U.S., China thaw

Press, 26 June 1978, Page 8

U.S., China thaw

JNZPA Washington! The Carter Administration] has made a fundamental policy decision that China shares strategic concerns with both the United States land its allies and that a ’Strong and secure China! ] serves American national] I interest. I Interviews with several] I key officials in recent days] | have disclosed that as part] jof this policy, the United! (States has decided to treat] | sympathetically China’s I, idesire to buy military equip-] Iment in Western Europe and] Ito purchase up-to-date tech-1 inology from the United] ] States, Western Europe, and (Japan. ] These policy decisions 'were conveyed to Chinese] (leaders by Mr Zbigniew] ;Brzezinski. President Jimmy] ’Carter’s National Security’ ’Adviser, during his trip to I Peking last month. Adminis-i ] tration officials have cau-1 I tiously begun making them i (public. Although Mr Carter and his aides insist that no deci-1

(sion is imminent to normalise ties with China by severing political and defence ties with Taiwan and establishing formal diplomatic relations with Peking, the policy now being enunciated in effect provides the rationale for recognition of Peking whenever Mr Carter decides to do so.

] Most of his aides believe that such a move, which is I sure to cause a strong politi|cal debate in the United ’States, will not be taken before next year. Some j officials even believe it may (have to wait a possible second term. What is evident is that ] after relegating the China ] issue to relative inaction for (most of the past year of his Administration, Mr Carter :has authorised more discussion about China, particularly the new ways that ’China is being viewed in official eves.