NIXON AND CHINA Taiwan sends U.S. strong protest

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 17

NIXON AND CHINA Taiwan sends U.S. strong protest

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

TAIPEI, July 16. Taiwan today lodged a strong protest with the United States Government against President Nixon’s plan to visit China.

The protest was announced after senior Government officials had met in Taipei for 45 minutes after Mr Nixon’s announcement.

Apparently, the Taiwan Government had not been informed in advance of Mr Nixon’s proposal, nor of the recent visit of Dr Henry Kissinger. Mr Nixon’s chief adviser on national security affairs, to Peking.

After Mr Nixon’s announcement, there was a flurry of top-level telephone calls among the leaders of Taiwan, and, after the hur-riedly-called meeting, the Government’s chief spokesman, Mr James Wei, told reporters:

“The Government has lodged a strong protest to the Government of the United States. I have no more for you now, but I will have later.”

In Washington, the Taiwan Ambassador (Mr James Shen) said: “The news of Mr Nixon’s plan will be received with considerable shock and disbelief in Taipei. I myself was given only about half an hour’s notice of the President’s statement, and I could not believe my ears.” In Manila, die Taiwan Foreign Minister (Mr Chow Shukai) said that he had not been informed officially of Mr Nixon’s intended visit to Peking.

"If it is true, then it will be part of their (China’s) psychological warfare,” he said. Mr Chow was speaking to reporters briefly during a break in the Asian and Pacific Council meeting. ‘McMahon outpaced’ In Tokyo, the leader of the Australian Labour Party (Mr Gough Whitlam) commented: “The Australian Prime Minister (Mr McMahon) has once again been by-passed and outpaced, not only by the Australian Opposition but also by the United States Administration.” Mr Whitlam recalled that during his conversations in Peking with Mr Chou En-lai last week, he (Mr Whitlam) had asked: “If Mr'Nixon says he wants to visit Peking, can Mr McMahon be far behind?” Mr Whitlam added: “I said that to Mr Chou, and, without waiting for any transla-

tion, he laughed quite loudly. The fact that this was in the wind would explain the mildness of Mr Chou’s reference to the United States. “Mr McMahon should now go to the people. He will have to join the queue to get to Peking now. “There is every chance that there will be a revived Geneva Conference, and, once again, we find that the Australian Government has not only made no efforts to end the war in Vietnam and the isolation of China, but has resisted and belittled any such attempts.” ‘Warning’ given Mr McMahon said in Melbourne that the United States was moving in the same way as Australia had intended when he recently announced moves to “establish a dialogue” with China. Asked by reporters if he had received any warning about Mr Nixon’s announcement. Mr McMahon said: “A warning, yes.” The only other comment

Mr McMahon would make was: "The news makes a com--plete mockery of Mr Whitlam—there were negotiations going on at the highest level, and he did not know.” Asked if he thought it possible that Mr Whitlam had been a party to the negotiations, Mr McMahon turned away and entered his car. Earlier, he had said: “1 have been in close contact with my department, and 1 will make no other comment until I know exactly what is happening.” In Manila, the Australian Foreign Minister (Mr Leslie Bury) said that a large part of the world would await the outcome of Mr Nixon’s visit to Peking before making any fundamental changes in relations with China.