China's Foreign Debts: Are They a Problem?
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EEKLY OF NEWS AND VIEWS Vol. 31, No. 31 August 1-7, 1988 China's Foreign Debts: Are They a Problem? Beijing^?]"!- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK The Dalai Lama's 'New Proposal' VOL. }], NO. 3! AUGUST 1-7, 1988 • At a recent press conference in Strasbourg, France, the Dalai Lama distributed a speech containing his "new proposal" to make Tibet a "democratic political entity governed by CONTENTS itself" He attempted to deny Tibet's status as an inalienable part of China's territory under Chinese sovereignty and to MOTES FROM THE EDITORS 4 internationalize "the Tibet issue." He also professed wish to The Dalai Lama's 'New discuss matters with the Chinese central government. In fact, Proposal' this way is always open provided the Dalai Lama will contribute to safeguarding the unity of the motherland and EVENTS/TRENOS 5-9 Tibet's prosperity (p. 4)." Li: Keep to Reform, Stabilize Economy China s GNP Up in First Half Nanjing Opens Its Doors to the World Year Offidai Profiteering Erodes • Nanjing blends the features of an ancient capital and an Economy industrial centre. Recently incorporated into China's coastal Prices Raised for Cigarettes, open economic zone, the city is fast becoming both a modern LiqinM- metropolis and a living museum to its distinguished history . Sino-USSR Trade Makes (p. 14). Headway Rut Pushes Literary & Artistic Freedom GNP Up in First Half Year Weekly Chronicle (July 18-24) • China's national economy continued to show good progress mTERNATIONAL 1013 in the first half of this year, with the gross national product Iran-Iraq; Important Turning reaching more than 557.5 billion yuan, up 11 percent from the Point ^ . same'perfod Fast year,(p. 5). South Africa: Black Leader Admired Worldwide US-Soviel Union: New Chapter in Does China Face a Debt Crisis Military Relations The United Stales: Drought Pushes • As China has opened to the world, its foreign borrowi^ig has .World CJrain Prices Up greatly increased. Demands for repayment will peak in the mid 1990s. However, analysis suggests that so long as exports Nanjing Opens its Doors to the expand and the debt repayment rate stays below 20 percent, World 14 China will be able to avoid a debt crisis (p. 23). Nanjing Opens Its Doors to tite World (Black-and-white Pictorial) Does China Face a Debt Crisis? 23 Nelson IVIandela Admired Worldwide FROM THE CHINESE PRESS 24 • Imprisoned for the past 26 years. Nelson Mandela has won BUSINESS/TRADE 25 the adniiration and support of all those who believe injustice in TOURISM 26 the world through his unyielding struggle against the ruthless COVER: Jinling Hotel in Nanjing (left). persecution of the Pretoria regime (p. 10). Chinese and American technicians of the Sino-US Goulds Deep-Weil Pump- L'actory (upper right). Naijing Harbour (lower right). Subscription rates (1 year): USA.. US$24.00 Published every Monday by General Editorial Office Tel: 8314318 Australia A.$24.00 Canada Can423.00 BEIJING REVIEW English Dept Tel: 831.5599 Ext. 546 New Zealand NZ.$33.00 24 Baiwanzhuang Road, Distributed by China International Book UK. £13.00 Beijing 100037 Trading Corporation (GUOJI SHUDIAN) The People's Repubjic of China P.O. Box 399, Beijing, China •1 NOTES FROM THE EDITORS The Dalai Lama's 'New Proposar by An Zhiguo n June 15, the Dalai Lama held will not make any concession on development from feudal serfdom Oa press conference at the the question of sovereignty." to a socialist society reflects both European Parliament building in In his June 15 speech, the Dalai the onward march of history and Strasbourg, France. He dis• Lama claimed that the history of the "demands of the Tibetan tributed a copy of a speech Tibet's independence could be people. Admittedly, during the ten containing a "new proposal" for traced back over 2,000 years. years of the "cultural revolution," making Tibet a "democratic People knowledgeable of Tibet's Tibet suffered a great deal like political entity governed by itseir' history know that after Songzain other parts of China. But in the ten which would maintain relations of Gambo united the various tribes years since, the Chinese Commu• "alliance" with China. of Tibet in the seventh century, the nist Party has corrected "leftist" Last September, at a Human Tubo Dynasty went through a mistakes and Tibet has experien• Rights Subcommittee meeting of period of over 200 years of unified ced great changes which are the US House of Representatives, development. When the Tubo evident to all. the Dalai Lama presented a "Five- Dynasty fell in 842, Tibet was As regards Tibet's population, Point Plan" on the "Tibetan again divided, with no tribe being shortly after the peaceful liber• position." There are some vari• subordinate to another. By the ation in 1951, it was no more than ations between the formulations middle of the Yuan Dynasty in the 1 million. Now it is 2.02 milHon, of the speech and the "Five-Point 13th century, Tibet was formally 1.93 million (95 percent) of whom Plan," but there are no substantial included in the territory of China. are Tibetans. Only 73,000 are differences: Both attempt to Its political and religious systems Hans, and the rest are from other tamper with history, distort were all determined by the central nationalities. The Dalai Lama's reality, and deny Tibet's status as government, which ever since has accusations have not a leg to stand an inalienable part of China's exercised sovereignty over Tibet. on. territory under Chinese sovereign• He also claimed he had selected ty. Their aim is to internationalize The Dalai Lama alleged that a negotiation group and was thC' so-called Tibet question. The after the Chinese "armed inva• prepared to meet the Chinese Chinese government and people sion" of Tibet in 1949, the region government. A Chinese authorita• will not tolerate this. experienced the darkest period of tive source commented: "So far we The fundamental difference its history, with the occupation have not received any formal between the Chinese government resulting in the death of more than letter, cable or oral statement from and people on the one hand and 1 million people and the massive the Dalai Lama demanding the Dalai Lama on the other is immigration of Han people into discussions of questions with the whether to safeguard or split the Tibet. The statements are utterly central government. In fact, the unity of the motherland. groundless. In 1951, Tibet was way is always open to discussions Dalai will never succeed if he liberated peacefully after the 17- of questions between the Dalai attempts to internationalize the Article on Measures for the Lama and the central government. Tibet issue and rely on the support Peaceful Liberation of Tibet was "As long as the Dalai Lama has of foreign forces to achieve his aim signed in Beijing between the a sincere desire to improve of splitting the motherland. So far, Central People's Government and relations with the central govern• there is no government (including the Tibetan local government. ment and wishes to contribute to Britain, the United States and This put an end to Tibet's history safeguarding the unification of the India) which has denied that Tibet of suffering foreign aggression. motherland, promoting unity is part of China. In his cable to Chairman Mao between the Tibetans and Hans, The Chinese authorities have Zedong on October 24, 1951, the and the people of other nation- solemnly declared: "China's Dalai Lama expressed full support aHties and to Tibet's development sovereignty over the Tibet region for this agreement on behalf of and prosperity, we are ready at all is undeniable. The independence, the Tibetan local government as times to welcome him or his semi^ndependence and disguised well as the ecclesiastics and secular representatives in China or at any independence of Tibet will not do. people in his homeland. Chinese embassy to discuss The People's Republic of China Over the past 30 years, Tibet's matters." • 4 BEIJING REVIEW, AUGUST 1-7, 1988 m EVENTSARENDS Product (GNP) reached more than 557.5 billion yuan between Li: Keep to Reform, Stabilize Economy January and June, up 11 percent from the same period last year. The increase in agricultural hina will stick with reform, for optimum labour organization, input in the first half of this year stabilize its economy, and lay economic efficiency has been C brought welcome improvements a solid foundation for more improved." to farming condifions. Chinese reforms and economic develop• Another urgent task is to find farmers spent 44.7 billion yuan on ment next year, Premier Li Peng some way to make the best use of means of production in the first six said on July 15 at a meeting of the the country's surplus labour force, months, a 24.3 percent rise from State Council, China's highest the premier said. the same period last year. governing body. In the area of agricultural This year's total summer grain "China's overall economic production, Li said commercial output will remain at about the situation for the first half of this departments should ensure sup• same level as that of last year year looks good," Li said, adding plies of chemical fertilizer, pesti• despite drought, flooding and that the country's gross national cides and plastic film during other natural disasters, said Zhang output hit 550 billion yuan farming seasons, and also do more Zhongji, the bureau's spokesman. (USS148.7 billion) in that period, to help fight drought and flood. As a result of by-product 11 percent higher than the figure As for the current craze of purchase price readjustments, reported last year, calculated in setting up trade companies, Li more cash crops such as cotton, terms of comparable prices.