In June 1984, Zhang Aiping and the Chinese military delegation were invited to visit the United States. Among them, the United States received the Chinese delegation with the highest military etiquette, and also emotionally said at the press conference: "41 years ago, Minister Zhang wrote a precious chapter for the friendship between China and the United States, and now his visit is to continue to write a new chapter for the friendship between China and the United States..."
But what everyone did not expect was that soon after, a news of Zhang Aiping's "big trouble with the US State Department" spread throughout the streets and alleys of the United States, and even back to China, and aroused world public opinion.
After Zhang Aiping returned to China, the first thing she did was to take the initiative to write a resignation letter to Deng Xiaoping, asking for her removal, in which Zhang Aiping said, "Since this is the case, then I, the defense minister, should be removed!" ”
What's going on here? Why did the diplomatic relations between China and the United States, which had a warm pulse earlier, suddenly reverse, and the US media even hyped up Zhang Aiping's "big fuss about the US State Department"? And why did Zhang Aiping take the initiative to resign after returning to China?
In the 1980s, New China entered a new chapter, and although china-U.S. relations have eased since Nixon's visit to China, trade between the two countries has steadily increased, and the results gained in the military field have been very small.
It is precisely because of this that with the end of the period of cold and antagonistic relations with China when Reagan came to power, the relationship between China and the United States was able to "warm up" again.
In 1983, in order to strengthen the military cooperation between the two countries, promote the development of Sino-US diplomatic relations, and make a front stop for Reagan's visit to China. US Secretary of Defense Weinberg took elite figures from all walks of life in the United States at that time to visit China.
For Weinberg's visit, the US government has great expectations for this, and it is precisely because of this that before the trip, Weinberg read many materials related to China, such as the relevant matters of Nixon's earlier visit to China, and carefully analyzed the contradictions between China and the United States today.
In addition, in order to understand China more intuitively, Weinberg also paid a special visit to Bai Xiude, who had close friendship with China as early as the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and asked for advice on visiting China.
At this point, with a lot of preparations, on September 25, Weinberg arrived at the Beijing airport with an elite delegation of americans, and Zhang Aiping, as the host of the reciprocal counterpart, presided over a grand ceremony in front of the Great Hall of the People to welcome the arrival of Weinberg and his party.
However, Weinberg was once called "Eagle" by foreign media because of his tough wrist, and Zhang Aiping, who dealt with him, was also known for his "angular and angular" temper, and even the foreign media gave Zhang Aiping the nickname of "axe", so when the "eagle" met the diplomacy of "axe", it was doomed not to be particularly smooth.
At the beginning, although Weinberg made a lot of information, he still did not put the United States and our country in an equal position, so when the two sides held talks, some of the words of Weinberg and others still caused displeasure on our side.
Therefore, at the second meeting between the two sides, Zhang Aiping said bluntly: "Do you think that one day when the United States goes to war in Asia, what role will China play in this?" ”
Zhang Aiping's blunt words suddenly asked Weinberg's heart, although he did not put China in the strategic position he should be in in his attitude, but The importance of China to the United States is self-evident, so for Zhang Aiping's question, Weinberg also had to admit that "China is in a pivotal position." ”
It is this change in attitude that has also made the follow-up talks between the two sides much smoother. Then, accompanied by Zhang Aiping, the group also visited the Qin Terracotta Warriors, and Weinberg was very curious about these cultural relics from thousands of years ago, and after learning about this history.
During the meal, Weinberg also raised his glass and said to the crowd in a pun, "The Chinese People's Liberation Army is like the Great Wall built by Qin Shi Huang, and I hope that the modern People's Liberation Army, like this Great Wall, can defend China against the dangers of the north." ”
Although Weinberg's friendly visit did not allow the two countries to reach a substantive agreement on this, it further brought the friendship between the two countries closer, and thus set the agenda for Zhang Aiping's upcoming visit to the United States.
On June 9, 1984, at the invitation of the United States, Secretary of Defense Zhang Aiping, as the head of the regiment, and Zhang Zhen, deputy chief of the general staff, visited the United States with a senior Chinese military delegation.
As soon as the Plane of the Chinese delegation landed, Weinberg and other American generals who had been waiting at the airport earlier also greeted the arrival of the Chinese delegation with the highest military courtesy.
The next day, the Chinese and US defense ministers held their first talks, and the talks were full of excitement, which made the two sides unfinished. Weinberg raised his hand to look at the time, then said, "The meeting is over for the time being, and it will continue in the afternoon." ”
However, when they first walked out of the conference hall, several well-dressed and waiting old people walked over with excitement. After seeing Zhang Aiping, they were even more tearful.
In the confusion of the crowd, Weinberg explained to Zhang Aiping, "Minister Zhang, do you see if they are all particularly familiar?" ”
At this time, the leading old man immediately walked up to Zhang Aiping, saluted Zhang Aiping, and then excitedly shook Zhang Aiping's hand, "General Zhang, do you remember me, we met once in 1944." ”
At this time, the memories surged in Zhang Aiping's mind, during the anti-Japanese period, when he was still in the New Fourth Army, he did save 5 American pilots, and the excited old man in front of him looked a lot like the flight captain of that year, Zhang Aiping said with some uncertainty, "Are you Savoy?" ”
Seeing that Zhang Aiping recognized himself, Savoei was happy and broke down, and quickly replied, "Yes!" You remember me! I am the Savoy you saved. ”
Savoie then introduced Lutz and Brunditch and their families to Zhang Aiping, who had been rescued together, but after learning that the other two had died early, Zhang Aiping was very sorry.
After a brief warm encounter, Weinberg said, "Let's go, please join a small event they organized." ”
As Weinberg and the others walked into another hall, the reporters who had prepared themselves early, the click of the camera was incessant at the moment they had just walked in.
Subsequently, savoyed, witnessed by everyone, recounted with nostalgia the days when he was rescued and the situation of living with the New Fourth Army in the base area.
In the afternoon of the same day, American television stations rushed to report on this warm time, in which they also published on the front page the photos taken by the New Fourth Army for the five pilots that year, saying that General Zhang Aiping was a "friend" of the American people, and the Chinese military delegation was warmly welcomed by the American people at the beginning of its visit to the United States.
But at that time, there were still many differences between the United States and China, so although there were such touching moments first, it was still inevitable that unexpected situations would arise.
On the morning of June 12, when Zhang Aiping met with President Reagan, an accident occurred. At this time, China and the United States are preparing and discussing relevant matters related to nuclear energy cooperation.
Among them, U.S. officials suddenly jumped out, claiming to have seen Chinese in Pakistan's uranium enrichment plant. Enriched uranium is the raw material used to develop nuclear weapons, and it is clear what the US side intends to say.
Earlier, the United States had repeatedly sought fault with this matter, and our country also clearly laid out the facts and made a solemn statement for example. However, the United States still poured dirty water on our country regardless of its disregard, and now it continues to pester during General Zhang Aiping's visit.
In this regard, Zhang Aiping said: "Since you said that you saw Chinese in the uranium enrichment processing plant, why don't you directly arrest the people you said and ask about it, so as to grasp the actual situation." ”
Zhang Aiping's words made all the people present dumbfounded.
However, the United States did not give up on this, in the afternoon conversation. At the behest of U.S. Secretary of State Schultz, the US Deputy Secretary of State, in his discussions with Zhang Aiping, once again turned the topic to the issue of "China helping Pakistan build nuclear weapons."
Among them, the domineering US Deputy Secretary of State Dammy said that "the US side has found that China has helped Pakistan to manufacture enriched uranium, and hopes that China can make a clear statement on this matter." ”
Zhang Aiping was very angry at the attitude of the Americans, and the United States repeatedly made gibberish and demanded that China give assurances, but ignored the ironclad facts listed by China, and now it is really unbelievable that people are acting like this.
But then Dam's words made everyone unbelievable, only to see him open a folder, and then handed it to Zhang Aiping and asked him to sign.
Regarding this document, Zhang Aiping said: "Our country sent me here, but did not grant me the right to talk about this issue, and I have no right to sign this document. ”
Then Dam "kindly" said, "Minister Zhang is in an important position, and you have the right to sign this document." ”
Subsequently, Dam even threatened with the interests of countries: "I dare to assure you, if you do not sign this document, if this issue is not resolved by your country, then the previous cooperation between China and the United States will definitely be affected, and I don't know if Minister Zhang can afford this responsibility."
Dam's words instantly made Zhang Aiping angry, just as the so-called desire to add to the crime is beyond words, this act of the United States is in a vain attempt to "pressure" China for its own interests, so as to achieve its own goals. But Zhang Aiping, who has never backed down in the national interests, stood up violently and said, "Our side originally came to visit out of a friendly attitude, but we did not expect to encounter such a thing. ”
Subsequently, Zhang Aiping threw the document in front of Dam with a serious face, "Please tell Schultz, and after the friendly talks with him, such a thing actually happened, which is really unpleasant, I will say goodbye first." ”
Suddenly, the atmosphere on the field instantly cooled down, everyone looked at each other, and Dam's face was even more ugly.
However, the Americans who did not curry favor with Zhang Aiping in the hands refused to stop there, and soon Zhang Aiping's refusal to sign was spread by the Americans. This time, these US media have exaggerated their headlines with ulterior motives, declaring that "Zhang Aiping made a big fuss about the US State Department", and then trumpeted it in the major media in the world, and for a time international public opinion boiled over.
But in fact, Zhang Aiping and others' trip to the United States was relatively smooth, and on June 12, Reagan and Zhang Aiping signed a presidential document that "declared That China meets the conditions for buying American weapons", allowing China to "clear the way" in purchasing weapons.
Subsequently, Weinberg and Zhang Aiping reached a "principle agreement" on "important issues concerning the strengthening of the national defense capabilities of the two countries" during the talks, and signed the "Military Technology Cooperation Agreement between the two countries", which opened the door for China to introduce military technology.
However, at the same time, a whistleblower letter was submitted from the United States to Deng Xiaoping, followed by the information about the exaggerated propaganda of the United States that "Zhang Aiping made a big fuss about the US State Department" followed.
After returning to China, Zhang Aiping, who learned of this matter, immediately wrote a resignation letter and submitted it to Deng Xiaoping. However, as a meritorious minister of our country, under the leadership of Zhang Aiping in recent years, China first successfully launched intercontinental missiles into the South Pacific, then completed the submarine-launched submersible rocket launched from underwater, and finally successfully led the staff to launch geostationary communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
And in the treatment of other countries can so safeguard the interests of our country, not humble and unashamed counterattack, for such a meritorious minister, where can he be chilled?
Not to mention Zhang Aiping's ability and temperament, Deng Xiaoping was very well understood, so after understanding the origin of the matter, Deng Xiaoping specially called Zhang Aiping to his office to enlighten him and praise him for his act of safeguarding state rights.
So far, Zhang Aiping has continued to contribute to the country in the following years. It was not until 1987 that the 77-year-old Zhang Aiping officially retreated to the second line with the consent of the central government.