Zhou Enlai:
When Khrushchev stepped down and the new leadership of the Soviet
Party took power [in mid-October 1964], we thought that their
policy would change somewhat in any case. This was why we proposed
that we all should go to Moscow to celebrate, while at the same
time observing the situation there. But the result made us greatly
disappointed. As far as the new Soviet leadership is concerned,
we believed that it was not sufficient to observe it just once,
and we should observe for some more time. Now it is clear. The
new Soviet Party leadership is carrying out nothing but Khrushchevism.
It is absolutely impossible for them to change.
...
Kosygin suggested that the socialist countries should have a joint
statement in support of Vietnam. (2) I told him
that each country had its own position and judgment, so it would
also be good if each country had its own statement. However, during
their visit to Vietnam they [the Soviets] could have a joint statement
[with Vietnam].
....
So in our course of revolution, and in our struggle against the
US, the matters of top secrecy should not be disclosed to them.
Of course, we can mention the principles which we also want to
publicize. We oppose [the Soviet] military activities that include
the sending of missile battalions and 2 MiG-21 aircraft as well
as the proposal to establish an airlift using 45 planes for weapon
transportation. We also have to be wary of the military instructors.
Soviet experts have withdrawn, so what are their purposes [when
they] wish to come back? We have had experience in the past when
there were subversive activities in China, Korea, and Cuba. We,
therefore, should keep an eye on their activities, namely their
transportation of weapons and military training. Otherwise, the
relations between our two countries may turn from good to bad,
thus affecting cooperation between our two countries.
Notes:
1.
Attending on the Chinese side were Zhou Enlai, Peng Zhen (member
of the CCP Politburo and Mayor of Beijing), Yang Chengwu (Deputy
chief of staff of the PLA; acting chief of staff until purged
in March 1968), Wu Lengxi (director of the Xinhua News Agency
and editor-in-chief of Renmin ribao [People's Daily]); on the
Vietnamese side: Ho Chi Minh, Le Duan, Pham Van Dong, Vo Nguyen
Giap, and Pham Hung. (For Giap and Pham Hung, see footnotes 147
and 200.)
2.
On 4-11 February 1965, Soviet Prime Minister Aleksei Kosygin visited
Beijing and Hanoi and held a series of talks with Chinese and
Vietnamese leaders, including five meetings with Zhou Enlai and
one meeting with Mao Zedong.