‘Sensitive’ talks on Vietnam today

Press, 9 February 1981, Page 1

‘Sensitive’ talks on Vietnam today

NZPA Wellington New Zealand’s policies toward the spread of Vietnamese influence in IndoChina are due to come under scrutiny today when the Foreign Minister of Thailand, Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila, begins formal talks with the Government. Marshal Siddhi reached Auckland from Australia yesterday afternoon and after a night in Auckland was scheduled to begin talks in Wellington today and tomorrow with the Foreign Minister (Mr Talboys) and the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon).’ The talks are expected to centre on recent Vietnamese . proposals for a

meeting between the five A.S.E.A.N nations — Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and The Philippines — and the three Indo-Chinese countries — Vietnam, Kampuchea, and Laos. According to diplomatic sources in Wellington the Thais have .rigorously. rejected the proposals as little more than a ploy to win de-facto recognition of the Vietnam-ese-backed Kampuchea regime of Heng Samrin. But Marshal: Siddhi wants to find out at firsthand the reaction of A.S.E.A.N/S southern partners, New Zealand and Australia to the proposal. In doing so he will seek

to determine the New Zealand Government’s views on future Kampuchean representation in theUnited Nations, its attitude toward a United Nations-sponsored conference on Indo-China, and its over-all beliefs about future Vietnamese and Chinese intentions. Officials of the New Zealand Foreign Ministry regarded the talks as particularly “sensitive.” Sensitivity is heightened by uncertainty about the future course of American policy in Asia under Presiden Reagan. It is not yet clear whether his hard line polices towards the Soviet Union are likely to be reflected in a tougher approach toward Vietnam.