Peking warned

Press, 19 December 1981, Page 9

Peking warned

NZPA Singapore The Malaysian Prime Minister (Datink Seri Dr Mahathir Mohammad) has indirectly warned China that it should not adopt double standards in dealing with his country. Speaking at a banquet given in his honour on the first day of his two-day official visit to Singapore, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia and Singapore had resisted internal Communist subversion for a long time and events in Indo-China had brought communism “to our doorsteps.” In an obvious reference to China, Dr Mahathir said that co-existence with Communist States should be based on the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. “We do not believe in double standards in the conduct of international relations. We cannot accept commitments to pursue friendly relations on the one claim, and on another indulge in adverse acts of subversion and terrorism to weaken our national resilience.

“Co-existence, if it is to be durable, must be ased on the mutually accepted norms of equality and respect. There cannot be any compromise on this,” he said. Malaysia is fighting Communist guerrillas along its jungle borders with Thailand. Although China has expressed friendship and good will towards Malaysia and its other non-Communist neighbours, Peking has refused to give up its party-to-party support to the insurgents.