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- Kissinger:
- Mr. Rumsfeld was a Congressmen, he can explain that. I can't.
- Teng:
- How you explain the matter is your business, but our explanation is that U. S. law doesn't govern China.
- Kissinger:
- But there are some Congressmen who think that China is a suburb of Chicago.
- Teng:
- I think that you have touched precisely on the essence of the matter. Perhaps the negotiator on your side reflects that mentality.
- Rumsfeld:
- I could explain it but it would take a great deal of Mao Tai.
- Teng:
- It is not important anyway.
- Kissinger:
- I understand your problem. I owe you an answer and I will try to find a solution. I will talk to the lawyers, for me I could not care. But about the issue here, for me, this is primarily a political and symbolic matter. So I don't want an acrimonious negotiation. I will see whether we can find a formulation we can submit to you.
- Teng:
- This is an issue of which one hundred years lack of a solution will not be of great consequence.
- Kissinger:
- We will certainly accept the principle that American law does not apply to China.
- Teng:
- I think this is a point that must be confirmed.
- Kissinger:
- That is the easiest problem we have between us.
