2024/12/27

Taiwan Today

Taiwan Review

From the editorial page

May 01, 1970
United Daily News­ Reluctance to fight

The Lien Ho Pao (United Daily News) said March 25 that the Peiping-Moscow conflict is a Communist strategem to weaken the free world's anti-Communist stand.

The paper said; "The 1960s was characterized by the sharp ideological split between the Russians and the Chinese Communists. The Peiping­-Moscow conflict will continue into the 1970s. However, contrary to the opinion of some, Russia and the Chinese Communists will not engage in hot war and destroy each other.

"The Chinese Communists are pre­paring for war primarily because Mao Tse-tung hopes to suppress the Chinese people with tightened military controls. He wants to arouse the patriot­ism of the people so as to keep his own despotic power. He will try to liquidate dissident elements through war preparedness. Finally, he expects to use the Peiping-Moscow conflict to relax the free world's anti-Communist vigilance.

"The Peiping-Moscow conflict has weakened solidarity of the Communist bloc and tipped the balance of power in the free world's favor. However, the free world has started to waver and is reluctant to fight the Communists on any front. Chinese Com­munist and Russian influence has penetrated deeper into Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. President Nixon's doctrine of negotiation to re­place confrontation is playing into the hands of the Communists."

The Chung Hua Jih Pao (China Daily News) said March 25 that Mao Tse-tung is undertaking further suppression of the mainland people.

The paper said: "The Mao-Lin clique has launched a 'new four puri­fication movement'. It calls for purification of economy, purification of politics, purification of organization and purification of thought. Purifica­tion of the economy is actually the old 'three-antis' movement of anti­ corruption, anti-waste and anti-bureau­cracy. Before the 'cultural revolution', Mao launched a 'revolutionary com­petition' to suppress workers. Now he is directing the 'purification of economy' to suppress farmers.

"Purification of politics, purification of organization and purification of thought are means of carrying out purification of the economy. The aim is to purge anti-revolutionary and capitalist elements among farmers and cadres sympathetic toward dissatisfied farmers.

"Such a campaign can only create more unrest. The Mao-Lin clique will destroy the economy and have to face the huge majority of anti-Maoists and anti-Communists."

Central Daily News­ Counteroffensive urged

The Chung Yang Jih Pao (Central Daily News) of April 15 called for an Allied counteroffensive in Southeast Asia.

The paper said: "North Vietnam is unleashing a series of fanatical at­tacks in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The so-called 'X' offensive began early this month against more than 100 cities and towns of South Vietnam. In Laos, Communist troops are advancing after their capture of the Plain of Jars. Peiping is rushing arms shipments to Hanoi. Waves of North Vietnamese are attacking in eastern Cambodia.

"Such a three-pronged Communist offensive is only a false alarm, if not a last-ditch struggle. Under no circumstances should we overestimate North Vietnamese strength and play into the Communists' hands.

"The Southeast Asian war is not localized. Behind North Vietnam are Communist China and Soviet Russia. The democratic camp must not let this opportunity pass. North Vietnam is approaching a state of exhaustion. It is time for a full-scale Allied counter-offensive. "

The Lien Ho Pao said March 27 that the anti-Communist nations of the Asian and Pacific region must cooperate militarily to fight Communism.

The paper said: "There are 14 free countries in the Asian and Pacific region. All of them have at least one defense agreement with the United States, Great Britain or France. However, French influence in the region is at an end. Britain is contemplating withdrawal from east of the Suez Canal. The United States is withdrawing troops from Vietnam and is determined not to make new Asian military commitments. This seems to indicate that the United States will not initiate or join in any Asian and Pacific mili­tary alliance.

"The Asian and Pacific Council can cope with regional political, economic, social and cultural problems. However, it is not strong enough to initiate strong anti-Communist actions. ASPAC could be strengthened and made responsible for safeguarding regional peace and security. However, such strongly anti-Communist nations as the Republics of China and Korea, the Philippines, South Vietnam and Thailand would need to cooperate militarily in sea and air patrols, sharing of bases, joint intelligence operations and exchange of experience in combat training. Some cooperation exists but much more is required."

China News—Support for Cambodia

The English-language China News said April 7 that the free world should give assurances of support to the proposed Republic of Cambodia.

The paper said: "Cambodia's decision to become a republic is an astute one. Termination of the monarchy will pull the rug out from Norodom Sihanouk's argument that his ouster was unconstitutional.

"Cambodia's rulers are apprehensive about what Sihanouk may do. The former chief of state is still in Peiping. Student demonstrators in Phnom Penh are taking advantage of this to depict Sihanouk kneeling before Mao Tse-tung as he gives Cambodia to the Communists.

"Much has been made of Sihanouk's supposed popularity with the people. It now seems that the power of the prince's charisma was exaggerated.

"If Sihanouk were really idolized by the Cambodia people, they would have risen against the government when he was dismissed. An army of 40,000 couldn't have done much to stop 7 million people.

"Instead, there were only a few indications of protest and those in Communist-infiltrated areas bordering Vietnam. The people seem to have welcomed the exposure of Sihanouk's pro-Communism and the royal family's extravagances.

"From Peiping, Sihanouk has urged the people to go into the jungle to wage guerrilla war. His appeal for civil conflict has fallen on deaf ears. The Cambodian people understand that any effort on behalf of Sihanouk would align them on the side of the hated Vietnam Communists.

"The old 'fox of Southeast Asia' would be dangerous only if he returned to Cambodia and personally tried to rally his followers. With a republic in place, he will be further discouraged from doing so. Exiled kings are usual­ly shot if they try to regain their thrones.

"Prospects for the Republic of Cambodia are good, provided the Vietnam Communists do not attempt invasion and takeover. If the free world is prepared to give assurances of back­ing the new republic, that may be enough to dissuade the Reds from opening another front in Southeast Asia."

The Chung Yang Jih Pao said March 25 that Laos and Cambodia should cooperate militarily to resist Communist aggression.

The paper said: "What goes on in Laos is small-scale fighting when compared with the Vietnam War. However, it has an extremely complicated background. Behind the Pathet Lao is North Vietnam. Further behind is Communist China. Each has its own aim. Geographically, Indochina is one place. Administratively it is divided into a number of countries. Limited by the official domains, democratic countries are handicapped in launching military operations. The Communists, on the contrary, have no regard for territorial sovereignty.

"Taking advantage of the indivisible geographical relationship between Laos and Vietnam, North Vietnam is expanding its aggression in Laos in order to compensate for losses in Viet­nam. While President Nixon's 'Vietnamization' policy has temporarily quelled anti-war sentiment in the United States, North Vietnam knows that expansion of war in Laos would force America to act and bring new denunciations and opposition from the appeasers.

"Southeast Asian security is the joint effort of all the countries concerned. We have the good example of Thai volunteer soldiers fighting in Laos and hope that other countries will follow suit to save Laos and augment their own security.

"Ouster of Sihanouk as head of state in Cambodia indicates the anti-Communist trend of the Cambodian people and is a favorable turn of the Southeast Asian situation. However, we must stabilize the Laotian situation before we can stabilize Cambodian situation. The two countries must cooperate militarily to effectively resist aggression by North Vietnam."

China Post—Japan's Peiping trade

The English-language China Post said April 21 that Japan's continued trade with the Chinese Communists encourages aggression.

The paper said: "Yoshimi Furui, Liberal-Democrat Dietman and bead of a Japanese trade mission, agreed a few days ago to sign a joint commu­nique with the Chinese Communists in Peiping. Like the one of last year, it condemns Japan for starting to rearm and for serving as a willing tool of the 'American imperialists'.

"With the issuance of the com­munique, the Chinese Communists are agreeing to a 12-month extension of 'memorandum trade' with Japan. The two-way volume of trade between Communist China and Japan totaled US$626 million last year but 'memo-randum trade' accounted for only a tenth of that amount. Is it necessary for a Japanese Dietman to kowtow to the Chinese Communists in order to secure a small amount of trade?

"Maybe Japan wants to continue its semiofficial political contacts with the Chinese Communists under the cover of trade negotiations. As a matter of fact, for the current nego­tiations the island empire sent to Peiping Aiichiro Fujiyama, former for­eign minister, and Kenzo Matsumura, one of the ruling party's elder statesmen.

"Japan is not going to fare any better if it continues to trade with Communist China. Any economic gains the island empire may earn in trade will be more than offset by a steadily worsening unrest that is threatening to tear apart Japan's social fabric. There is evidence that every campus riot in Japan has been insti­gated by the Chinese Communists.

"Japanese should be reminded that Mao Tse-tung wants to bury their country. To continue to trade with Communist China is to encourage Communist aggression."

Central Daily News­—U.S. majority speaks

The Chung Yang Jih Pao said April 8 that the recent "march to vic­tory" demonstration in Washington voiced the anti-Communist sentiment of the silent majority of the American people.

The paper said: "On April 4, the American people staged an anti-Communist demonstration in Washington. An estimated 50,000 people from all over the United States demanded a military victory in the Vietnam war. This was an expression of the American public in defense of freedom and justice and also a forceful response to appeasers and Communist followers.

"America has been leading the free world in the fight against Com­munist aggression. She has inescapably become the chief enemy of the international Communists, who try to sabotage the United States in every possible way.

"A 'two-faced strategy' is the usual tactic of international Communism. While the Chinese Communists actively support their comrades in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, etc., they also engage in talks with the United States at Warsaw in the hope of American compromise. Although negotiating at Warsaw, the Commu­nists spare no effort to instigate racial trouble in the United States and whip up American youth demonstrations, sabotage and riots.

"The most effective way to deal with 'two-faced strategy' is to wake up the American 'silent majority' and organize them to suppress the minority of Communist radicals. Members of the U.S. majority are hard-working people who do not resort to the impractical or the speculative and whose opinions are often ignored. They are the real pillars of American tradition and the strongest force for law, order and morality. They need to be or­ganized and united so their voice can be heard and their strength felt.

"The anti-Communist demonstration in Washington was on a relatively small scale but showed the Communist plot of controlling the majority with the minority can be frustrated. With the American home front stabilized, world freedom, peace and welfare can be attained."

The China News said March 31 that U.S. Asian policy is drifting to­ward appeasement.

The paper said: "Friends from the United States tell us that most Americans oppose recognition of the Chinese Communists. Public opinion polls agree.

"This is always good to hear but not so reassuring as the average Ameri­can may think.

"Even in a democracy such as the United States, foreign policy does not always follow the dictates of public opinion. President Nixon is an anti-Communist, yet under his administra­tion the State Department has been trying to move toward what is euphemistically called a 'relaxation of ten­sions' with Peiping.

"Ambassadorial talks have been reopened at Warsaw. Trade restric­tions have been slightly relaxed. The State Department is prepared to authorize travel to the Chinese mainland for almost anyone the Peiping regime will admit. Secretary of State William Rogers has implied that the Nixon ad­ministration would go further if the Chinese Communist responded in kind.

"The American people ought to know (but most of them don't) that the State Department and other departments of the U.S. government have personnel who would like to scrap the alliance with the Republic of China and leap into the arms of the Chinese Reds. The lesson of the Amerasia papers has not been learned as thoroughly as it should have been.

"American Communists, pinks and fellow-travelers can no longer depict the Maoists as agricultural reformers, but they have other excuses for preaching U.S. recognition now. Rec­ognition is said to be realistic: 'You can't ignore 700 million people.' American idealism is supposed to lead Red China into the family of civilized nations. Free China is subjected to smear attacks and its aspirations dismissed as empty dreaming.

"Loss of mainland China to the Communists has been called the greatest tragedy of modern times. The American people should be apprised of an even worse tragedy in the making. This would be the fixing of Communist rule on the Chinese people into the indefinite future. U.S. recognition would be the last nail in the making of such a coffin.

"Foreign policy cannot be conducted by public opinion polls. There are, however, certain fundamentals that should not be violated without the consent of the people. For the United States, one of these is surely the longstanding close relationship with free China and those who represent Chinese culture and tradition.

"The Nixon administration should listen to the voice of the American silent majority before the next meeting at Warsaw. Suspension of the talks may be too much to hope for, but the State Department would at least be warned against the drift toward appeasement. Too many concessions have already been made to a tyrannical regime that has nothing in common with either American or Chinese aspirations. "

Popular

Latest