Taiwan Today

Ho Chi Minh's death sparked some strange and still inexplicable shenanigans involving the Russian and Chinese Communists. The first Red camp dignitary to reach Hanoi was Chou En-lai, the Peiping "premier" and supposedly third in the pecking order after Mao Tse-tung and Lin Piao.

Then everyone tried to catch their breath as Chou quickly paid his respects, ignored the funeral and flew back to Peiping before Russia's Alexei Kosygin could make it all the way to Hanoi from Moscow. The Chinese Communists subsequently sent another group headed by "vice premier" Li Hsien-nien, sometimes rumored as the successor to Chen Yi as "foreign minister", to Ho's funeral rites.

Somewhere along the line, Kosygin suggested a Peiping stopover on his way back to Moscow. It took the Chinese Communists a long time to make up their minds. The Russian leader was over India before Pei­ping gave the green light. Kosygin backtracked and flew into the Chinese Communist capital. He got no farther than the airport. His meeting with Chou was held there and lasted only an hour, including transla­tion time.

Nevertheless, by the time Kosygin's plane reached Moscow, the propagandists of the Soviet Union had ordered suppression of propaganda denunciations of Mao Tse-tung and the Chinese Communists. No attacks on the Peiping regime appeared in the Russian daily press for several days.

But where were Mao and his designated successor, Lin Piao, when Kosygin and Chou were having what both sides called a frank exchange of views at the Peiping airport? Those who knew were not telling. Neither Mao nor Lin had been seen since last May. Persistent reports were heard of the serious illness of Mao. As for Lin Piao, he has been ailing for years.

As September neared an end, there were new reports that Mao had suffered a stroke and was on the edge of death. If this were true, a new chapter of Asian history could be opening up. Without Mao as a figurehead, the mainland struggle for power would be intensified. Out of it could come victory for the people and the Republic of China.

Mao and Lin aside, it was too early to ascertain whether Moscow and Peiping were headed for peace or war. The curtailment of Moscow's propaganda attacks on the Chinese Communists didn't necessarily mean the U.S.S.R. had given up the idea of preventive war to destroy Peiping's nuclear capability. In the aftermath of Ho Chi Minh's death there were reports of a deepening Moscow-Peiping rivalry for control of Hanoi and direction of the war. The Chinese Communists claimed they wanted a tough line and no settlement short of American withdrawal from South Vietnam. Moscow wasn't talking, lest that prove embarrassing, but apparently would agree to something less than total Communist victory.

Without regard to whether or not Mao was still alive, the Maoists had abandoned their hard-sell of Mao thought. October 1 was to mark the 20th an­niversary of the Peiping usurpation of mainland power and glorification of Maoism seemed inescapable. In­stead, the soft pedal was applied. Adjectives of Mao worship were modified. On occasion, the "chairman" was scarcely mentioned at all. Mao badges began to disappear. Almost overnight, Mao Tse-tung seemed to have become an embarrassment to the Maoists.

Two notable anniversaries passed virtually with­ out notice. One should have marked the third year since the first big character poster launched the "great proletarian cultural revolution" in Peiping. The other was the third anniversary of Mao's first salute to his "young generals" of the Red Guard. The latter was recalled only in Shanghai, where Mao went in 1966 when he couldn't get the "cultural revolution" going in Peiping.

These developments bore out the supposition that all lip service to Mao's thought was meaningless. Mao thought had become a sort of protective coloration, assumed by everybody so that nobody would know what anybody was thinking. If Mao wasn't dead, dedication to his self-glorification and to the Mao magic bullet surely was. The Chinese people have been protecting themselves from tyrants through many years of their history. For them, Mao is just one among a number of power-hungry dictators.

Not all the people of the mainland were waiting for Mao's demise. Anti-Maoists fought their tormentors in many provinces; so did minority nationality groups that had been promised self-determination and then cheated. The Maoists had almost stopped talk­ing about their control of the provincial "revolutionary committees". It had become obvious that the com­mittees didn't control anything and that Red China was only one step away from an anarchy that could lead from chaos to freedom.

These were developments on the mainland and its periphery in the period from August 20 through September 19:

August 20

Radio broadcasts reported Hupeh province's worst floods in 15 years. Torrential rains were said to have lashed the four-lake area and to have inundated the Kianghan plain for nearly a month.

Hongkong sources told of war jitters on the Chinese mainland. Rumors of Red China's involvement in a third world war were said to be rife. Mao Tse-tung's campaign of war preparations was apparently having an effect.

Peiping dispatched a note charging the Soviet Union with 429 border provocations between June 1 and July 31. The note warned Moscow to stop "intrusions and provocations or face full responsibility for all the grave consequences arising there from". The Russians were charged with ignoring protests of June 6 and 11 and July 8.

August 21

Kwangtung Communist authorities were reported moving against former Red Guards who had refused to desist from factional warfare. Some mass trials for crimes such as theft and rape had been reported. Executions took place on the spot.

August 22

Taipei sources told of armed struggle in many parts of Shansi province. Anti-Maoist were reported to have attacked Communist forces, destroyed railroads and highways, occupied public buildings and looted banks and granaries. Workers committed acts of sabotage and farmers left their fields and trooped into the cities. Mao Tse-tung was said to have issued a directive for strong counteraction.

Hongkong sources said that anti-Maoists were receiving assistance from outside the mainland. Or­ganized and well-armed bands were said to be increasingly active in the north, northwest and northeast. The anti-Mao forces of Sinkiang were singled out as especially strong.

Red China watchers in Hongkong told of a con­tinuing Peiping propaganda campaign against Russian intervention in. Czechoslovakia, Radio broadcasts that continued for more than two weeks urged the Czechs to continue resistance in a "war of national liberation".

August 23

A Hongkong newspaper said that Peiping had sent 500,000 Red Guards to Sinkiang as "a human screen of gun fodder" in case of Russian invasion.

August 24

Hanoi sources claimed that "premier" Chou En­ lai had assured the North Vietnamese vice premier, who headed an economic mission to Peiping, of continued support in the war against the United States.

Reports from the mainland told of drought, flood and insert infestations. The provinces affected included: Kiangsu, insect plagues after heavy rains followed by periods of drought in wheat-growing areas. Chekiang, drizzling rain in the spring followed by drought and insect damage. Anhwei, frost, hail and floods followed by dry spells. Kiangsi, heavy rains and wind that reduced rice, wheat and potato crops. Hunan, unseasonable cold. Hupeh, cold lasting into spring and heavy rains followed by insect attacks. Szechwan, drought. Yunnan, drought with reduced output of rice. Heilungkiang and other northeastern provinces, drought. Tibet, livestock diseases and reduced farm production.

August 25

Mainland sources told of a slowdown by steel work­ers. Big mills in Liaoning, Hupeh and Sinkiang were said to have failed to fill their quotas for several months. Maoists attacked the "factionalism" and "mountain-topism" of the workers.

Mainland minorities were reported increasing anti­ Mao activities ,in Inner Mongolia, Sinkiang, Kansu, Tibet, Kweichow, Yunnan, Kwangtung and Kwangsi.

Travelers from the mainland told of continuing war preparations: the camouflaging of factories in Pei­ ping, evacuation of women and children from Urumchi in Sinkiang, movement of military supply trains and convoys, and reinforcement of military units in Kwang­tung and Hunan.

London diplomatic sources reported that Peiping had offered Hanoi additional munitions and economic assistance in an attempt to reduce Russian influence. The Chinese Communists were said to be urging the North Vietnamese to fight on until the Americans had been compelled to withdraw from the south. The London sources said the Russians had been supplying about 85 per cent of North Vietnam's needs and the Red Chinese the other 15 per cent.

Disillusioned Maoists in Canton were abandoning the Mao/Lin Piao camp, according to travelers reaching Hongkong. Followers of Liu Shao-chi were reported still active in South China's largest city.

Hongkong provisioners said the Chinese Communists were increasing shipments to compete with food­ stuffs from the Republic of China. Prices of pork, fish, vegetables and fruits dropped slightly as a result of the competition. Taiwan started to supply larger amounts of food when mainland shipments were curtailed.

August 26

Macao Communists compelled theater owners to ban three Republic of China films. One of the Taiwan-made features was shown for two days before it was withdrawn. The other two had been announced but were not screened.

August 27

Hongkong sources claimed that "president" Liu Shao-chi had been exiled on an isolated island. His wife, Wang Kuang-mei, was still in Peiping, the reports said.

Diplomatic reports in Hongkong told of the purge of Chinese Communist officials at the county level. Some were reported to have been shot by the "people's liberation army".

Moscow told of a growing power struggle between Mao and Lin Piao. A magazine article said that Mao had only a few supporters left.

Reports reaching Washington said the Soviet Union had asked Communist leaders in other countries how they would view Russian attack on Peiping's nuclear weapons and installations.

Tibetans recently wiped out 500 Maoists in Shigatse, about 250 miles southwest of Lhasa, according to mainland sources. The Tibetans were said to be resisting Peiping attempts to establish communes.

August 28

An editorial in Pravda declared that the Soviet Union would welcome normalization of relations with the Chinese Communists. The Russian Communist Party organ said Moscow didn't wish to aggravate dif­ferences with Peiping but that "any attempt to encroach on the borders of our homeland will be resolutely re­ buffed"

Peiping rejected a Turkish invitation to attend an international conference of Red Cross and Red Cres­cent Societies.

August 29

London diplomatic sources continued to speculate about the possibility of eventual war and even nuclear conflict between the Russian and Chinese Communists. Although the stronger, the Soviet Union seemed to be showing the greater fear of such a confrontation.

August 30

Hongkong reports again were heard that Mao Tse-tung had ousted "foreign minister" Chen Yi in favor of "vice premier" Li Hsien-nien. The new re­ports said the change would not be officially announced.

August 31

Hongkong observers said Red China was increasing Asian diplomatic activities so as to counter Russian attempts to forge the links of an anti-Peiping alliance of Asian countries. Among the Red Chinese "ambassadors" dispatched abroad recently were those to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal.

September 1

Mainland radio broadcasts indicated that Mao's war preparations campaign was lagging because of dissidence and indifference. The Maoist-inspired commentaries complained of "more frenzied and furious anarchism". Followers of purged Yeh Fei were re­ ported trying to make a comeback in Fukien opposite Taiwan. "Anarchism" was said to be rife in Anhwei.

Taipei reports told of Lhasa raids by 10,000 members of two mass organizations of young people. The attacks on Maoist forces were said to have follow­ed an attempt to disarm Lhasa members of the factions.

Maoists turned their guns on Communist literary art and literary circles. People's Daily charged intellectuals were still trying to lead youth astray and influence the masses to reinstate capitalism and over­ throw the proletarian dictatorship.

September 2

"Foreign minister" Chen Yi was reported in a mainland publication to have cursed and defied Red Guards at the height of the "cultural revolution" and to have admitted opposing Mao Tse-tung on several occasions.

September 3

Mainland intelligence information told of new purges by the Maoists. Mao's "emergency order" was said to call for an all-out hunt for "class enemies, counterrevolutionaries, factionalists, saboteurs, engineers of anarchism and speculators". Travelers reaching Hongkong said the purge would include PLA officers suspected of supporting Liu Shao-chi.

Press and radio reports indicated mainland farm­ers were resisting payment of increased taxes. Levies in kind were hiked as part of Mao's plan to prepare for war or famine.

Washington said the Chinese Communists appeared to have withdrawn some of their labor battalions from North Vietnam. The number of Peiping's personnel previously had been estimated at 30,000 to 50,000.

Hongkong began releasing 11 Chinese Communist journalists whose freedom Peiping had demanded in exchange for that of Reuters correspondent Anthony Grey, who has been under house arrest in Peiping since July of 1967. Release of the 11 will be completed by October 3. Their sentences were reduced a third for "good conduct".

People's Daily admitted that the "May 7 cadre schools" established at the direotion of Mao Tse-tung were on :the verge of collapse. Anti-Maoists were said to be active in the schools, which had been expected to put cadresl feet on the path of reform.

September 5

"Premier" Chou En-lai conferred with North Viet­namese leaders in Hanoi. He made the trip there to pay last respects to Ho Chi Minh.

September 6

Chou En-Iai left Hanoi abruptly before funeral services for Ho Chi Minh, apparently to avoid a meet­ing with Russian Premier Alexei Kosygin. Some members of Chou's delegation remained in the North Viet­namese capital.

September 7

Diplomats dispatched abroad by Peiping had been posted to these countries: Asia - Afghanistan, Cambodia, Nepal, North Vietnam, Pakistan and Syria. Europe-Albania, France, Romania and Sweden. Africa - Algeria, Congo (Brazzaville), Guinea, Mauritania, Tanzania, United Arab Republic and Zambia.

Washington sources told of increased calls by Moscow and Peiping for overthrow of the other's re­gime. The appeals were addressed to the masses of the two lands through radio broadcasts and the press.

September 8

A thousand soldiers were said to have been killed or wounded in a Kwangsi clash of two PLA units, ac­ cording a Hongkong newspaper which was quoting travelers from the mainland.

September 9

Peiping sent a second delegation headed by "vice premier" Li Hsien-nien to the Ho Chi Minh obsequies in Hanoi.

The failure of Mao Tse-tung and Lin Piao to react to the death of Ho Chi Minh stirred speculation that either or both were ill. Neither had appeared in public since May 19.

Introduced again at the United Nations was the routine Albanian resolution to seat the Peiping regime and expel the Republic of China. The sponsors had hoped to get major backing but wound up with these 13 other endorsers: Algeria, Cambodia, Congo (Braz­zaville), Cuba, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Romania, Syria, Southern Yemen, Tanzania, Yemen and Zambia.

Mainland reports indicated a renewal of the con­troversy between the PLA advocates of guerrilla warfare and those who support more conventional tactics.

September 10

South China seethed with reports that Mao Tse-tung was gravely ill and that a new power struggle had begun among Chiang Ching (Mao's wife), Lin Piao and Chou En-lai. Two Hongkong newspapers reported the rumors of Mao's illness.

Intelligence circles in Taipei told of worker and peasant revolts in Kwangtung. Some clashes were between farmers and young people who had been sent down to the countryside by the Maoists.

September 11

Diplomatic reports in London took notice of Pei­ ping pressure to persuade Hanoi to pull out of the Paris peace talks. Ho Chi Minh's last testament was said to have rebuked the Chinese Reds with a call for Communism that was both "Red" and "expert". Mao has frequently dismissed "expert" as unimportant.

Moscow charged the Chinese Communists with carrying out border provocations "almost every day". The Russians said that on two occasions they proposed talks to demarcate the frontier but that the Peiping regime had evaded an answer.

September 12

Moscow and Peiping announced that Premier Al­exei Kosygin had stopped in the Red Chinese capital on his way home from Hanoi and had conferred with Chou En-lai. Kosygin reached India before the Chi­nese Communists gave the green light for the meeting; which was held at the airport.

Japanese newsmen in Peiping reported the talks were brief. They speculated that the topics were Mos­cow-Peiping relations and the Vietnam war. Both Russians and Chinese Communists described the con­versations as "frank", which implied there had been no agreement. The non participation of Mao and Lin Piao lent credence to rumors that they were ill or not in Peiping.

Italian Foreign Minister Alda Moro said talks were in progress with Peiping on the possible establishment of diplomatic relations. Rome sources indicated the Chinese Communists had not shown much flexibility.

Hongkong released five more Communist news­ men arrested during the riots of 1967.

September 13

Premier Alexei Kosygin briefed other Kremlin leaders on his meeting with Chou En-lai. The Peiping talks were said to have lasted only an hour, including time for translation. For one day afterward, at least, Soviet press and radio were devoid of anti-Peiping propaganda.

September 14

Two Russian weeklies resumed attacks on the Chinese Communists for their territorial claims. The daily press remained free of polemics.

September 15

Russian broadcasts to Southeast Asia and the Chinese mainland had been free of anti-Peiping vitriol for three days. Musical interludes took the place of the usual denunciations of Mao Tse-tung.

Hongkong said that Mao Tse-tung was receiving less attention than usual in the propaganda build-up for October 1, the 20th anniversary of the establish­ ment of the Chinese Communist regime. Praise of Mao was watered down, Mao badges were disappearing, no mainland radio station mentioned the Peiping wall post­ er that launched the "cultural revolution" and only in Shanghai was there reference to the third anniversary of Mao's first meeting with the Red Guards.

Fifty-one Indian parliamentarians sent a cable to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau counseling against , Canadian recognition of the Chinese Communists.

September 16

In one of their 29 slogans for October 1, the Chinese Communists warned the world to start prepar­ing for nuclear war. Three of the slogans dealt with war or preparations for war, two with defense measures and one with call for an attack on Taiwan.

September 17

A Moscow dispatch to London from Victor Louis, who is supposed to have pipelines to the Kremlin, hinted at the possibility of a preventive Russi'1n attack on Chinese Communist nuclear installations. Louis said that in such 'an offensive, the Soviet Union would rely on missiles rather than manpower.

September 18

Ambassador to the United Nations Liu Chieh objected to the statement of the Albanian resolution that the Chinese Communist regime was peaceful. This is "manifestly contrary to all the known facts about Peiping's relations with other nations, particularly with its neighbors, whether to the north or to the south," said Ambassador Liu. "The Peiping regime is present­ly engaged in a major campaign to stir up the people on the mainland for revolutionary war on a global scale."

September 19

Moscow was reported to have told the Peiping regime it was prepared to receive top Chinese Communist representatives for the discussion of border questions. Premier Kosygin was said to have made the offer to Chou En-lai in Peiping. The blackout of propaganda attacks on the Chinese Reds was continuing in Russia communications media.