China’s Mao Offered to Send 10 Million Women to U.S. in 1973

Last week, the U.S. State Department released the a 268-page document titled “Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976, Volume XVIII, China, 1973-1976” which covered Henry Kissinger’s (Richard Nixon’s national security adviser) meeting with Mao Zedong on Feb. 17, 1973 in Beijing. The news coverage upon the release of the document reported that “China’s Mao Offered to Send 10 Million Women to U.S. in 1973”

“…China’s former leader Mao Zedong proposed to give 10 million Chinese women to the U.S. to boost the U.S. population, increase trade and cause “disasters,” according to a document released by the U.S. Department of State…“The trade between our two countries at present is very pitiful,” Mao said. “You know China is a very poor country. We don’t have much. What we have in excess is women.” Kissinger responded jokingly by saying there were no quotas or tariffs for women. “So if you want them we can give a few of those to you, some tens of thousands,” Mao replied. Later in the conversation, he offered 10 million. “In our country we have too many women, and they have a way of doing things,” Mao said. “They give birth to children and our children are too many. Let them go to your place. They will create disasters. That way you can lessen our burdens.””

Later in the conversation, Mao apologized for his comments on Chinese women. Ironically, starting in the 90s, many Americans looking to adopt babies went to China. According to many news reports, up to 55,000 Chinese babies have been adopted by Americans, with over 95% of the babies being girls.