Halperin Calls on Johnson to Deny U.S. Would Bomb or Invade China

Morton H. Halperin, assistant professor of Government, called on the Johnson administration yesterday to declare that it is not looking for a chance to bomb or invade China.

In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Halperin said that "the Chinese appear to believe they may be forced to intervene to protect the political integrity of North Vietnam, and that this would lead to an attack on China."

Halperin -- whose book China and the Bomb was published last year -- said "there is no reason to believe that the Chinese want a nuclear war or are not as determined as any political leadership to avoid a nuclear attack if possible."

He recommended that the U.S. recognize China and announce its support for a Communist Chinese seat in the U.N. General Assembly.

At the same time, he warned that China is counting on a long war in Vietnam and sees nothing to be gained from a negotiated settlement. "In Peking no less than in Washington, the desire to avoid another Munich is a major preoccupation of political leaders," Halperin said.

China's Plan

He described the Chinese plan for victory in Vietnam as one of "survival until the American invaders tire of the war and withdraw from the country."

Aside from his proposals to stabilize U.S.-China relations, Halperin had no major disagreements with administration policy.

"It is important," he said, "for the United States to remain in Vietnam and to prevent a military victory by the Viet Cong employing what the Chinese believe to be their model of revolutionary violence."

He also suggested that American intervention has discouraged Peking expansionists, and that China -- when she discovers the "people's war" idea foundering -- will begin to "turn in and focus he efforts even more than in the past on the domestic concerns of the Chinese revolution."

While China would like to control its neighbors, Halperin said. "It has only a very limited capability to do so."