China-Vietnam bickering makes talks unlikely

Press, 2 April 1979, Page 9

China-Vietnam bickering makes talks unlikely

SZPA-Reuter Peking China has reiterated to Vietnam that all its troops Ire on Peking’s side of their lorder, and has said Hanoi’s Jlaims to the contrary are in unreasonable obstruction o peace talks. The New China News Agency said a Note sent to Vietnam yesterday expressed 'deep regret and indignation It Hanoi’s lies and pretonditon for and repeated Railing of the opening of iino-Vietnamese negotiatons.” The two countries said ast month that the talks tould begin last week in Hanoi, but Vietnam later arid Chinese troops conhnued to hold parts of its territory after the monthong border war that began In February 17; and said the alks could not begin until hey were withdrawn. China

said the pull-back had been completed on March 16. The Note was sent to Vietnam as Hanoi accused China of blocking the road to negotiations and of paving the road for “another criminal aggression against the Vietnamese people.” Western diplomats - in Peking said the charges being hurled by' each country meant that talks were a long way off, possibly months in view of the increasingly acrimonious tone of the exchanges. Vietnam yesterday also repeated charges that China was threatening Laos and openly working against Kampuchea. China has described as “fantastic fabrications” allegations that it is massing troops on the Laotian border, sending spies and commandoes into Laos, and interfering with Laotian internal affairs.