China has Malta foothold

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33959, 27 September 1975, Page 15

China has Malta foothold

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) VALLETTA. September 26.

With both money and manpower, China has outmanoeuvred the Soviet Union and established a firm foothold on the strategic Mediterranean island of Malta.

Five hundred Chinese engineers and technicians are now working on the island, helping to build a drydock and training Maltese workers. The Soviet Union, however, still does not have the embassy it has long sought.

Malta’s Chinese connection is part of the policy! of the Socialist Prime Minis-! ter (Mr Mintoff) of extending recognition to Communist countries, and seeking to expand trade with them. Last week, Malta signed an agreement with North Korea to build a pencil factory on the island. Within a week of signing a new financial agreement with Britain in 1972 for its continued use of military facilities on Malta, Mr

Mintoff went off to Peking, at the invitation of the Chi- > nese leadership, and returned with an agreement in his pocket for a £l7m loan plus a Elm gift “in appreciation of the new ties binding the two countries.” The loan was made oni two conditions: repayment: would be, in part, in goods! exported to China, and re- , payment of the cash element | of just under £2m would be in the registered price of gold at the date of payment. Malta was to make use of the loan to build a 300,000ton tanker dock and quay, and factories for the production of decorative glass,’ chocolate, and ceramics. Work on the dock is in (progress; the industries are • already in being. I Three hundred Chinese (technicians and engineers (are engaged in the building (of the dry-dock, while 200 [others are engaged in training Maltese workers in industries. ■ Maltese-Chinese relations are excellent, but at the expense of Moscow. “The Russians never gave us anything,” Mr Mintoff declared recently. The Soviet Union is still

being refused an embassy in Valletta, but China was given one immediately after

I establishing the diplomatic! link. Relations between Maltese (and Chinese workers are; (also good, although outside: (working hours the Chinese, keep at a safe distance. They have bought a whole block of apartments near the! capital city, and do not! mingle after working hours. They are transported to and, from their jobs by Chinese drivers. One critical comment j came from the Archbishop! of Malta (Monseignor Michael Gonzi), who, at ai church function, referred to) the Chinese Communists working alongside the Maltese, and gave a warning to the Maltese to “take heed, ; and not become victims of ■Communist ideology.” ; Some 2500 British serI vicemen are also on the island.