302 { China’s Quest
As scholar Yafeng Xia pointed out, these eight points contained several
implicit retreats from earlier Chinese positions. China no longer insisted that
the United States sever ties with Taiwan as a precondition for discussions or
even links (liaison offices) between Beijing and Washington. Comparison of
the final “Taiwan text” of the Shanghai Communiqué with the Politburo’s
eight points indicates several further Chinese concessions. The relevant
Taiwan clause of the final communiqué read:
The US side declared: The United States acknowledges that all Chinese
on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and
that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States government does not
challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement
of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves. With this prospect
in mind, it affirms the ultimate objective of the withdrawal of US forces
and military installations from Taiwan. In the meantime, it will pro-
gressively reduce its forces and military installations on Taiwan as the
tension in the area diminishes.
The United States was willing to withdraw US military forces from Taiwan
and the Taiwan Strait, but contrary to the Politburo’s Point One, was unwill-
ing to set a definite date. Moreover, the clause “With this prospect in mind”
referring to “the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese
themselves” conditioned the withdrawal of US forces on progress toward
“peaceful settlement.” The clause starting the next sentence, “In the mean-
time ... as tension in the area diminishes,” can also be read as conditioning
withdrawal of US forces on reduction of tension in the area. The United States
also “reaffirmed its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question.”
Taken together, these several clauses imply conditionality: if the prospect for
peaceful settlement evaporated, the US affirmation of withdrawal of forces
might also.
The proposition that Taiwan is Chinese territory was the most difficult to
negotiate. In the joint communiqué, China stated in full its claim to sovereignty
over Taiwan. The problem for the US side was that unequivocal acceptance of
China’s claim would, under principles of international law, imply acceptance of
Beijing’s right to use force against Taiwan, rule out any US right to “interfere” in
such an event, and imply acceptance of Beijing’s authority to regulate any and
all US-Taiwan ties. It would also produce a strong negative reaction among the
US public. Fortunately, the two sides found formulations that satisfied China’s
principled demands, but also protected US interests in Taiwan. The final com-
muniqué said the United States “acknowledges that all Chinese on either side
of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part
of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position.”
This was an allusion to the fact that Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist govern-
ment in Taipei insisted that Taiwan and the China mainland were both part