Without frank discussion of difficult issues in U.S.-China relations, the room for miscalculation and misunderstanding grows. As part of its commitment to educated decision-making, AFPC completed its Fall1997 exchange with the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU).
Fact-Finding in China
The AFPC delegation to the People’s Republic of China consisted of former Senator Malcolm Wallop, current President of the Frontiers of Freedom Foundation; Amb. Richard McCormack, former Under Secretary of State; Amb. David Smith, former Ambassador to
Geneva arms control negotiations' Beverly Danielson; Kenneith G. deGraffenreid, former Director of Intelligence for the National Security Council; and AFPC President Herman Pirchner, Jr.
The nine days of high-level discussions in October 1997 focused on foreign affairs, trade, human rights, Taiwan, arms sales, Tibet, and religious freedom. The scheduled meetings included Qian Liren, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Dai Bingguo, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China; Major General Pan Zhenqiang of the National Defense University of China; and Tian Jiyun, Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. In addition to Beijing, the delegation visited the cities of Xi’an, Zhengzhou, and Luoyang.