not telling the truth." I said. "How?" "Because we compared letters. You told each of us the same thing. So we know it is not the truth." [Laughter]
Vice Premier Teng: But in our view, it is not right to underestimate the strength of our Arab people.
Secretary Kissinger: We don't underestimate it. We have one particular problem. If we propose grandiose schemes, we will be enmeshed in an endless domestic debate. We have to move a step at a time. As long as we move a step at a time, a solution is inevitable.
I have great respect for the Arabs. and have many friends there.
Vice Premier Teng: We believe the Arab people may not be able to win the war in a few months, but they are able to fight.
Secretary Kissinger: That is true. That is the change in the situation. No, we believe it is essential for Israel to make peace.
Vice Premier Teng: Our view is whether soldiers can fight or not depends on the principle for which they are fighting, whether they are fighting for the people. Here I will tell you a story. For the Chinese, it was a long-standing concept that the people of Kiangsi Province couldn't fight. But Ching Kang Shan Mountain was situation in Kiangsi Province. And at that time in the Red Army, led by Chairman Mao Tse-tung, it turned out that most of the cadre were people from Kiangsi Province. I believe among our American friends here there are some who are very familiar with Chinese history and know it was a concept for many years that Kiangsi people couldn't fight. And it turned out that when the people in Kiangsi knew what they were fighting for, they turned out to be the best fighters. And in America, people had the impression that people in Indochina couldn't fight. But it turned out that the people in Indochina fixed you up very hard. And the Cambodians -- but they can fight too.
Secretary Kissinger: The only ones who have yet to prove it are the Laotians. [Laughter]
Vice Premier Teng: You have a point in that. What I mean is should never underestimate the strength of the Arabs.
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