First Published: The Call, Vol. 7, No. 33, August 28, 1978.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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Chinese leader Hua Kuo-feng made a historic visit to East Europe last week in the first European tour ever made by a Chinese Communist Party chairman. The trip was aimed at strengthening China’s relations with Romania and Yugoslavia.
These two countries have rebuffed Soviet efforts to dominate them, charting a political course independent from both the U.S. and the USSR.
Coming at a time when the superpower rivalry in Europe is more tense than ever, Chairman Hua’s visit was an important step forward in developing the worldwide united front against the superpowers – especially the USSR.
The Chinese leader was warmly welcomed in Romania by President Nicolae Ceausescu. Half a million Romanians came out to great him, waving flags and flower bouquets and shouting, “Hua, Hua!” for over an hour as the motorcade passed by.
Arriving in Bucharest’s Victory Square, a monument to the anti-fascist victory in World War II, Chairman Hua joined hundreds of colorfully dressed folk dancers in the traditional Romanian “hora” dance.
Western newsmen on the scene reported that the Romanian people’s spontaneous outpouring of friendship with China reflected their heartfelt desire to remain free from Soviet domination.
Throughout the visit, Hua and Ceausescu exchanged views on the international situation and especially the growing contention between the two imperialist superpowers. This was the subject of speeches made by the two leaders at an official state dinner Aug. 16.
“The policy of redividing the world into spheres of influence and domination is becoming more marked, generating tension and endangering security and peace,” the Chinese leader declared in a much-applauded speech.
“Today those who hold in vain the thought of ruling the world,” said Hua in a clear cut reference to the Soviet imperialists, “will, even if they briefly enjoy their folly,” be “turned into dust under the iron blows of the people.”
Ceausescu in his speech spoke on the same theme of growing tension internationally. He castigated efforts by big powers to “redivide” the world into spheres of influence.
During his stay in Romania, Hua Kuo-feng visited the oil refineries in Ploiesti near Bucharest and the country’s largest shipyards in Constantza, a key Black Sea port, among other sites. A billion-dollar bilateral trade agreement was signed, and steps were taken to exchange consulates in Shanghai and Constantza.
One of the most significant events during Hua’s visit was a farewell banquet held in his honor August 20. Here the Chinese Premier declared: “Aggression, control, subversion of any state against other states must be strongly condemned and firmly combatted.”
These words carried much weight, coming on the tenth anniversary of the USSR’s invasion of Czechoslovakia. Significantly, Romania was the only Warsaw Pact nation that refused to send its troops into Czechoslovakia and along with its Balkan neighbor Yugoslavia strongly condemned the Russian occupation.
Arriving in Yugoslavia on Aug. 21 – the very day of the Czech invasion anniversary – Chairman Hua praised Yugoslavia’s military preparedness and its fierce spirit of independence.
“Yugoslavia, is ready at all times to repel an enemy that would dare mount an invasion,” he said at a banquet in his honor. In reply, Yugoslavian President Tito spoke highly of China’s consistent stand against big power domination and in support of the non-aligned movement.
Chairman Hua’s diplomatic efforts in East Europe came immediately on the heels of the successful conclusion of a Japan-China friendship treaty. That treaty included a passage committing both countries to opposing efforts by third countries to establish hegemony.
Naturally, this strikes fear in the hearts of Brezhnev and his military strategists in the USSR. They want East Europe to be a cohesive bloc on their western flank, and they want to bully Japan into submission on their eastern flank.
The stands taken by Japan, Romania, Yugoslavia and other countries, are upsetting these plans. Trying to stop the motion towards worldwide unity against hegemony, Moscow’s propaganda machine is churning out new threats. The Soviet news agency TASS, for example, said the Japan-China treaty was “fraught with danger” and warned that it was “inadvisable” for Hua Kuo-feng to visit Romania. But these threats have not succeeded in influencing any of the countries involved.
After visiting Yugoslavia, Chairman Hua will stop off in Iran before returning to China. Iran, too, is a country firmly opposed to Soviet hegemony-seeking in Asia.