July 1, 1997 Hong Kong's return to is a great victory after the victory of the revolution and the founding of the country in modern China, and it is also a major event included in the national history of the People's Republic of China.
On the night when Hong Kong returned, everyone cheered and the whole country was jubilant. The people shed tears of joy and remembered the beautiful memories.
However, it is said that there will be a rainbow after a heavy rain. If the return of Hong Kong is as beautiful as a rainbow, then before Hong Kong's return, China was often troubled by Western countries. It was a test like a storm for China at that time.
In late September 1982, the main British leaders visited China one after another, intending to prevent Hong Kong from returning. However, the Chinese people endured such humiliation for 140 years and finally had the capital to resist. How could they be willing to let Hong Kong Island wander for another hundred years?
In 1982, Comrade Xiaoping, facing the aggressiveness of " Iron Lady " Mrs. Thatcher , brought out a killer move. This killer move was made by Chairman Mao when he was alive, which made Thatcher no longer have the power to fight back and could only give up unwillingly.
So, at this moment when the negotiations were deadlocked, what kind of killer weapon did Comrade Xiaoping take out that made Mrs. Thatcher helpless and return in vain? And what did he do during Chairman Mao’s time, and still took care of his descendants?
Before reading this article, please click "Follow" to facilitate discussion and sharing, but also bring you a different sense of participation. Thank you for your support!
Historical Materials: The idea of sending troops to Hong Kong
In April 1982, the then British Prime Minister Edward Heath visited China . His arrival was to call a front post for Mrs. Thatcher, who would visit China in the second half of the year.
Although the party disputes in the UK are quite fierce, and Edward Heath and Thatcher are also political enemies, on the position of the Hong Kong issue, many parties in the UK are consistent.
Therefore, the leaders of the Communist Party of China saw that Edward Heath was not good, but our leaders were not panicked at all. Anyway, they would take back Hong Kong sooner or later. It would be better to take advantage of this wave of negotiations between the two sides to sound the alarm bell for the British side first.
Because we didn’t know the specific attitude of the UK, we had differences at the time on whether it was a literary or a martial arts talk.
However, we are fully prepared for both literary and military discussions.
Edward Heath and Thatcher took a photo
In fact, the idea of martial arts, or the idea of robbing Hong Kong Island by force, has been discussed long ago.
As early as the founding of the People's Liberation Army, several of our People's Liberation Army corps passed by Shenzhen and were all making suggestions to the Party Central Committee: Why not liberate Hong Kong!
This idea actually conforms to the ideas of most senior generals in the People's Liberation Army at that time.
Because the People's Liberation Army was in full swing at that time, the army was so powerful that no matter the officers, soldiers and the people, all the morale was full of energy. Even the 20,000 to 3 million Kuomintang troops were eaten up by us. It was indeed no problem to only station Hong Kong Island, which was stationed at 20,000 British troops.
But this idea was unanimously rejected by the Party Central Committee at that time.
In the telegram in his reply, Chairman Mao clearly stated that he would not deal with the Hong Kong issue for the time being.
layout: Chairman Mao’s far-sightedness
will not attack Hong Kong for the time being. This simple decision is full of Chairman Mao’s far-sightedness and the political wisdom of the leaders of the Party Central Committee at that time.
It’s not that I can’t beat it. With the combat power of the People’s Liberation Army at that time, even if Britain transferred one or two divisions, it would still be useless.
However, even if it is, you cannot hit it.
At first, Hong Kong is still in the so-called "contract lease period", and we do not need to have friction with the UK.
Secondly, most of the production and construction in at that time had been broken. It is better to have less than more things. Resuming production is the most important thing.
Thirdly, there are many large international companies in Hong Kong that represent the interests of many Western countries, which we cannot touch.
What's more, even if Hong Kong is temporarily determined by the UK, it is always next to China's territory and cannot escape. Instead of destroying it and taking it back, and immediately losing the value and status of ", the largest port in the Far East " and "the largest economic city in the Far East", it is better to leave it for the future.
The CCP leaders had a clear idea at that time. We will have our own economic center in the future, but we have to cross the river by feeling the stones. We have to make great efforts and overcome many difficulties.
Instead of destroying Hong Kong, it is better to learn from Hong Kong and build our own economic center.
The foresight of a generation of leaders nowadays, all of which are great wisdom. Not to mention anything else, the construction and development of the four major economic center cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are all just looking at Hong Kong and learning from Hong Kong.
When talking about Chairman Mao’s far-sighted vision, we have to mention one of his measures in 1963.
At that time, there was a serious shortage of freshwater resources in Hong Kong, and the water used by residents on the island was a problem, but the British Governor in Hong Kong could not think of an effective solution to the problem.
So Chairman Mao said to build a water conservancy project for him.
So, the DC water supply project from Dongjiang to Shenzhen supervised by Premier Zhou, solved the problem of water tightness in Hong Kong for decades.
Watching the water conservancy project has been gradually implemented and the water use difficulties of Hong Kong citizens have been greatly alleviated. Chairman Mao breathed a sigh of relief and said to Premier Zhou with a smile, "Leave the rest to young people!"
The rest of what the Chairman said is undoubtedly making a fuss about water use in Hong Kong, but this matter is quite critical. If used well, it can help Hong Kong's return. However, if used poorly, it will not only not form a support, but will instead cause Hong Kong residents to have bad emotions and make the gains more than worth the loss.
The specific control of strength and timing of use requires leaders to have a clear control.
And Chairman Mao expressed his full confidence in his successor, so he pressed this foreshadowing to leave it to future generations.
And his successor was Comrade Xiaoping, who was in his 80s and was in power.
Negotiations: Comrade Xiaoping’s toughness
On September 24, 1982, Thatcher visited China and proposed to Comrade Xiaoping that the UK would continue to rent Hong Kong for 100 years.
In this regard, Comrade Xiaoping emphasized: "The issue of sovereignty is not a question that can be discussed."
In other words, the Qing government a hundred years ago had no room for struggle on sovereignty because its military power was not comparable to that of the great powers. However, today's China is no longer the old China that was a mermaid meat a hundred years ago, but the new China with strong national strength, national unity, and self-protection.
In this regard, Mrs. Thatcher began to use the three major treaties a hundred years ago to accuse China of lacking the spirit of contract.
Comrade Xiaoping's reaction was also very tough. Don't you want to use the three major treaties a hundred and fifty years ago to explain it? OK, then I will discuss this matter with you to see who is right!
The way Comrade Xiaoping "reasons" with the other party is also very simple, it is to clearly tell you that the Qing government was incompetent a hundred years ago. Even if the three major treaties were unequal treaties, they had to admit that it was forced by the situation and had no choice.
However, China is no longer the Qing government at that time. I will tell you clearly that these three treaties are all unequal treaties and China will not recognize them. Besides, since the "contract" of has expired, do you want to renew the contract? No way!
Without the signing of the treaty a hundred years ago, Mrs. Thatcher put it aside that the British government forced the Qing government to sign it at that time, and subjectively ignored the objective fact that the treaty essentially violated the spirit of the "fair and just" contract, and only talked about with Comrade Xiaoping on the matter of "accepting the treaty". This is just a hooligan!
If Comrade Xiaoping discusses this issue with her, it will be unreasonable no matter what.
However, Comrade Xiaoping is an experienced politician. Besides, he has lived and worked with Chairman Mao, the founding great man, for a long time. He has studied "Selected Mao" in depth, and has won the samadhi of Chairman Mao's strategic theory "You hit you and I hit me".
Comrade Xiaoping knew that he could not go around the issue of "contract spirit" with Mrs. Thatcher and could not be led by the topics created by the other party, so he began to "what you hit you and I hit mine". No matter what problem you say, I only look for topics that are beneficial to me.
So, Comrade Xiaoping brought out the Chinese people's hope that Hong Kong will return to this weapon, intending to warn Thatcher that in this matter, China will exert its national strength and would rather break the jade than make a complete fuse.
Comrade Xiaoping even said: "The Chinese are poor, but they are not afraid of death when fighting!"
A light sentence made Mrs. Thatcher really shocked.
As if you hear thunder in silence, British Prime Minister Thatcher suddenly woke up from his fantasy and finally looked at the old man sitting opposite him.
This is Comrade Xiaoping, the highest leader of the Communist Party of China at that time, and the core of the second generation of leaders of the Communist Party of China!
Although Comrade Xiaoping was already an octogenarian when he was reigned, he was once the right-hand man of Marshal Liu Bocheng. He was both military and political. With the experience of reform and opening up, he was able to be said to have outstanding abilities in all aspects.
Further, he is a real warfare man. Although Thatcher is strong, he is just a foreign girl in front of Comrade Xiaoping.
At this point, the British female prime minister "Iron Lady" Thatcher has no choice.
The three major treaties she admired were like waste paper in front of Comrade Xiaoping.
The sovereign card she played was simply untenable.
She came with the might of 天彩 , trying to use the powerful force of the British army as a sword to force Comrade Xiaoping to bow his head, but in the face of Comrade Xiaoping's words "Chinese people are not afraid of death."
After all, the Battle of the Falklands is an unequal war. The defeated side of the war Argentina , at best, is a modern military power and a slaughter of the old military power. This can be seen from the 1:3 ratio of the war loss of the British and Arab war participants after the war and the 1:4 ratio of the war loss of the fighter jets.
Partial diagram of the Horse Island War
The Argentine army is no match for the British army at all, so this 74-day war is not convincing.
On the contrary, it revealed that the fatigue of the British army gradually became apparent. Even an Argentina, which is not strong, would have to take 74 days to force Argentina to surrender and withdraw from the Cavaliers Island. So, what is the confidence of the British to come to our vast China to fight?
What's more, Hong Kong is backed by the mainland. Even if you are lucky enough to capture it and gain a foothold, the question is, can you protect the bottles and jars that many countries have arranged on Hong Kong Island?
The end of the Horse Island War
In addition, our broad rear can raise a million troops at any time, but the British military strength still comes from afar.
After all, in East Asia, China is the local snake, and the UK is just an outsider. Why do you want the local snake to bow its head and be obedient?
Once on the Korean battlefield, China's victory over the strong military country of the United States was not far from the knowledge. In such a weak situation, China still defeated the United States, which has several times its military strength. Isn't it relying on amazing willpower and "the Chinese are not afraid of death"?
Even the United States has lost to China. In comparison, Britain's victory after taking advantage of Argentina in the Battle of the Falklands seems so insignificant and unspeakable.
To put it bluntly, is similar to a hard-line politician like "Iron Lady" Thatcher. Her toughness comes from her judgment and taking advantage of the situation, from her confidence and trump card. However, facing Comrade Xiaoping, Thatcher played all three cards, and her negotiations were over. Then it was Comrade Xiaoping's turn to make efforts.
Fortunately, Comrade Xiaoping is not a competitive person. Facing the bad British Prime Minister Thatcher, he can fight back hard without being humble or arrogant, but Thatcher's momentum has fallen, but Comrade Xiaoping will not pursue and retort.
So, Comrade Xiaoping's attitude returned to gentleness, and should be gentle and drizzled, and should be gentle and still be gentle and speak kindly, giving enough face to the British Prime Minister.
Next, Comrade Xiaoping began to "teach" Thatcher.
He communicated with Mrs. Thatcher from China's reform and opening up, marginal politics, and changes in the status of the United Nations .
In fact, this is a disguised warning that Mrs. Thatcher has changed. China is no longer weak in the past. She advised Mrs. Thatcher to dispel her fantasy and stop making plans for Hong Kong.
Then, Comrade Xiaoping said that Chairman Mao ordered the construction of water conservancy projects for Hong Kong twenty years ago.
The implication is to warn Thatcher that if you want to make trouble, then we have a way to control you.
Thatcher finally changed his color.
Then, Comrade Xiaoping began to comfort Thatcher. Even if Hong Kong returns to China, China still has its own way to stabilize Hong Kong's prosperity. It is still the number one city in the Far East, and China and the United Kingdom are not enemies and can still carry out exchanges and cooperation in the economic field.
is hard and soft, one is hard and one is soft, and the relaxed rhythm is all in Comrade Xiaoping's hands. His negotiation methods are really superb. Mrs. Thatcher's intentions have always been bad, and she returned to when she left, and was completely impressed by Comrade Xiaoping.
When Thatcher left, he was in a state of dismay and fell down
It can be said that in the end, Hong Kong was able to return to the motherland safely, peacefully and without any disturbances. Comrade Xiaoping's performance in this hidden head talk in 1982 will account for one-third of the credit.
Conclusion:
This Sino-British confrontation ended, but the impact was extremely far-reaching, because it laid a solid foundation for the return of Hong Kong and sent a positive signal. Therefore, my country's various preparations for the next period of preparations have an accurate direction for efforts.
