CHINESE AFFAIRS

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CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5
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RIPPUB
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T
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38
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December 16, 2016
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August 24, 2004
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1
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Publication Date: 
January 20, 1975
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NOTES
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Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 25X1 Top Secret Chinese Affairs Top Secret 3 a 25X1 January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Approved For Releaso CHINESE AFFAIRS 25X1 25X1 January 20, 1975 China Emphasizes Moderation; Leadership Differences Remain. . . . . . . . . 25X1 New Year's in the Provinces. . . . . . . . . . . 10 A New Accomplice for Lin Piao? . . . . . . . . . 14 25X1 Western Troubles Hurt Trade Balance. . . . . . . 22 New Twist for an Old Slogan. . . . . . . 24 Love the Army--But Love the Party Even More. . . 26 The United Nations: Disappointment. . . . . . . 28 25X1 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . 32 . . . . . . . . . . CHRONOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A0002000P0001-5 Approved For ReI4 China Emphasizes Moderation; Leadership Differences Remain F7 I The personnel appointments and policy statements approved by China's Fourth National People's Con- gress are clearly designed to stress moderation and continuity. The brevity of the congress, the first in a decade, and the initial secrecy in which it was held suggest, however, that leadership differ- ences have not yet been ironed out fully. The reappointment of Chou En-lai as premier, and the naming of his close ally, Yeh Chien-ying, to the sensitive post of defense minister, under- scores Chou's continuing power and prestige as a senior policy maker. Teng Hsiao-ping, elevated to the Politburo standing committee and named a vice chairman by the Central Committee plenum, which preceded the con- gress, appears to be Chou's logical successor. Chairman Mao Tse-tung, who attended neither the plenum nor the congress, has now been away from Peking for over six months. Only once before has Mao been absent from the capital for a longer time, and that was immediately before the onset of the Cul- tural Revolution when, Mao complained later, he was being circumvented and ignored by political oppo- nents. 25X1 25X1 25X1 January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A00020Q050001-5 25X1 Approved F r Release 000200050001-5 If Mao has remained. in the countryside as a political gesture, it is likely that he is "sulk- ing in his tent" and has not been deliberately ex- cluded from the capital. The communique issued at the conclusion of the congress makes relatively little mention of Mao personally. The guiding role of "Mao Tse-tung Thought," however, was written into the new consti- tution and the chairman of the party was designated commander of the armed forces. All of this suggests that the Chairman is still a very active force in Chinese politics. The congress approved a. list of 12 vice pre- miers, down from 15 before the Cultural Revolution. Teng Hsiao-ping heads the list, followed by Shang- hai party boss Chang Chun-chiao, who gave the re- port on the revision of the state constitution on behalf of the party Central Committee. This assign- ment is another indication that Chang is acting in the post of party secretary general, although he has never been publicly identified in that role. Youthful party vice chairman Wang Hung-wen, who had given the report on the revision of the January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865AP000200050001-5 Approved For party constitution on behalf of the Central Commit- tee at the Tenth Party Congress in August 1973, did not gain a government post. Only a single military figure, Peking Military Region Commander Chen Hsi-lien, was included in the list of vice premiers. This contrasts with four who served in this capacity before the Cultural Revolution. Li Te-sheng, who lost his job as head of the army's political department and was severely criti- cized last year, has been downgraded and is listed with the ordinary Politburo members. Contrary to previous practice, the defense minister is not now a vice premier. These changes indicate that the military has been further circumscribed in its political role. Even more striking is the downgrading of the political "left." With the possible exception of Chang Chun-chiao, who rose to prominence during the Cultural Revolution but has long since seemed to have moderated his political views, no easily recognizable leftist was named vice premier. The two most prominent leftists, Chiang Ching and Yao Wen-yuan, both of whom had claims to important government jobs, were passed over. There are now 29 ministries, compared with the 40 that existed before the Cultural Revolution. Some 15 new ministers were appointed, 6 of whom held vice-ministerial rank before the Cultural Revolution. Two former provincial leaders are now ministers and most of the other new ministerial appointees held high rank before the congress. Most ministers are veteran bureaucrats, a number of whom were severely criticized during the Cultural Revolution. January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A0g0200050001-5 25X1 25X1 Approved For Rplease - 00200050001-5 The man in the sensitive job of minister of education falls into this category; he was secretary general of the State Council. before the Cultural Revolution. Almost none of the ministers could be considered "youthful" or--with the possible excep- tion of the new minister of culture--"leftist." The position of state chairman, which had been held by the disgraced Liu Shao-chi and had figured prominently in the Lin Piao affair, has been abol- ished. According to Chang Chun-chia's speech, this and other constitutional revisions were designed to strengthen the party's control over the state struc- ture. The new government constitution, which is less than one third the length of the old one, repeats the fundamentals of moderate economic policies. --In agriculture, the production brigade, the lowest of the three organizational levels within the commune, remains the basic accounting unit, as has been the case since the failure of the Great Leap Forward. --Private plots and individual non-collective labor are retained. --The constitution repeats the standard formu- lation that agriculture is the economic "base" and industry the "leading factor." Compromise is evident in articles that guaran- tee the right to criticize officials and policies through public debates and wall posters and state that revolutionary committees will remain as per- manent government bodies. Both provisions appear to be sops to the political left. January 20, 1975 25X1 Approved For F elease 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865AO00200050001-5 25X1 Approved For Rele Chang Chun-chiao's speech did provide a hint that there may be friction ahead. He noted that while state enterprises have the form of socialist ownership, in some cases leadership is not in the hands of real Marxists and the worker masses. The implication of this phrase is not clear, but it may mean that new political attacks may develop as the "New Leap" economic campaign now a arentl beginning gathers steam. January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000P00050001-5 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Next 3 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Approved F~ The turnout in the provinces on New Year's was smaller and was reported in less detail than than on National Day, October lst in but generally keeping with the ow- ey ce ebration last year. The highlight of the holiday was the identifica tion of two new provincial first secretaries, Chiang Wei-ching in Kiangsi and Liao Chih-kao in Fukien. Chiang and Liao are veteran civilian cadre with long experience in provincial administration, as are the three other provincial bosses appointed in the last year: Chao Tzu-yang in Kwangtung, Pai Ju-ping in Shantung, and Peng Chung in Kiangsu. Both Chiang and Liao face a tough challenge in asserting their authority in their new provinces. .Armed clashes between c in factions have been reported in Kian s? 4L semi ar situation exists in Fukien, where rival groups are split over loy- alty to the pre - Cultural Revolution first sec- retary, Yeh Fei, who was rehabilitated 17 months ago. Chiang's and Liao's status as rehabilitated former first secretaries may further complicate their positions. Some figures who were purged during the Cultural Revolution apparently have had difficulty adjusting when returned to responsible positions. January 20, 1975 Approved Fort Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A00g200050001-5 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Rel lesser posts and were only later promoted to the top spot. Chiang and Liao are the first to go directly from Peking to a vacant first secretary- ship. Peking will undoubtedly monitor their performances closely. The appointments in Kiangsi and Fukien leave only three provinces without a publicly designated leader: Liaoning, Anhwei, and Hupeh. Liaoning and Anhwei are closely associated with politburo member and party vice chairman Li Te-sheng. Li, who is a military man, was heavily criticized during the anti-Confucius campaign, and for a time his political survival was in question. He still apparently has powerful enemies in Peking, and his presence in Liaoning as Shenyang Military Region commander is probably complicating the appointment of a new civilian first secretary there. This is possibly true in Anhwei as well, where his associate Sung Pei-chang is the ranking party sec- retary and military man. The badly factionalized politics in Hupeh are probably complicating that appointment. Accounts of holiday gatherings in other prov- inces were notably scanty. The whereabouts--and fates--of Heilungkiang first secretary Wang Chia-tao, Shansi first secretary Hsieh Chen-hua, Canton Military Region political commissar Jen Ssu-Chung, and Lanchow Military Region commander Han Hsien-chu remain unclear, since both their home provinces and Peking failed to publish a de- tailed account of the local festivities. The four senior military men were all under poster attack during the anti-Confucius campaign and were unex- pectedly present in Peking on National Day, possibly to answer to central authorities for their past con- duct. Three other provincial personalities who were also in Peking last National Day--Sinkiang Military January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000P200050001-5 25X1 25X1 Approved F Size of Turnout 25X1 Chekiang 25X1 t;opeh Hunan Hupeh 25X1 Inner Mongolia Kansu Kiangsi 25X1 Kwangsi Kwangtung Kweichow Ningsia Shanghai Shansi Shantung Shensi Sinkiang Szechwan Tibet 25X1 Tsinghai Turnout Led By Sung Pei-chang, the ranking secretary Pi Ting-Chun, Foochow MR commander Chang Lin-chih, a provincial party secretary Keng Chi-chang, the ranking secretary Liao Chih-kao identified as the new first secretary. No details of the turnout reported by the province No details of the turnout reported by the province Chiang identified as the new first secretary in Kiangsi. Those in attendance were identified in an unusual manner--as responsible per- sons of the Revolutionary Committee only; there was no mention of the pro- vincial party committee. To date, Peng, who has been identified as chairman of the Revolutionary Committee, has not been identified as first secretary of the party committee, t_Ae more powerful post. In the past, these two jobs have been held concurrently. Small Chen Chung, a minor municipal official No details of t.e turnout reported by the province No details of the turnout reported by the province Small Li Li, a deputy secretary of the party committee Li Te-sheng, Shenyang MR commander No details of the turnout reported by the province No details of the turnout reported by the province No details of the turnout reported by the province Hsia Yu-hsien, deputy commander Tibet MD 25X1 25X1 Approved Forl Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T0086 Approved For a lease - MW7 0200050001-5 25X1 Region commander Yang Yung and Liaoning party fig- ures Mao Yuan-hsin and Chang Shu-te--were back in their respective provinces on New Year's. Unlike the others, they were never mentioned as targets of 25X1 the anti-Confucius campaign. January 20, 1975 Approved For R1Iease 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A004200050001-5 25X1 Approved Fo Release - A000200050001-5 A New Accomplice for Lin Piao? Chen Hsi-lien, politburo member and commander of the politically sensitive Peking Military Region, was apparently criticized by historical analogy in several articles appearing in major domestic publications last fall. The criticism points up the current effort to further reduce military polit- ical power in general and the influence of certain military region commanders in particular. Both these objectives became a major focus of the anti-Lin, anti-Confucius campaign last July. At that time, posters attacking Chen and politburo member Hsu Shih-vu, who now commands the Canton Military Region, began to appear with some frequency, while poster criticisms of other national and provincial leaders were on the wane. Attacks against Chen and Hsu had not been prominent during the earlier wave of poster criticisms. In the case of Hsu, the poster attacks have continued in his former bailiwick, Nanking. The attacks against Chen and Hsu, and the continued stress on enhancing party control over the military in domestic media, appear to be part of a continuing tug of war between civilian moderates and certain regional commanders and their allies at the center. One of the themes of the anti-Chen articles is that Han Hsin, a "senior general" in the Han Dynasty who is clearly identified as a Lin Piao figure, plotted with a regional military commander named Chen Hsi. This man's surname is the same character as that. of Chen Hsi-lien. Moreover, one article notes that Chen Hsi commanded troops in the state of Chao, north of the capital. Chen Hsi-lien, of course, commanded the Shenyang Military Region in northeast China for years before his rotation January 20, 1975 Approved Fclr Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T008?5A000200050001-5 Approved For Re - 200050001-5 to Peking. The article also alludes to the fact that the regional commander was in charge of the troops defending the border against the Huns (i.e., the USSR), and that he conspired with the Huns through others to try to overthrow the government. Lin Piao stands accused of conspiring with the Soviets in an attempt to seize power, and the article seems designed to link Chen Hsi-lien with Lin's alleged plot. The charges, which appeared in October and November, are ominous enough by themselves. They are further underscored, however, by an article in the November Red Flag by Lo Ssu-ting. This article attacks, in the strongest terms, persons and groups during the Northern Sung period who wanted to capitu- late to the aggressors from the North. One group that received heavy fire was the "big landlord die- hards." Many previous articles in the anti-Confu- cius campaign have established the parallel between the landlords or feudal princes and the military region commanders. The charge that Chen Hsi-lien conspired with Lin does not seem to have validity. Chen was one of the first military leaders to reappear after the Lin affair, and he played a major role in the subsequent investigations. Chen may well have favored a less intransigent stance toward the Soviets, however-- after all, he bore responsibility for defending Manchuria against Soviet attacks. In this event, his stance in this issue could now be the basis for an effort to undermine his position by linking him--however transparent the real evidence--to Lin. At the least, the effort to brand Chen a covert Lin supporter brings considerable pressure to bear against him, and this may have been the objective January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000290050001-5 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved Fort-Rel Like other civilian and military figures, Chen survived serious political charges in 1974. Now that the National People's Congress has been held, it is likely that Peking will return to the problem of civil-military relations, and it would not be surprising to see the charges against Chen and others revived. While Chen was the only military man to be named a vice-premier--an honor that even the new Defense Mini- ster did not enjoy--his transfer from Shenyang, where he was seemingly immune, to Peking in December 1973 F7 yet lead to a reduction in his political position. January 20, 1975 Approved ForIRelease 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865AI00200050001-5 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Approved For RO China and Strauss: Strange Bedfellows I I Peking is using the current visit. of promi- nent conservative German opposition leader Franz Josef Strauss to drive home strong Chinese views about German reunification, Moscow's threat to European security, and the need for European sol- idarity against the USSR. Strauss received unprecedented treatment in view of the unofficial nature of his visit and of his stature in German politics. The closest recent parallel to Strauss' re- ception was the treatment, accorded former. British Prime Minister Heath in May 1974. Heath, however, was a former head of government and the leader of the. opposition, and his trip had been planned while he was still in office? Strauss has not been a member of a German government for more than five years, and he is not regarded as a strong candidate for high office in the future. 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 January 20, 1974 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000R00050001-5 25X1 Approved For According to the West German press, Strauss also went so far as to hint at overlapping Peking-Bonn interests in restraining Soviet. strategic ambitions. Strauss said that the continuing division of Germany threatened European security, and he praised Chinese endorsement of eventual German reunification. The Chinese have been unable to elicit public sup- port for their views on this subject from several European visitors over the months, including the chairman of the Christian Democrats--a major oppo- sition party--Helmut Kohl who visited Peking last September. 25X1 January 20, 1975 25X1 Approved For 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Approved F Western Troubles Hurt Trade Balance Worldwide inflation is pushing up China's import costs while stagnation is cutting the demand for its exports. China's deficit with the West in 1974 is estimated at $750 million. The US and Japan caused most of the deficit--$700 million and $500 million, respectively. Peking has taken steps to reduce payments for imports. Several contracts for foodstuffs, fertilizers, cotton, and steel were canceled or postponed before the Fall Canton Trade Fair. Peking ordered state-trading corporations to pur- chase only the most essential technology and equipment. at the fair. Highest priority went to imports of petroleum, mining, and. food-processing equipment. Since the fair, however, Peking has asked suppliers to speed up grain deliveries, re- flecting concern over a harvest that fell short of expectations. in addition to curtailing imports, China is attempting to switch from cash payments to short- term credits for some of its major commodity purchases. China is also trying to increase exports by lowering prices for its traditional products-- silk, textiles, and handicraft goods. The export drive, however, has come at a time when world demand for many of these products is declining. January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865PI000200050001-5 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Relea Peking hopes that oil exports will provide a growing source of foreign exchange. Oil exports of 4,5 million tons last year were three times the 1973 level and earned $420 million, Oil exports may reach 11 million tons this year earni.n million. January 20, 1.975 Approved For Rel$ase 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A0002Q0050001-5 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 New Twist for an Old Slogan F77 I Chinese propaganda has contained vague refer- ences to a "new leap forward' he phrase calls to mind the frantic and destructive economic activity of the "Great Leap Forward" that so seriously set back economic de- velopment from 1958 to 1960. There is no evidence that the new leap heralds a return to those earlier radical policies, but the appearance of the phrase has caused much speculation in China watching circles, it as surfaced periodically in routine propaganda broad- casts from a number of different provinces, suggest- ing that the phrase is part of some central docu- ment, It has not been featured in the national media, however, as would normally be expected. Even provincial references to the new leap have been sporadic and without elaboration. The new leap forward" may be just a fresh slogan in the seven-month-old campaign to boost sag- ging worker morale and thereby increase production, The phrase generally is seen in.formulas calling on cadre to step up ^uction "to welcome the new lea forward in l975.t do not seem to indicate that ra i ca new economic policies are in the works, although some adjustments in current production plans are clearly being made. Other observers, however, have suggested that the new leap couLd be .a :Leftist initiative that may even culminate in a higher level of agriculture collectivization,; long resisted by Chinese peasants. A recent editorial in the Hunan provincial paper can be cited as evidence: the editorial stressed January 20, 1975 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved Fo4 Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865Ag00200050001-5 Approved For Rele the "inevitable trend" toward complete collectiviza- tion, and demanded that cadre and peasant accept this unpopular fact:, Agriculture was completely collectivized during the Great Leap, but China's leaders were forced to retreat as the Great Leap collapsed, The Chinese for years have tacitly treated the original leap as an abysmal failure and in their present, economic difficulties, it is unlikely they would turn to unpopular policies that had failed in the pasta Moreover, the Hunan editorial states .that the present level of collectivization 07suits the political and economic conditions," and warns against "blindly" increasing collectivization--a "leftist error," There may be some increased emphasis on working collective holdings in comparison to private plots, and responsibility for certain functions that can be better handled at higher levels--e?g,, water conservancy projects"-may be transferred from produc- tion teams to parent production brigades or communes, but an upgrading of the overall level of collectivi- zation is much less likely? In any case,, the views in the Hunan editorial are apparently local ones, So far, they have not appeared in other provinces nor have they even been repeated in Hunan, Chang Chun-chiao"s report to the 4th National People's Congress endorsed current economic policies, including the present level of collectivization. It did not mention the new leap," but material sub- Sequent to the congress may help illuminate the "new leap forward" and further clarify economic policy in general, January 20, 1974 Approved For Relea 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved F r Release - Love the Army--But . Love the Party Even More I I A new and potentially significant aspect of Peking's continuing drive to reduce the power of provincial, military men has recently been revealed in provincial, circulars issued in conjunction with the annual "Love the Army and Cherish the People" campaign. Civilian government and party organi- zations as well as military units routinely profess their mutual support under the overall principle i. erences have emerged in the egree to which mili- tary regions have endorsed the subordination of mili- tary units to civilian party committees at corresponding levels, indicating that the idea has encountered re- sistance. within the military hierarchy were to remain unchanged, various military headquarters and units must "regard themselves as departments of military affairs of local p-3rt.y committees of the same level and consciously accept the leadership" of these committees. Moreover, the circular spe- cifically stated that all field armies must accept the leadership of the provincial party committee. This was a new theme and suggested a move to make field armies, which are under the command of the military region, more responsive to the direction of civilian party authorities in the provinces in which the units ar. sttat :ioned. January 20, 1975 25X1 Approved Igor Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865,R000200050001-5 Approved For Relo 25X1 25X1 ? _ ry ureaus were a o - ished, they were a check on military regions, which are of higher administrative rank than most prov- inces. Now, this ranking, plus the multi-provincial composition of most military regions, gives the regional commanders some autonomy from provincial party leaders. Furthermore, some regional commanders are members of the politburo or the central committee and outrank or at least equate with the rank of provincial party leaders. Finally, in provinces that suffer from provincial, strife or lack designated heads, troop commanders are often persons to be cultivated rather than ordered around. All these factors have made it difficult for the divided leadership to force the genie of military political power back into the bottle, January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A00020QO50001-5 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved Fair Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865AP00200050001-5 The United Nations: Disappointment The Chinese gave the recently concluded Gen- eral Assembly session ::Low marks and were particu- larly disappointed by the behavior of the Third World countries. Although the poorer nations voted as a bloc more than ever before, they split ranks when it. came to support for the Chinese- backed resolutions on Korea and Cambodia--the most important items on the agenda as far as Peking was concerned. The General Assembly also took actions that diluted China's anti-Soviet efforts. Although Peking co-sponsored resolutions affirming Pales- tinian rights and inviting the Palestine Libera- tion organization to participate in General As- sembly work as an observer, this stemmed from a desire to keep pace with Third World sentiment rather than genuine enthusiasm. Indeed, the Chi- nese did not lobby at all for the resolutions. To Peking's dismay, Third World countries went along with several less important proposals backed by the Soviets. On a, number of disarmament resolutions, China either had to go down to de- feat with the minority or acquiesce to popular opinion. The only bright spot was the passage of a resolution calling for the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in South Asia, a move that would be in the interest of China. and Pakistan. The January 20, 1975 25X1 Approved For Pelease 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865Ap00200050001-5 Approved For Release Chinese were hoping to use the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties to rally the underdeveloped world against the super powers. It turned out, however, that Peking was forced to vote for the charter while expressing sharp criticism of certain arti- cles that it said reflected Soviet input.. In re- porting the debate, NCNA cataloged Peking's reser- vations at some length and characterized certain provisions as "compromising" and "irrational." 25X1 25X1 It is improbable that the Chinese will sig- nificantly downgrade the UN as part of their for- eign policy orchestration. At the same time, the results of the General Assembly session may give pause to any plans Peking may have had to increase the UN's role as a forum for rallying the Third Worl January 20, 1975 25X1 25X1 Approved For Rele4se 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A00020g050001-5 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Approved Chiang Ching's pub-L_Lc activities tend to run in streaks. She often punctuates periods of activity with unexplained absences. Her return to view on January 2 after being out of sight for a month was, in its own unique way, characteristic. One important aspect of her re-emergence was unusual--she attended a banquet. The affair was in honor of E. F. Hill, visiting Australian Com- munist Party head. Previously, Madame Mao did not normally attend banquets for visiting dignitaries, but kept her name in the public eye by showing up at picture-taking sessions or cultural performances. The banquet for Hill was hosted jointly by Wang Hung-wen, Chang Chun-chiao, and Chiang Ching. Her presence at the banquet--like an earlier NCNA release in late September, which noted that Chiang had "entrusted" the Cultural Group under the State Council to give a soiree for Mrs. Marcos of the Philippines, and her mention along with Premier Chou by Vice Premier Li Hsien-nien in his banquet toast to Mrs. Marcos--suggested that she was attempting to gain a government post at the Na- tional People's Congress. If so her efforts failed. She clearly still has many enemies and she has continued to be attacked by historical analogy in domestic media a.rti.cles. Peking has apparently added to the top leader- ship ranks of the army"s General Political Depart- ment. Analysis of the name list of those attending the January 15 memorial service for late vice premier January 20, 1975 25X1 Approved Fort Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00861A000200050001-5 Approved For Rele Li Fu-chun suggests that Liana P 25X1 25X1 Liang was a deputy director of the GPD prior to his fall early in the Cultural Revolution. He was paraded through the streets of Peking in early 1967 along with former marshal Lo Jui-?ching, former Peking mayor Peng Chen, and other "capitalist Liiang was c ose to to r chief and politburo member Tao Chu. Tao has been widely rumored as marked for rehabilitation, but has not re-emerged. Since Liang's return to the active ranks came over a year and a half after his initial reappearance, it does not necessarily foreshadow the return of Tao. 25X1 25X1 January 20, 1975 25X1 Approved For Reloase 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A0002P00050001-5 Approved Fo In an effort to make the down-to-the-country- side program more attractive to local youth, Kwang- tung officials last July launched a series of incentives, including one that allowed one child of a retiring urban worker to leave the countr side and take the retiring parent's job. Peking has now i e the whole scheme on the grounds that it did nothing to relieve the urban population crunch--one of the goals of the down-to-the-country- side program. The veto was just short of categori- cal. Peking did hold out the possibility that some- thing like the Kwangtu:ng plan could become part of the program "when the present phase-comes to a close"--in 1980. January 20, 1975 Approved'For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000;00050001-5 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Approved r Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865 December 20 Chinese trade exhibition opens in Manila. Sino-Finn trade agreement for 1975 signed in Helsinki. Sino-Swiss trade agreement signed in Bern. Vice Foreign Trade Minister Chen Chieh signs 1975 Sino-Czech trade and pavMErItS agreement in Prague. December 20- Thai trade delegation, led by Deputy 25 Commerce Minister Prasong Sukhum, visits Peking and meets with Vice Premier Li Hsien-nien and Foreign Minister Chiao Kuan-hua. December 21 Vice Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Hao Chung-shih arrives in Upper Volta; travels to Chad on December 31. Li Hsien--nien and Foreign Trade Minister Li Chiang attend signing of scientific and technical pro- tocol between China and Romania. December 23 China si ns medical protocol with Senegal. January 20, 1975 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T0086PA000200050001-5 Approved For Release December 23 Romanian airline inaugurates weekly flights to Peking. December 28 Chinese economic and technical delegation arrives in Vientiane for "friendly visit." Agreement providing for 1975 gratis economic aid to the Viet Cong government signed by For- eign Trade Minister Li Chiana in Peking. January 3-8 Dutch Foreign Minister Van der Stoel visits Peking; hosted by Chiao Kuan-hua and meets with Chou En-lai and Teng Hs". ping. 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 January 5-10 Thai delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Chatchai, visits China; meets Premier Chou En-lai on January 8. January 6 China establishes diplomatic relations with Botswana. January 7-10 Maltese Prime Minister Mintoff visits China; meets with Mao, Chou En-lai Li Hsien-nen and Chiao Kuan-hua. January 20, 1975 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000400050001-5 Approved January 8-10 2nd plenum of the tenth central com- mittee. Teng Hsiao-ping elevated to politburo :standing committee, named a party vice-chairman. Discussed NPC preparatory work, and submitted a list of nominees for the standing committee of the NPC and the State Council, the draft revised text of the state constitution, and reports on the constitution the govern- ment to the NPC. January 9 Vice Minister of Fuel and Chemical Industry Tang Ko departs Mexico for Trinidad and Tobago. Vice-Premier Li Fu-chun, veteran eco- nomic planner, died. Premier Chou En-L_ai presided over a memorial ser- vice on January 15 at which Teng Hsia.o-ping gave a speech. 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 January 12 The head of West Germany's Christian Socialistic Union Franz Josef Strauss begins visit to China; sees Mao out- side Peking and holds talks with Chou En-Lai, Ten ]Hsiao- in and Chiao Kuan-hua. January 20, 1975 25X1 Approved Fo4 Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T008654000200050001-5 Approved For ReleaO January 13 January 15 Peking. Malaysia's first ambassador to the PRC, Hashim Bin Sultan, arrives in for seven-day visit. Japanese Liberal Democratic Party leader Shigeru Hori arrives in Peking January 16 Preliminary talks on Sino-Japanese peace and friendship treaty open in Tokyo with Ambassad r Chen Chu heading Chinese side. Chou En-lai meets with Japanese eco- nomic delegation in Peking hospital. 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 gation. Sino-Japanese peace treaty negotiations resume in Tokyo; Chinese ambassador to Japan, Chen Chu, heads Chinese dele- January 20, 1975 Approved For Release 4004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79TOO865A000200040001-5 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5 Top Secret Top Secret Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000200050001-5