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Joint Communique of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China
August 17, 1982
- In the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations onJanuary 1, 1979, issued by the Government of the United States of America and thePeople's Republic of China, the United States of America recognized the Government ofthe People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China, and it acknowledgedthe Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China. Within thatcontext, the two sides agreed that the people of the United States would continue tomaintain cultura.l., commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. On this basis, relations between the United States and China were normalized.
- The question of United States arms sales to Taiwan was not settled in the courseof negotiations between the two countries on establishing diplomatic relations. The twosides held differing positions, and the Chinese side stated that it would raise the issue againfollowing normalization. Recognizing that this issue would seriously hamper thedevelopment of United States - China relations, they have held further discussions on it,during and since the meetings between President Ronald Reagan and Premier Zhao Ziyangand between Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and Vice Premier and ForeignMinister Huang Hua in October 1981.
- Respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interferencein each other's internal affairs constitute the fundamental principles guiding United StatesChina relations. These principles were confirmed in the Shanghai Communique of February28, 1972 and reaffirmed in the Joint Communique on the Establishment Of DiplomaticRelations which came into effect on January 1, 1979. Both sides emphatically state thatthese principles continue to govern all aspects of their relations.
- The Chinese Government reiterates that the question of Taiwan is China'sinternal affair. The Message to Compatriots in Taiwan issued by China on January 1, 1979promulgated a fundamental policy of striving for peaceful reunification of the motherland. The Nine-Point Proposal put forward by China on September 30, 1981 represented afurther major effort under this fundamental policy to strive for a peaceful solution to theTaiwan question.
- The United States Government attaches great importance to its relations withChina, and reiterates that it has no intention of infringing on Chinese sovereignty andterritorial integrity, or interfering in China's internal affairs, or pursuing a policy of"two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." The United States Government understands andappreciates the Chinese policy of striving for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan questionas indicated in China's Message to Compatriots in Taiwan issued on January 1, 1979 andthe Nine-Point Proposal put forward by China on September 30, 1981. The new situationwhich has emerged with regard to the Taiwan question also provides favorable conditionsfor the settlement of United States - China differences over United States arms sales toTaiwan.
Having in mind the foregoing statements of both sides, the United StatesGovernment states that it does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales toTaiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitativeterms, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomaticrelations between the United States and China, and that it intends gradually to reduce itssale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution. In so stating,the United States acknowledges China's consistent position regarding the thoroughsettlement of this issue. - In order to bring about, over a period of time, a final settlement of thequestion of United States arms sales to Taiwan, which is an issue rooted in history, the twoGovernments will make every effort to adopt measures and create conditions conducive tothe thorough settlement of this issue.
- The development of United States - China relations is not only in theinterests of the two peoples but also conducive to peace and stability in the world. The twosides are determined, on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, to strengthen their tiesin the economic, cultural, educational, scientific, technological and other fields and makestrong, joint efforts for the continued development of relations between the Governmentsand peoples of the United States and China.
- In order to bring about the healthy development of United States - Chinarelations, maintain world peace and oppose aggression and expansion, the twoGovernments reaffirm the principles agreed on by the two sides in the ShanghaiCommunique and the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. The two sides will maintain contact and hold appropriate consultations on bilateral andinternational issues of common interest.
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