31512 }
Countering Soviet Encirclement and Trying
to Preserve Mao’s LegacyZhou’s Diplomatic Skill Becomes a Liability
Zhou Enlai’s handling of the rapprochement with the United States was mas-
terful. Although Zhou ensured that each step of that process was approved
in advance by Mao, Zhou carried out the very difficult and potentially risky
process with considerable aplomb. Zhou was well aware of Mao’s propensity to
see opposition and conspiracy among his close associates, and he was careful
to keep the focus of China’s domestic media on Chairman Mao’s role in the
rapprochement process. Zhou severely rebuked Xinhua News Agency, for ex-
ample, for conveying foreign media reports praising Zhou rather than Mao’s
role in the process of Sino-US rapprochement.^1 Abroad, opinion frequently
focused on Zhou’s diplomatic skill and grace, often placing him at the center
of the rapprochement process. Mao assigned his two young female English
interpreters, Nancy Tang and his grandniece Wang Hairong, to follow for-
eign coverage of Zhou and his diplomacy, and report regularly to him on it.
As laudatory foreign commentary on Zhou presented by the “two Misses”
accumulated, Mao began to feel that Zhou was overshadowing him. Since the
demise of Lin Biao, Zhou was effectively the second-ranking person in the
hierarchy—a position that always roused Mao’s suspicion. Mao had already
purged two of his first lieutenants, Liu Shaoqi and Lin Biao. Zhou was acutely
aware of his vulnerability and did everything he could to reassure Mao of his
absolute loyalty. But Zhou could not control what the foreign media said.
Mao badly needed a boost to his public standing. The falling-out between
Mao and Lin Biao, followed by Lin’s attempted flight to the Soviet Union and
the fantastic explanation of Lin’s relation with Mao released subsequent to
Lin’s demise, left many people in China with doubts about Mao’s sagacity. If
the charges against Lin were true, how was it possible that Mao had permitted
a long-time traitor and schemer so close to the center of power? If the charges