The Daily Telegraph of London published October 9 a report by Alexander MacMillan from Paris: "Expanding industries of the Far East, in Japan, Hongkong and Singapore, are already playing an increasingly dominant part in not only Pacific markets but also in the United States and Europe. The Chinese Nationalist Government of Taiwan, formerly Formosa, is now offering very advantageous terms for foreign businesses interested in development on the island.
"Mr. George Petrianiads, a Greek financier and shipowner, who lives here in Paris, recently returned from a visit to Taiwan and explained the advantages of the island as a development area.
"The Government has established a series of 'export processing zones' which combine the functions of a trading estate and a free trade zone.
"One of the attractions for the foreign investor is that compared with Hongkong or Singapore the political life of the island is stable ... According to Mr. Petrianiads, there is no chance of foreign interference and little, during the current expansion, of domestic unrest.
"At the present time 70 p.c. of industrial investment comes from foreign sources, the most important being the United States, which provides half. Japan with an increasing foothold contributes a third, and other nations whose companies have invested include Holland and Italy.
"The Government allows foreign investors to repatriate 15 p.c. of invested capital each year and also places no restriction on nationality or domicile of shareholders, managers, directors or promoters.
"With the establishment of the export processing zone, of which the one at Kaohsiung, known as the KEPZ, is the most important, the Government has tried to offer more favourable terms for foreign investors than they can get anywhere else.
"The administration of the zone is empowered to arrange everything for the developer. All problems, of land, registration of labour force, plant construction, water and power supplies, foreign exchange, and import and export licenses are handled by this one organisation once the project has received the go-ahead from the Government.
"The more straightforward advantages are:
1. —Exemption from import duties on all raw materials, plant, machinery and equipment whether purchased through local agents or imported directly.
2. —Waiver of sales tax, commodity tax, &c., on goods produced, finished or semi-finished inside the zone.
3. —Low price of services including electric power at 0.85 of a U.S. cent. a kw and 0.5 of a U.S. cent. per 1,000 gallons of water.
4. —Large labour force with rates of pay equivalent to 30 p.c. less than in Japan and 60 p.c. less than in Hongkong. (Partial text)
Evening Star
The Evening Star of Washington, D.C., said October 7: "Peking's two-hour celebration of the 18th anniversary of the Communist conquest of (mainland) China was a relatively quiet and unenthusiastic affair. Mao Tse-tung was there, but all he did was wave his hands occasionally, and wanly, at the 500,000 people gathered in the great Plaza of Heavenly Peace.
"The only speaker was Defense Minister Lin Piao, Mao's heir apparent. His remarks, though moderate compared to some of his past fulmination, were insulting enough to impel most of Europe's Communist diplomats—including particularly those from Moscow—to stage an indignant walkout from the rostrum. Meanwhile, in Jakarta, a student mob was sacking Peking's embassy to celebrate the second anniversary of the abortive Mao-supported coup aimed at communizing Indonesia.
"All this contrasts rather sharply with the show put on last year by Peking to mark the 17th anniversary of Mao's rule. At that time the celebrating lasted from dawn to dusk, and there were no fewer than 1.5 million celebrants involved. And the speeches, especially the one by Lin Piao, were confident, boastful and belligerent in the extreme, suggesting that Red China—following the 'invincible thought' of Mao—was on the march to world leadership and that nothing could stop it.
"It is interesting, and perhaps significant, that Lin in his latest speech—with Mao looking on and listening in—concentrated on Red China's domestic problems. His comments on Soviet 'revisionism' and American 'imperialism' were unusually brief. The main thrust of what he said was aimed at counseling the Red Guards to get off their rambunctious course, return to school and join in a great national effort to put new life in the grimly ailing (Red) Chinese economy, agricultural and industrial.
"This is something that speaks pretty much for itself. Within a year's time, as a result of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution still convulsing it, Red China has had so much trouble and faces such uncertainty that Mao's second-in-command has been obliged to caution against the very things that he and Mao have inspired. It is a nice irony." (Full text)
Yorkshire Post
The Yorkshire Post of Leeds, England, said September 23: "One Mao Tse-tung, it might be suggested, should be enough for anybody; but Mr. Austin Coates, an expert on Far Eastern affairs, at the Yorkshire Post Literary Luncheon this week discussed the possibility that there might be two—or, rather, that a double was being paraded in place of the real Mr. Mao. That might not be so simple a thing to arrange. It is not true that all Chinese look alike, and Mr. Mao's egg-head is particularly distinctive. Once somebody—anybody—was found among the 700m inhabitants of (mainland) China with a physiognomy reasonably like his, however, the rest should not be too difficult. By dint of that little red book all (Red) Chinese have been taught to say and think nothing but what Mr. Mao has said and thought already. But all this is very much more than a matter for levity of the Chinky-Chinky-Chinaman kind.
"First, it is quite true that the man who is occasionally produced in Peking as (Red) China's leader may not really be Mr. Mao. Mr. Coates pointed out that there had been no good evidence for Mr. Mao's existence for about the last 18 months. Photographs taken since that time are very indistinct. The only distinct photographs now issued were taken years ago. When he appeared or was supposed to appear in public, the man concerned was a long way from the camera and refrained from speaking. The real Mr. Mao may be physically ill or senile, or dead.
"Does it matter? Does it make any difference whether he is alive and in control of the Pekin regime, or dead or sick and being impersonated by a puppet? Perhaps it does not make a difference immediately. But if within (Red) China it became common knowledge, or a common belief, that he had left the scene, that scene would very quickly change. Nobody else in Communist China wields anything like as much authority with the Chinese Communists. In the enormous struggles now going on in (Red) China's 'cultural revolution,' both sides claim to follow Mr. Mao's behests. Without at least his shadow behind them, those who now wield most power in (Red) China-Marshal Lin Piao and Mr. Mao's wife (or widow)—would quickly be swept away." (Full text)
Sunday Times
The Sunday Times of London said October 1: "Chairman Mao's tour of the 'granary' provinces of (mainland) China represents a new stage in Peking's anxious attempt to hasten a compromise settlement of the lost 'cultural' revolution. He also lent his personal support to the current army drive for collection of lagging deliveries of surplus grain.
"Diplomats in Peking believe Mao undertook this sortie reluctantly and only after persistent Politburo pressure.
"He is reported to have visited Honan, Hupeh, Hunan, Kiangsi and Chekiang provinces where surplus grain is now being sought by the State. (Red) China enjoyed a good harvest this year—perhaps 200 million tons of grain for 700 million people—but the yield was uneven.
"In effect, Mao's personal intervention is an admission of the failure of the divided army to promote the sacrifices and 'reforms' of the 'cultural' revolution. The army has failed him in most areas, particularly in those provinces which have a grain surplus. The handful of provinces which have dutifully set up revolutionary committees are not self-sufficient in food. They are the true revolutionaries, the hungry ones." (Full text)
Glasgow Herald
The Glasgow Herald of Glasgow, England, said October 2: "The convulsions of (Red) China's Cultural Revolution have spread into Tibet, according to Mr. Gyalo Thondup, elder brother of the Dalai Lama. Speaking to the press in New York he has described his country as being stripped of produce to feed (Red) China; and he has told of monasteries being broken up, holy books being burned, and the Lamas humiliated and persecuted. There have also, it appears, been armed clashes between Red Guard extremists and the local administrative authorities, including the People's Liberation Army. In all this turmoil the indigenous Tibetan population has inevitably come off worse. It is another sad chapter in the story that successive waves of refugees have been telling ever since the (Red) Chinese occupation...
"The pattern of life in pre-occupation Tibet was scarcely one that could readily be reconciled with the establishment of a People's Democracy. On top of this (Red) Chinese broadcasts from Peking and Lhasa have tended, however unwittingly, to confirm not only the anti-Tibetan campaign of the occupation forces, but also the feuding among the (Red) Chinese themselves. This at least is of a piece with the picture throughout the rest of (Red) China. Now, on the eighteenth anniversary of the founding of the (Red) Chinese state, there are signs that chair man Mao is trying to re-impose order on chaos that he himself unleashed. But how far his writ runs, especially in remote regions like Tibet, is anyone's guess. (Partial text)
Hongkong Tiger Standard
The Hongkong Tiger Standard said September 17: "There is new hope that peace talks could take place over the Vietnam war.
"Why this disastrous war has continued all these years has become an academic question.
"There has, no doubt, secretly been some desire on both sides of the demilitarised zone to put an end to the war and divert wasted money and energy to national reconstruction.
"But what has really been lacking on both sides is readiness to sacrifice some of the strongly held pre-conditions and a sincere initiative of talk.
"However, if the reported move that North Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh is attempting to free himself from the influence of (Red) China is true, then peace proposals made by the South Vietnamese Head of State Nguyen Van Thieu could possibly become a point for discussion.
"While General Thieu has suggested that he was willing to negotiate peace with Hanoi, the North Vietnamese have gradually relaxed their original conditions for talks.
"The most encouraging development that has taken place recently is that Saigon has begun to realise that there is new thinking in Hanoi.
"Saigon and its allies can naturally suspect the call for an end to bombing is another clever move by their opponents to strengthen their military position.
"Meanwhile, it should be accepted that a war-torn country like North Vietnam would not be able to negotiate if the bombing over its farms and factories continued.
"What Saigon and its allies should now plan is direct negotiations with Hanoi without giving any recognition to Peking in the issue.
"North Vietnam has begun to realise that Peking has not much sympathy for the country other than frequent lip service to Communist ideology.
"Today, the turmoil in (Red) China has made it certain that Peking will not take any interest in Vietnam as long as the threat to (Red) China's unity remains.
"The allies, as welI as all others interested in peace, must make use of this situation to find a solution to the deadlock before the dust over (Red) China settles down."
(Full text)
News American
The News American of Baltimore said September 16: "Cambodia has learned its lesson the hard way. For years this small Southeast Asian country—adjacent to South Vietnam—has been trying to demonstrate its friendship with Communist China. It has provided sanctuary for Viet Cong guerrillas, who have been allowed to cross the Cambodian-South Vietnamese border at will. More than a year ago it severed diplomatic relations with the United States.
"Now Cambodia has discovered what other Asian nations have long since realized—that Communist China does not want friendship or even mere coexistence. It wants domination. Hence Cambodian Chief of State Prince Sihanouk's naive complaint, '(Red) China is openly interfering in the internal affairs of Cambodia.' Peking, it seems, labeled the Sihanouk government 'reactionary' and called on the dissolved '(Red) Chinese-Cambodian Friendship Association' to 'pursue its combative activities,' i.e., to subvert Cambodia.
"Thus Sihanouk had to fire two pro-(Red) Chinese cabinet ministers and curb the publication of newspapers in his country. In doing so he has probably awakened to the reality of the monster, outlaw nation to his north. The same realization has already come to India, Indonesia and Burma, each of whom had sought in the past to establish 'friendly' relations with Peking, only to wake up to the fact that Peking was brazenly and crudely using the relationship to achieve a forcible, Communist take-over.
"Perhaps further visions of reality will now dawn upon Cambodia and enable its people to conclude their affair with Red China has been a brush with disaster. And also that it is not too late to view American Far East policy for what it is—containment of Peking's brutally aggressive, monumental ambitions in Asia." (Full text)
Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor of Boston said September 19: "Cambodian Chief of State Prince Norodom Sihanouk has leaned over backwards in the past to give the (Red) Chinese no offense—often risking a worsening of his relations with the United States in the process.
"Until comparatively recently, the Prince has in fact seen the United States as a greater threat to the integrity of Cambodia than was (Red) China. The United States appeared to him in this light because Americans were backing the Thais and the (South) Vietnamese, traditional enemies of the Cambodians and contemptuous of them. The Prince has never really been any more pro-(Red) Chinese than he has pro-American. He is a fierce Cambodian nationalist who believes that the way to maintain his position at home and that of Cambodia abroad is to seek balance.
"This is what led him to bring into his Cabinet Chau Seng, a radical leftist long in the wings of power, whom he has now ousted for apparently allowing himself to be an indirect mouthpiece for the (Red) Chinese.
"Last May's Cabinet changes were intended to compensate for (or balance) a swing to the right in Cambodian politics which had taken place under the premiership of Lon Nol. The Prince had been permissive of this trend because of his apparent desire to bring a measure of democracy into the way Cambodia was run. But the extreme leftists and the Communists saw the trend as something which they might hope to exploit to their advantage. There followed Communist-instigated violence in the province of Battambang, which the Prince described as foreign inspired.
"Chau Seng has now fallen from grace because he published in his newspaper a telegram sent by Peking to the Cambodian-(Red) Chinese Friendship Society, which the Prince had ordered dissolved a few days earlier. The telegram denounced among other things 'imperialism, revisionism and reaction.' To the Prince this was an attempt to deny Cambodia the right to be its own master, to separate the government from the people, and to join the enemies of the regime.
"Never has Prince Norodom Sihanouk spoken in public about (Red) China with such asperity. The United States, however, has not infrequently felt the sting of his tongue. But the West should keep this unprecedented attack of his on the (Red) Chinese in perspective. The key to the Prince's words and deeds is still his concept of balance. And as if to make this clear, the occasion of his remarks about (Red) China was also the occasion for some more sharp reproaches to the United States." (Full text)