134. Editorial Note
A statement issued on January 21, by the Department of State outlined the course of the Ambassadorial discussions on renunciation of force; the texts of the Chinese and United States proposals and counterproposals were attached. A portion of the statement, headed “The United States Position”, reads as follows:
“Two points must be made clear. First, the United States is not occupying Taiwan and Taiwan has never been a part of Communist China. The claims of Communist China and the contentions of the United States with respect to this area are well known and constitute a major dispute between them. It is specifically with respect to this dispute that the United States has proposed the principle of renunciation of force and the settlement of differences by peaceful means. This is the principle which the Communists say they have accepted.
“In this connection the United States has made completely clear that in renouncing the use of force neither side is relinquishing its objectives and policies but only the use of force to attain them.
“Secondly, the United States has rights and responsibilities in the Taiwan area; also it has a mutual defense treaty. Accordingly it is present in the Taiwan area. The Communist refusal to state that the renunciation of force is without prejudice to the right of self-defense against armed attack can only be interpreted as an attempt to induce the United States to agree that if attacked it will forgo the right to defend its lawful presence in this area.
“The right of individual and collective self-defense against armed attack is inherent; it is recognized in international law; it is specifically affirmed in the charter of the United Nations. No country can be expected to forgo this right. Indeed, the Communists should be as anxious to preserve this right as is the United States.”
The complete text of the statement is in Department of State Bulletin, January 30, 1956, pages 164–167.