CHINA NEEDS A POLITICAL OPPOSITION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22654, 3 June 1948, Page 3

CHINA NEEDS A POLITICAL OPPOSITION

SYDNEY, May 7.

The greatest political reform in China is the development of a political Opposition, Professor D. B. Copland, the retiring Australian Minister to China, said yesterday,

Prufessor Copland was addressing a luncheon meeting of the United Nations Association, including members of the Chinese Consular Corps. “Traditionally,” he said, “it is difficult for any Government of China to accept the principle of a recognised political opposition.

“However, the very existence of two major parties, the Kuomintang and Communist, with armies engaged in civil war, is a clear indication of the need for some form of political opposition on the lines accepted as normal in Western democracies. "At present in China the Kuomintang Party is emphasising the promotion of forms of democracy, while the Communist Party wants social reform, particularly land reform.

"Any democratic development on economic reform would not take a pattern familiar in the West.”

Professor Copland said that China might be regarded as being weak while suffering from the combined effects of a long war and of internal conflict, but it was a mistake to underestimate her influence in Eastern affairs, and in inlernationa) affairs generally.

"In the past China has overcome temporary internal weaknesses, and there is little doubt she will do so in the future," ho said. “What is remarkable about China is the strength of underlying forces promoting unity. "Continuance of the civil war with its high cost and disruption, however, seems inevitable."

Professor Copland addde: "No great Chinese political party can survive if it is prepared to concede special privileges to any foreign Power in China. “Russia has been left in a very privileged position in the north-eastern pro vinees by the Sino-Russian Treaty.”