Fairbank Suggests Formosa Solution

John K. Fairbank '29, Higginson Professor of History, last night reiterated his approval of President Nixon's new China policy and proposed a solution to the Taiwan issue which he believes will eventually go into effect.

At a speech at the Cambridge Forum, Fairbank proposed a three-part solution: (1) the recognition and acceptance of a Chinese realm including Chinese government over Taiwan; (2) the acceptance of a semi-autonomous Taiwan within a sovereign China; and (3) an agreement by Taiwan to give up claims to the mainland.

Fairbank said he felt the Peking government had reached no secret agreements with Nixon. The joint communique coming at the end of the Nixon visit was "remarkable in stating the differences" between the two governments, instead of just mouthing banalities, Fairbank said.

In refuting the Domino Theory of East Asian politics, Fairbank noted that the individual countries involved differ greatly and have different interests. The only country he could see acting as a domino was Thailand where "they have sense enough not be ideological in their international relations."

Commenting on the Malraux formula that China is seeking aid from the U.S., Fairbank said, "I don't know where he got the idea." Further, Fairbank said he felt it would be "patronizing" on the part of the U.S to approach China with eagerness to give aid.