RECOGNITION OF CHINA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29108, 21 January 1960, Page 10

RECOGNITION OF CHINA

Tunku’s View Of Move (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 20. Communist China must be recognised, the Malayan Prime Minister (Tunku Abdul Rahman) said in reply to reporters’ questions at a press conference in Wellington today. ‘‘But we can’t recognise China while we are fighting the Communists,” he said. Malaya does not at present recognise either Communist China or Nationalist China. ‘‘We can’t deny the existence of 600,000,000 people in China. They must be recognised. Formosa is not China,” the Tunku said.

Questioned on the problem of Formosa’s future, he said: “I suppose you could recognise Formosa as an independent country anJ China as an independent country.” The Tunku said the assimilation of Chinese in Malaya was a big problem for the Malayan Government.

‘‘Our aim is to win over those Chinese in Malaya whose present loyalty is to China. It's a difficult job and we can’t do it overnight.” He said the problem of Chinese in Malaya was made an issue at every election. “Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous politicians who exploit this,” he added. Questioned on the presence of Commonwealth troops in Malaya, the Tunku said. ‘‘They are not there primarily to fight the Communists. They are there as part of a strategic defence force. They are there helping a friend in need.”

He said some politicians were opposed to Commonwealth troops being in Malaya. ‘‘But deep in their hearts I believe they think it is necessary for them to be there,” he added. The Tunku said he did not think it was necessary for Malaya to join S.E.A.T.O. ‘‘We have a defence agreement with Britain, New Zealand, and Australia, and they would help us if we were attacked. So I don’t think there’s any need for us to join 5.E.A.T.0.”