Epilogue: The Fourth Communique

By Benjamin Adams       @BenAdamsEsq       December 14, 2016

A telephone phone rings, precisely as scheduled and subsequently confirmed multiple times across multiple platforms. A U.S. diplomat answers. On the other end is his Chinese counterpart. After a complex exchange of slowly translated pleasantries, the business is at hand.

Chinese Diplomat:  We would like to schedule a time for a congratulatory  phone call from our President to yours and the simultaneous reading of the Three Communiques.

U.S. Diplomat:  We are amendable to that. We have some language regarding South Seas that we would like read at the same time.

Chinese Diplomat:  (Long Pause) This is not what our normal diplomatic relations call for.

U.S. Diplomat: We understand that. This is a pressing matter to the new United States government. As you well know, we hold democratic elections in the United States, such that government policies may change as the opinions of our citizens change. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Chinese Diplomat: We are (pause) troubled (pause) by the call between your President and the President of Taiwan. Does your government no longer respect the territorial sovereignty of China?

U.S. Diplomat: A call between our President and another party is of no concern to your government. The United States wants friendly relations with China and respects the Chinese people.  The United States will explicitly guarantee Chinese sovereignty provided China explicitly rejects territorial expansion. We need language specifically acknowledging man-made Islands as illegitimate. Therefore, we think it makes sense for the United States President to read the Three Joint Communiques after the Chinese President reads language the language we are proposing. We would ask that this become The Fourth Communique.

Chinese Diplomat: This will not be acceptable to my government. This is not the standard protocol.

U.S. Diplomat: Please also understand that in the future, any statement regarding territorial sovereignty of China will need to contain language related to Tibet.  

Chinese Diplomat: This will never be acceptable to my government.

U.S. Diplomat: We understand and respect your position. You can contact me when you are willing to discuss the additional language

Chinese Diplomat: We have every legal right to claim sovereignty over Taiwan.

U.S. Diplomat: Frankly, your problem has nothing to do with Taiwan. Human beings do not want to live in a totalitarian, one-party state where people go to jail for having more than one child or for criticizing the government. As you may know, human beings want to live in freedom. They want freedom to speak, to worship, to associate, to express, and to dissent when they see fit. To the extent that the government of China works against these values, it will never feel befriended by our government, nor will it be befriended in fact. That will be our position while we continue to embrace the Chinese people and support their aspirations for freedom. This government will not waver from that position.

Chinese Diplomat: Please send over the proposed language so that I can discuss it with my government.

U.S. Diplomat: Most certainly. We are looking forward the renewed relations between our governments.

Chinese Diplomat: We are as well.