U.S.-China Relations

Long View of History

True story. Henry Kissinger was in China in 1972, laying the groundwork for President Nixon's visit. At a meeting with Chinese prime minister Chou En-Lai, Mr. Mr. Kissinger asked the prime minister if he believed whether the 1789 French Revolution benefited humanity. After mulling over the question for a few minutes, Chou En-Lai replied, "It's too early to tell."

Naval Interactions

This is a radio conversation of a US naval ship with Chinese authorities off the coast of Vietnam in South China Sea in October 1980. Presumably a true story.

Chinese:	Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans:	Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.
Chinese:	Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans:	This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Chinese:	No, I say again, you divert YOUR course.
Americans:	This is the Aircraft Carrier USS MIDWAY, the second largest ship in the United States Pacific Fleet. We are accompanied with three Destroyers, three Cruisers and numerous support vessels. I DEMAND that you change your course 15 degrees north. I say again, that's one-five degrees north, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Chinese:	This is a lighthouse. You are on the course to collide with a Vietnamese fishing boat filled with hundreds refugees!

Aerial Dogfight

In a 2001 heroic dogfight fought over international waters off the mainland China coast, a 60s era American-built Lockheed Electra propeller airliner with 24 US Navy passengers/observers aboard chewed up one of China's best state-of-the-art supersonic fighter aircraft.

The Americans, utilizing the infrequently seen combat tactic of straight and level flight, often accomplished by relying solely on autopilot, engaged the unfortunate single seat combat jet and knocked it out of the air using only one of its four formidable propellers.

After the action, the crew and passengers/observers dropped in on China's Hainan Island Resort, for some much deserved R&R as guests of the Chinese government.

Credit: Author unknown.