Humor 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! |
Credit: Author unknown.