'Thousands flee into China’

Press, 16 May 1978, Page 8

'Thousands flee into China’

NZPA

Canberra

Thousands of Vietnamese are fleeing across the northern border into . China, according to diplomatic reports reaching Canberra. One report said 15,000 people from Vietnam had crossed the border. The Australian GovefnIment is checking on the ac- | curacy of the reported [exodus, and the reason for it.

The United States VicePresident (Mr Walter Mondale) and American officials gave their latest assessment of the situation to the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) and senior Ministers during their visit to Australia last week.

According to American officials with Mr Mondale, [relations between China and Vietnam are at a very lowebb, and there have been reports of physical clashes between the two countries in

the border region. [ Foreign Affairs Department officials in Canberra say there is no direct con- • • nection between the in- < creased number of refugees ■ fleeing to Australia in boats. 1 and the border problems in th j north of VietnamAmerican officials how- i ever, told Mr Fraser that all assessments of future numbers of Vietnamese refugees ( had to be erased. The Americans now are ' estimating that the number' •of Vietnamese leaving their country, in the south only.' is doubling every month, and may shortly reach 10,090 monthly.

The United States officials ' also told the Australian Prime Minister that they be- • lieved most of the refugees were ethnic Chinese who were regarded by the Hanoi Government and Vietnamese, Communist Central Com--[mittee as the “enemy” be-' | cause of the present poor relations with Peking.