The Press TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1970. China in Africa

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32450, 10 November 1970, Page 18

The Press TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1970. China in Africa

The East African railway linking Tanzania and Zambia, on which work is to begin officially this week, is at the centre of one of the most important economic, political, and even military, developments in Southern Africa for many years. The railway marks the most successful penetration so far of Chinese influence into Africa. It is being built with Chinese technical advice and finance; ships bringing materials and technicians have also brought arms and instructors for African guerrilla groups operating against the white Governments of Mozambique, Rhodesia, and South Africa; the terminus of the railway at Dar-es-Salaam has involved construction of a deep-water port, also with Chinese help, which includes a naval base and facilities which should enable China to maintain a maritime presence in the Indian Ocean.

The railway, which will take five years to build, will serve Zambia and Tanzania well Trade between the two States will increase; co-ordinated defence planning will be possible; the line will end Zambia’s dependence on communications under the control of white Governments to the south, east, and west, and guarantee an outlet to the sea for the copper exports on which the Zambian economy depends. At present only a difficult road and a fuel pipe-line, both vulnerable to sabotage, connect Lusaka with Dar-es-Salaam 1200 miles away. Zambia could quickly be reduced to dependence on an airlift for vital supplies; and this has been an important bargaining point for Rhodesia and South Africa. Zambia and Tanzania regard themselves as the front line of black Africa’s struggle against white supremacy; and the railway will play a vital part in consolidating their position. The price will be high in terms of dependence on China, which neither country really wants. China offered to build the railway after the World Bank had turned down the scheme as uneconomic. It is regarded by Peking as

a means of increasing Chinese influence in Africa and the Indian Ocean at the expense both of the West and of Russia: The Chinese presence should guarantee that China will exert control over African insurgent groups based in the two countries: China has already taken over training the Tanzanian regular army and navy: finance for the project includes repayment provisions which will require Tanzania and Zambia to buy large quantities of Chinese goods. It remains to be seen whether the Portuguese, Rhodesian, and South African Governments will allow the project to proceed unhindered; but any military attempt to block the railway would lead to what President Kaunda of Zambia has called "a “new Vietnam” in southern Africa. There must, however, be misgivings in Zambia and Tanzania about the degree of Chinese influence which the railway brings. Both countries have maintained a semblance of neutrality ig disputes between the major Powers; and Zambia was the venue for the conference of “ non-aligned ” nations earlier this year. This position can hardly be pleasing to a China in which Mao Tse-tung has said: “ We oppose “ illusion about the Third World. Neutrality is “merely a camouflage; the third road does not “ exist