The Press MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1970. One China, or two?

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32461, 23 November 1970, Page 14

The Press MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1970. One China, or two?

There has been a signihc ant and welcome change in the American attitude towards the admission of Communist China to the United Nations. Washington no longer opposes n .'cognition of the Peking Government On the • contrary, when this year’s debate began, the Uniter 1 States delegate, Mr Phillips, told the General Assembly that the United States was as interested as any country in seeing the People’s Republic of China—a reality which cannot be •• ignored ’’—play a c< mstructive role in the world. But the United State; ; was not prepared to support the annual Albanian proposal that China (Peking) be admitted and Nationalist China (Taiwan) expelled. The United States maintains that justice requires the seating of the two Chinas; but "presumably it would approve the transfer of the permanent seat on the Security Co uncil to Peking Peking’s refusal to compromise probably foredoomed to failure this year’s attempt to have the People’s Republic admitted to the United Nations on terms. liven the simple majority for the resolution moved by Algeria and Albania is probably illusory; it is h ighly likely that many of the 25 abstainers would, have felt bound to cast their votes against the ex; julsion of Nationalist China if this object had not already been secured by the device, introduced by the United States, of requiring a two-thirds ma jority for the resolution—by any standards cert ainly “ an important question ”. Neverthe’ ,ess progress has been made towards China’s takur g its proper place in the councils of the nations. Thi ough Chou En-lai’s new diplomacy, Communist <3hina is moving out of its self-imposed isolation. Its ambassadors have been returning to posts throughout the world. Prisoners—journalists and diplomats—held for years in China have been released. Fifty of the 127 member States of the United Nations no w recognise Peking; and more recognitions are pendii ig.

But i t remains doubtful whether Peking could win the s upport it needs for entry next year, or for many ye. ars to come, while it refuses to entertain the com :ept of “ two Chinas ”. Both Peking and Taiwan 'jave rejected the idea; but it may be assumed that Ta iwan will eventually accept it when the clear altema tive is expulsion, especially as neither the United States nor anyone else encourages Chiang Kai-sh ak’s rather fanciful ambitions of returning to the m ainland. Clearly the day is not far distant when, at th e cost of a minor compromise which could subtract nothing from its influence or dignity, the People’s Republic will be able, at will, to take its place as a Great Power in the United Nations. And an ability to compromise is, after all, one of the essential attributes of nations which hope to get along pea-iefully with each other in this shrinking world.