Head-counting for Taiwan

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32676, 4 August 1971, Page 17

Head-counting for Taiwan

fN.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent; WASHINGTON, August 3.

United States approval for China’s membership of the United Nations makes it certain that Peking will win membership when the U.N. General Assembly meets next month.

But in the shifting world of international diplomacy there is no certainty that Taiwan will be able to hold its place in spite of United States support for its continuing membership.

Last year die United States opposed the granting of membership to the People’s Republic of China. It successfully demanded that twothirds of the 127-member organisation vote in favour of Peking’s admission if it were to gain entry.

Peking was only 14 votes short of the required number and a number of coun-

tries indicated that they would support its entry this year.

Many who support Peking’s entry find, as does New Zealand, that expulsion of Taiwan is unacceptable. Hie question now, as the focus of attention on the China-United Nations question switches to New York, is how many will see little profit in adhering to Taiwan in view of the move by the United States for a rapprochement with Peking. International observers believe that while Asian nations, in particular,‘ will move cautiously in opening dialogues with Peking, they have assessed the changing scene as pointing inevitably to China’s entry into the organisation. The fact that for the moment the clash between simultaneous Taiwanese and Peking membership remains does not, in the view of many experienced analysts alter the fact that diplomatic realities are working in Peking’s favour and against Taiwan.

They, say that it is evi-

dent a large bloc of votes will be cast against expulsion of Taiwan and believe that if the United States and its allies have the question declared an “important issue” they may this year stall off "the inevitable.” They wonder however, whether the United States will be able to muster a simple majority of votes to have Taiwanese expulsion declared an important question requiring a two-thirds majority in. favour to push the Taipei representatives out. The tactics to be followed by the United States and its allies are now being discussed. Policies will be decided in Washington, in Tokyo, Canberra and Wellington, but a fevered period of head counting is expected to begin early next month at the United Nations headquarters in New York. “Things are going to get pretty hectic up here now,” said one veteran United Nation’s diplomat yesterday afternoon. Taiwan itself has yet to

make its position clear. It is also not known what was said in Peking between Dr Henry Kissinger, President Nixon’s top foreign policy aide, and the Chinese Prime Minister. (Mr Chou" En-lai). Reports continue to emerge of secret talks between Taipei and Peking. These “unknowns” add intrigue to a rapidly changing diplomatic scene.