中美公报的翻译问题

今天看到这则图文，知道关于中美公报上的翻译问题又被翻出来了。还是关于“acknowledge”和“recognize”是否都能被翻译成“承认”抑或前者只是“认识到”。

如果单从词义而言，笔者所查阅的几个词典里acknowlege 都包含有recognize这一层意思，也就是都有“承认”这个意思；所以就语义而言打笔墨官司没多大意思的；

有意思的其实是另一层，在外交上而言，中美应该都有精通两种语言的人员对双方公报进行审核，为何当时并无人提出异议或者为何当时没有选择更准确、更无歧义的字眼？特别是美方为何无异议？

Joint Communique of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China

Shanghai Communiqué

The U.S. side declared: The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese them-selves. With this prospect in mind, it affirms the ultimate objective of the withdrawal of all U.S. forces and military installations from Taiwan. In the meantime, it will progressively reduce its forces and military installations on Taiwan as the tension in the area diminishes.

中华人民共和国和美利坚合众国联合公报

又名：上海公报 

美国方面声明：美国认识到，在台湾海峡两边的所有中国人都认为只有一个中国，台湾是中国的一部分。美国政府对这一立场不提出异议。它重申它对由中国人自己和平解决台湾问题的关心。考虑到这一前景，它确认从台湾撤出全部美国武装力量和军事设施的最终目标。在此期间，它将随着这个地区紧张局势的缓和逐步减少在台美军设施和武装力量。

笔者认为其实从这一句可以看出些端倪：

“美国认识到，在台湾海峡两边的所有中国人都认为只有一个中国，台湾是中国的一部分。美国政府对这一立场不提出异议。” 

当时的美方或者说尼克松应该根本无意纠结。

当然到了1982年《八一七公报》，里根总统留了一个暗扣，2019年解密的文件显示里根将减少对台军售和大陆和平解决海峡两岸问题并列联系，将后者作为前者的绝对先行条件。

后面附上中美三个联合公报的中英文，并将其中有争议地方标为红色粗体。可以看到，在1972年的上海公报里，acknowlege对应的中文还是“认识到”，但在1979年建交公报和八一七公报里acknowlege就全部对应“承认”了。

新浪上有一篇文章：

外交部翻译室专家施燕华大使：浅谈中美建交公报的翻译

文章里就讲到，中方人员当时为《建交公报》里的“acknowledge”如何翻译是伤了一番脑筋的，最后由时任外交部副部长章文晋拍板决定翻译成“承认”，之后的《八一七公报》自然就沿袭了下来。

新浪网页链接：http://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/20031109/1716511139.shtml

中美三个联合公报（中英全文）

中华人民共和国和美利坚合众国联合公报

又名：上海公报 

应中华人民共和国总理周恩来的邀请，美利坚合众国总统理查德·尼克松自一九七二年二月二十一日至二月二十八日访问了中华人民共和国。陪同总统的有尼克松夫人、美国国务卿威廉·罗杰斯、总统助理亨利·基辛格博士和其他美国官员。

尼克松总统于二月二十一日会见了中国共产党主席毛泽东。两位领导人就中美关系和国际事务认真、坦率地交换了意见。

访问中，尼克松总统和周恩来总理就美利坚合众国和中华人民共和国关系正常化以及双方关心的其他问题进行了广泛、认真和坦率的讨论。此外，国务卿威廉·罗杰斯和外交部长姬鹏飞也以同样精神进行了会谈。

尼克松总统及其一行访问了北京，参观了文化、工业和农业项目，还访问了杭州和上海，在那里继续同中国领导人进行讨论，并参观了类似的项目。

中华人民共和国和美利坚合众国领导人经过这么多年一直没有接触之后，现在有机会坦率地互相介绍彼此对各种问题的观点，对此，双方认为是有益的。他们回顾了经历着重大变化和巨大动荡的国际形势，阐明了各自的立场和态度。

中国方面声明：哪里有压迫，哪里就有反抗。国家要独立，民族要解放，人民要革命，已成为不可抗拒的历史潮流。国家不分大小，应该一律平等，大国不应欺负小国，强国不应欺负弱国。中国决不做超级大国，并且反对任何霸权主义和强权政治。中国方面表示：坚决支持一切被压迫人民和被压迫民族争取自由、解放的斗争；各国人民有权按照自己的意愿，选择本国的社会制度，有权维护本国独立、主权和领土完整，反对外来侵略、干涉、控制和颠覆。一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

中国方面表示：坚决支持越南、老挝、柬埔寨三国人民为实现自己的目标所作的努力，坚决支持越南南方共和临时革命政府的七点建议以及在今年二月对其中两个关键问题的说明和印度支那人民最高级会议联合声明；坚决支持朝鲜民主主义人民共和国政府一九七一年四月十二日提出的朝鲜和平统一的八点方案和取消“联合国韩国统一复兴委员会”的主张；坚决反对日本军国主义的复活和对外扩张，坚决支持日本人民要求建立一个独立、民主、和平和中立的日本的愿望；坚决主张印度和巴基斯坦按照联合国关系印巴问题的决议，立即把自己的军队全部撤回到本国境内以及查谟和克什米尔停火线的各自一方，坚决支持巴基斯坦政府和人民维护独立、主权的斗争以及查谟和克什米尔人民争取自决权的斗争。

美国方面声明：为了亚洲和世界的和平，需要对缓和当前的紧张局势和消除冲突的基本原因作出努力。美国将致力于建立公正而稳定的和平。这种和平是公正的，因为它满足各国人民和各国争取自由和进步的愿望。这种和平是稳定的，因为它消除外来侵略的危险。美国支持全世界各国人民在没有外来压力和干预的情况下取得个人自由和社会进步。美国相信，改善具有不同意识形态的国与国之间的联系，以便减少由于事故、错误估计或误会而引起的对峙的危险，有助于缓和紧张局势的努力。各国应该互相尊重并愿进行和平竞赛，让行动作出最后判断。任何国家都不应自称一贯正确，各国都要准备为了共同的利益重新检查自己的态度。美国强调：应该允许印度支那各国人民在不受外来干涉的情况下决定自己的命运；美国一贯的首要目标是谈判解决；越南共和国和美国在一九七二年一月二十七日提出的八点建议提供了实现这个目标的基础；在谈判得不到解决时，美国预计在符合印度支那每个国家自决这一目标的情况下从这个地区最终撤出所有美国军队。美国将保持其与大韩民国的密切联系和对它的支持；美国将支持大韩民国为谋求在朝鲜半岛缓和紧张局势和增加联系的努力。美国最高度地珍视同日本的友好关系，并将继续发展现存的紧密纽带。按照一九七一年十二月二十一日联合国安全理事会的决议，美国赞成印度和巴基斯坦之间的停火继续下去，并把全部军事力量撤至本国境内以及查谟和克什米尔停火线的各自一方；美国支持南亚各国人民和平地、不受军事威胁地建设自己的未来的权利，而不使这个地区成为大国竞争的目标。

中美两国的社会制度和对外政策有着本质的区别。但是，双方同意，各国不论社会制度如何，都应根据尊重各国主权和领土完整、不侵犯别国、不干涉别国内政、平等互利、和平共处的原则来处理国与国之间的关系。国际争端应在此基础上予以解决，而不诉诸武力和武力威胁。美国和中华人民共和国准备在他们的相互关系中实行这些原则。

考虑到国际关系的上述这些原则，双方声明：

──中美两国关系走向正常化是符合所有国家的利益的；

──双方都希望减少国际军事冲突的危险；

──任何一方都不应该在亚洲－太平洋地区谋求霸权，每一方都反对任何其他国家或国家集团建立这种霸权的努力；

──任何一方都不准备代表任何第三方进行谈判，也不准备同对方达成针对其他国家的协议或谅解。

双方都认为，任何大国与另一大国进行勾结反对其他国家，或者大国在世界上划分利益范围，那都是违背世界各国人民利益的。

双方回顾了中美两国之间长期存在的严重争端。中国方面重申自己的立场：台湾问题是阻碍中美两国关系正常化的关键问题；中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府；台湾是中国的一个省，早已归还祖国；解放台湾是中国内政，别国无权干涉；全部美国武装力量和军事设施必须从台湾撤走。中国政府坚决反对任何旨在制造“一中一台”、“一个中国、两个政府”、“两个中国”、“台湾独立”和鼓吹“台湾地位未定”的活动。

美国方面声明：美国认识到，在台湾海峡两边的所有中国人都认为只有一个中国，台湾是中国的一部分。美国政府对这一立场不提出异议。它重申它对由中国人自己和平解决台湾问题的关心。考虑到这一前景，它确认从台湾撤出全部美国武装力量和军事设施的最终目标。在此期间，它将随着这个地区紧张局势的缓和逐步减少在台美军设施和武装力量。

双方同意，扩大两国人民之间的了解是可取的。为此目的，他们就科学、技术、文化、体育和新闻等方面的具体领域进行了讨论，在这些领域中进行人民之间的联系和交流将会是互相有利的。双方各自承诺对进一步发展这种联系和交流提供便利。

双方把双边贸易看作是另一个可以带来互利的领域，并一致认为平等互利的经济关系是符合两国人民的利益的。他们同意为逐步发展两国间的贸易提供便利。

双方同意，他们将通过不同渠道保持接触，包括不定期地派遣美国高级代表前来北京，就促进两国关系正常化进行具体磋商并继续就共同关心的问题交换意见。

双方希望，这次访问的成果将为两国关系开辟新的前景。双方相信，两国关系正常化不仅符合中美两国人民的利益，而且会对缓和亚洲及世界紧张局势作出贡献。

尼克松总统、尼克松夫人及美方一行对中华人民共和国政府和人民给予他们有礼貌的款待，表示感谢。

Joint Communique of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China (Shanghai Communique)

February 27, 1972

1.President Richard Nixon of the United States of America visited the People's Republic of China at the invitation of Premier Chou En-lai of the People's Republic of China from February 21 to February 28, 1972. Accompanying the President were Mrs. Nixon, US Secretary of State William Rogers, Assistant to the President Dr. Henry Kissinger, and other American officials.

2.President Nixon met with Chairman Mao Tsetung of the Communist Party of China on February 21. The two leaders had a serious and frank exchange of views on Sino-US relations and world affairs.

3.During the visit, extensive, earnest and frank discussions were held between President Nixon and Premier Chou En-lai on the normalization of relations between the United States of America and the People's Republic of China, as well as on other matters of interest to both sides. In addition, Secretary of State William Rogers and Foreign Minister Chi Peng-fei held talks in the same spirit.

4.President Nixon and his party visited Peking and viewed cultural, industrial and agricultural sites, and they also toured Hangchow and Shanghai where, continuing discussions with Chinese leaders, they viewed similar places of interest.

5.The leaders of the People's Republic of China and the United States of America found it beneficial to have this opportunity, after so many years without contact, to present candidly to one another their views on a variety of issues. They reviewed the international situation in which important changes and great upheavals are taking place and expounded their respective positions and attitudes.

6.The Chinese side stated: Wherever there is oppression, there is resistance. Countries want independence, nations want liberation and the people want revolution--this has become the irresistible trend of history. All nations, big or small, should be equal: big nations should not bully the small and strong nations should not bully the weak. China will never be a superpower and it opposes hegemony and power politics of any kind. The Chinese side stated that it firmly supports the struggles of all the oppressed people and nations for freedom and liberation and that the people of all countries have the right to choose their social systems according their own wishes and the right to safeguard the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of their own countries and oppose foreign aggression, interference, control and subversion. All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries. The Chinese side expressed its firm support to the peoples of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia in their efforts for the attainment of their goal and its firm support to the seven-point proposal of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet Nam and the elaboration of February this year on the two key problems in the proposal, and to the Joint Declaration of the Summit Conference of the Indochinese Peoples. It firmly supports the eight-point program for the peaceful unification of Korea put forward by the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on April 12, 1971, and the stand for the abolition of the "UN Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea". It firmly opposes the revival and outward expansion of Japanese militarism and firmly supports the Japanese people's desire to build an independent, democratic, peaceful and neutral Japan. It firmly maintains that India and Pakistan should, in accordance with the United Nations resolutions on the Indo-Pakistan question, immediately withdraw all their forces to their respective territories and to their own sides of the ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir and firmly supports the Pakistan Government and people in their struggle to preserve their independence and sovereignty and the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle for the right of self-determination.

7.The US side stated: Peace in Asia and peace in the world requires efforts both to reduce immediate tensions and to eliminate the basic causes of conflict. The United States will work for a just and secure peace: just, because it fulfills the aspirations of peoples and nations for freedom and progress; secure, because it removes the danger of foreign aggression. The United States supports individual freedom and social progress for all the peoples of the world, free of outside pressure or intervention. The United States believes that the effort to reduce tensions is served by improving communication between countries that have different ideologies so as to lessen the risks of confrontation through accident, miscalculation or misunderstanding. Countries should treat each other with mutual respect and be willing to compete peacefully, letting performance be the ultimate judge. No country should claim infallibility and each country should be prepared to reexamine its own attitudes for the common good. The United States stressed that the peoples of Indochina should be allowed to determine their destiny without outside intervention; its constant primary objective has been a negotiated solution; the eight-point proposal put forward by the Republic of Viet Nam and the United States on January 27, 1972 represents a basis for the attainment of that objective; in the absence of a negotiated settlement the United States envisages the ultimate withdrawal of all US forces from the region consistent with the aim of self-determination for each country of Indochina. The United States will maintain its close ties with and support for the Republic of Korea; the United States will support efforts of the Republic of Korea to seek a relaxation of tension and increased communication in the Korean peninsula. The United States places the highest value on its friendly relations with Japan; it will continue to develop the existing close bonds. Consistent with the United Nations Security Council Resolution of december 21, 1971, the United States favors the continuation of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the withdrawal of all military forces to within their own territories and to their own sides of the ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir; the United States supports the right of the peoples of South Asia to shape their own future in peace, free of military threat, and without having the area become the subject of great power rivalry.

8.There are essential differences between China and the United States in their social systems and foreign policies. However, the two sides agreed that countries, regardless of their social systems, should conduct their relations on the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, non-aggression against other states, non-in-terference in the internal affairs of other states, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. International disputes should be settled on this basis, without resorting to the use or threat of force. The United States and the People's Republic of China are prepared to apply these principles to their mutual relations.

9.With these principles of international relations in mind the two sides stated that:

a)progress toward the normalization of relations between China and the United States is in the interests of all countries

b)both wish to reduce the danger of international military conflict

c))neither should seek hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region and each is opposed to efforts by any other country or group of countries to establish such hegemony

d)neither is prepared to negotiate on behalf of any third party or to enter into agreements or understandings with the other directed at other states.

10.Both sides are of the view that it would be against the interests of the peoples of the world for any major country to collude with another against other countries, or for major countries to divide up the world into spheres of interest.

11.The two sides reviewed the long-standing serious disputes between China and the United States. The Chinese side reaffirmed its position: the Taiwan question is the crucial question obstructing the normalization of relations between China and the United States; the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China; Taiwan is a province of China which has long been returned to the motherland; the liberation of Taiwan is China's internal affair in which no other country has the right to interfere; and all US forces and military installations must be withdrawn from Taiwan. The Chinese Government firmly opposes any activities which aim at the creation of "one China, one Taiwan", "one China, two governments", "two Chinas", an "independent Taiwan" or advocate that "the status of Taiwan remains to be determined".

12.The US side declared: The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves. With this prospect in mind, it affirms the ultimate objective of the withdrawal of all US forces and military installations from Taiwan. In the meantime, it will progressively reduce its forces and military installations on Taiwan as the tension in the area diminishes. The two sides agreed that it is desirable to broaden the understanding between the two peoples. To this end, they discussed specific areas in such fields as science, technology, culture, sports and journalism, in which people-to-people contacts and exchanges would be mutually beneficial. Each side undertakes to facilitate the further development of such contacts and exchanges.

13.Both sides view bilateral trade as another area from which mutual benefit can be derived, and agreed that economic relations based on equality and mutual benefit are in the interest of the peoples of the two countries. They agree to facilitate the progressive development of trade between their two countries.

14.The two sides agreed that they will stay in contact through various channels, including the sending of a senior US representative to Peking from time to time for concrete consultations to further the normalization of relations between the two countries and continue to exchange views on issues of common interest.

15.The two sides expressed the hope that the gains achieved during this visit would open up new prospects for the relations between the two countries. They believe that the normalization of relations between the two countries is not only in the interest of the Chinese and American peoples but also contributes to the relaxation of tension in Asia and the world.

16.President Nixon, Mrs. Nixon and the American party expressed their appreciation for the gracious hospitality shown them by the Government and people of the People's Republic of China.

中华人民共和国和美利坚合众国

关于建立外交关系的联合公报

又名：中美建交公报

中华人民共和国和美利坚合众国商定自一九七九年一月一日起互相承认并建立外交关系。

美利坚合众国承认中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府。在此范围内，美国人民将同台湾人民保持文化、商务和其他非官方关系。

中华人民共和国和美利坚合众国重申上海公报中双方一致同意的各项原则，并再次强调：

──双方都希望减少国际军事冲突的危险。

──任何一方都不应该在亚洲－太平洋地区以及世界上任何地区谋求霸权，每一方都反对任何国家或国家集团建立这种霸权的努力。

──任何一方都不准备代表任何第三方进行谈判，也不准备同对方达成针对其他国家的协议或谅解。

──美利坚合众国政府承认中国的立场，即只有一个中国，台湾是中国的一部分。

──双方认为，中美关系正常化不仅符合中国人民和美国人民的利益，而且有助于亚洲和世界的和平事业。

中华人民共和国和美利坚合众国将于一九七九年三月一日互派大使并建立大使馆。

Joint Communique of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China

(on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations)

(The communique was released on December 15, 1978, in Washington and Beijing.)

1. The United States of America and the People’s Republic of China have agreed to recognize each other and to establish diplomatic relations as of January 1, 1979.
2. The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.
3. The United States of America and the People’s Republic of China reaffirm the principles agreed on by the two sides in the Shanghai Communique and emphasize once again that:
4. Both wish to reduce the danger of international military conflict.
5. Neither should seek hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region or in any other region of the world and each is opposed to efforts by any other country or group of countries to establish such hegemony.
6. Neither is prepared to negotiate on behalf of any third party or to enter into agreements or understandings with the other directed at other states.
7. The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.
8. Both believe that normalization of Sino-American relations is not only in the interest of the Chinese and American peoples but also contributes to the cause of peace in Asia and the world.

The United States of America and the People’s Republic of China will exchange Ambassadors and establish Embassies on March 1, 1979.

中华人民共和国和美利坚合众国联合公报

又名：八一七公报

一、在中华人民共和国政府和美利坚合众国政府发表的一九七九年一月一日建立外交关系的联合公报中，美利坚合众国承认中华人民共和国政府是中国的唯一合法政府，并承认中国的立场，即只有一个中国，台湾是中国的一部分。在此范围内，双方同意，美国人民将同台湾人民继续保持文化、商务和其他非官方关系。在此基础上，中美两国关系实现了正常化。

二、美国向台湾出售武器的问题在两国谈判建交的过程中没有得到解决。双方的立场不一致，中方声明在正常化以后将再次提出这个问题。双方认识到这一问题将会严重妨碍中美关系的发展，因而在赵紫阳总理与罗纳德·里根总统以及黄华副总理兼外长与亚历山大·黑格国务卿于一九八一年十月会见时以及在此以后，双方进一步就此进行了讨论。

三、互相尊重主权和领土完整、互不干涉内政是指导中美关系的根本原则。一九七二年二月二十八的上海公报确认了这些原则。一九七九年一月一日生效的建交公报又重申了这些原则。双方强调声明，这些原则仍是指导双方关系所有方面的原则。

四、中国政府重申，台湾问题是中国的内政。一九七九年一月一日中国发表的告台湾同胞书宣布了争取和平统一祖国的大政方针。一九八一年九月三十日中国提出的九点方针是按照这一大政方针争取和平解决台湾问题的进一步重大努力。

五、美国政府非常重视它与中国的关系，并重申，它无意侵犯中国的主权和领土完整，无意干涉中国的内政，也无意执行“两个中国”或“一中一台”政策。美国政府理解并欣赏一九七九年一月一日中国发表的告台湾同胞书和一九八一年九月三十日中国提出的九点方针中所表明的中国争取和平解决台湾问题的政策。台湾问题上出现的新形势也为解决中美两国在美国售台武器问题上的分歧提供了有利的条件。

六、考虑到双方的上述声明，美国政府声明，它不寻求执行一项长期向台湾出售武器的政策，它向台湾出售的武器在性能和数量上将不超过中美建交后近几年供应的水平，它准备逐步减少它对台湾的武器出售，并经过一段时间导致最后的解决。在作这样的声明时，美国承认中国关于彻底解决这一问题的一贯立场。

七、为了使美国售台武器这个历史遗留的问题，经过一段时间最终得到解决，两国政府将尽一切努力，采取措施，创造条件，以利于彻底解决这个问题。

八、中美关系的发展不仅符合两国人民的利益，而且也有利于世界和平与稳定。双方决心本着平等互利的原则，加强经济、文化、教育、科技和其他方面的联系，为继续发展中美两国政府和人民之间的关系共同作出重大努力。

九、为了使中美关系健康发展和维护世界和平、反对侵略扩张，两国政府重申上海公报和建交公报中双方一致同意的各项原则。双方将就共同关心的双边问题和国际问题保持接触并进行适当的磋商。

U.S.–PRC JOINT COMMUNIQUE, August 17, 1982

1. In the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations on January 1, 1979, issued by the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People's Republic of China, the United States of America recognized the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and it acknowledged the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China. Within that context, the two sides agreed that the people of the United States would continue to maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. On this basis, relations between the United States and China were normalized.

2. The question of United States arms sales to Taiwan was not settled in the course of negotiations between the two countries on establishing diplomatic relations. The two sides held differing positions, and the Chinese side stated that it would raise the issue again following normalization. Recognizing that this issue would seriously hamper the development of United States–China relations, they have held further discussions on it, during and since the meetings between President Ronald Reagan and Premier Zhao Ziyang and between Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Huang Hua in October 1981.

3. Respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference each other's internal affairs constitute the fundamental principles guiding United States–China relations. These principles were confirmed in the Shanghai Communique of February 28, 1972 and reaffirmed in the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations which came into effect on January 1, 1979. Both sides emphatically state that these principles continue to govern all aspects of their relations.

4. The Chinese government reiterates that the question of Taiwan is China's internal affair. The Message to the Compatriots in Taiwan issued by China on January 1, 1979, promulgated a fundamental policy of striving for Peaceful reunification of the Motherland. The Nine-Point Proposal put forward by China on September 30, 1981 represented a Further major effort under this fundamental policy to strive for a peaceful solution to the Taiwan question.

5. The United States Government attaches great importance to its relations with China, and reiterates that it has no intention of infringing on Chinese sovereignty and territorial 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 and appreciates the Chinese policy of striving for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question as indicated in China's Message to Compatriots in Taiwan issued on January 1, 1979 and the Nine-Point Proposal put forward by China on September 30, 1981. The new situation which has emerged with regard to the Taiwan question also provides favorable conditions for the settlement of United States–China differences over the question of United States arms sales to Taiwan.

6. Having in mind the foregoing statements of both sides, the United States Government states that it does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and that it intends to reduce gradually its sales 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 thorough settlement of this issue.

7. In order to bring about, over a period of time, a final settlement of the question of United States arms sales to Taiwan, which is an issue rooted in history, the two governments will make every effort to adopt measures and create conditions conducive to the thorough settlement of this issue.

8. The development of United States–China relations is not only in the interest of the two peoples but also conducive to peace and stability in the world. The two sides are determined, on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, to strengthen their- ties to the economic, cultural, educational, scientific, technological and other fields and make strong. joint efforts for the continued development of relations between the governments and peoples of the United States and China.

9. In order to bring about the healthy development of United States China relations, maintain world peace and oppose aggression and expansion, the two governments reaffirm the principles agreed on by the two sides in the Shanghai Communique and the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. The two sides will maintain contact and hold appropriate consultations on bilateral and international issues of common interest.