Reno Calleja
I saw China changing
On January 31, Malta marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China. I think that on this anniversary we should give credit to Dom Mintoff who had the vision and the courage to visit China in April 1972.
In February 1972, US President Richard Nixon made history when he visited China with Henry Kissinger. The Chinese gave Mr Nixon a measured but warm reception. He was not even sure whether Mao Tse Tung would see him. In the end, Mao received Mr Nixon with the warmth and hospitality so characteristic of the Chinese.
Two months later, Mr Mintoff shocked the world when he became the first Western European Prime Minister to visit China after it was accepted as a full member of the United Nations.
That was vintage Mintoff who was a genius at outflanking his opponents.
When Mr Mintoff landed in China, the Chinese gave him a welcome greater than they gave President Nixon. Thousands of children, students and workers lined up the streets from the airport to the Chinese capital. They wanted to convey a message. They wanted to show the world that they admired this diminutive man from Malta who was resisting the Soviet Union and the United States with his declared aim to make Malta a neutral and non-aligned country.
That did not fit in the dirty game the two superpowers were playing.
The Americans viewed Mr Mintoff with suspicion. He was not exactly the darling of the Soviets either. Indeed, a Russian journalist once told me that the Soviet Foreign Minister of the time, Andrei Gromyko, regarded Mr Mintoff with disdain. He used to call him the barnacle.
A few months after he was elected Premier, in June l971, while negotiating with British Secretary of State Peter Carrington about the signing of a new defence treaty with the UK, Mr Mintoff sent his private secretary, Joe Camilleri, and the Maltese Ambassador to Rome, Carmel Mallia, to speak to the Chinese Ambassador in Italy. They informed him that Malta wanted to establish diplomatic relations with Red China and the Prime Minister would like to visit the country.
The Chinese Ambassador was frank. Malta should first break its diplomatic relations that the Nationalist government had established with Taiwan. When Mr Camilleri reported this to Mr Mintoff, he immediately sent for the Taiwanese Ambassador and, thanking him for his services, asked him to pack his bags and leave.
Mao knew this and received Mr Mintoff warmly. He promised him that China, despite being a poor country at the time, would help Malta in its quest to wrestle away from the economic grip the western countries had on it.
Indeed, the largest two construction projects ever undertaken by Malta – the Red China Dock and the Marsaxlokk freeport project – where realised with the help of hundreds of Chinese workers and with financial assistance from this great country.
In Malta, Mr Mintoff was demonised by the conservative press for establishing diplomatic relations with Red China. The conservative press depicted the Chinese people like weather-beaten slugs. Fear was instilled in the Maltese people that because China had lost Albania, it wanted to turn Malta into a base.
That was one of the reasons I decided to set up the Malta-China Friendship Society. I was working as a reporter with l-Orizzont and I floated the idea to Charles Mizzi, my news editor. That evening, I, Mr Mizzi, Richard Matrenza, Ġiġi Gauci and Andrew Sultana , a teacher from St Julians, met and set up the first provisional committee.
In December 1978, the Communist Party Congress, under the leadership of the reformer Deng Xiaoping, decided to forget the rigid, central economic system and open up the country for massive direct foreign investment. This momentous decision set the stage for the gargantuan capital infusion that has transformed China from a poverty-stricken country into the second largest economy in the world, overtaking Japan.
The Communist Party, still reeling from what happened under the Gang of Four, imposed a rule that no Prime Minister can serve for more than two terms.
China’s economy today is worth $5.8 trillion. Within a few decades it will surpass that of the United States and some political analysts argue that this will have political, social, cultural and psychological consequences.
This is not just the United States supplanting Great Britain, its Anglo-Saxon imperial power. This time, the changing of the guard will have a much more profound effect. For the first time in hundreds of years, the white race, always depicted as superior to other races, will have to come to terms with the reality that a different race is taking over.
A former Minister of Tourism, the author is president of the Malta-China Friendship Society and secretary general of the Maltese-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
19 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Alfred Falzon
Feb 8th, 22:41
Unfortunately, you seem to suffer from a lot of memory blanks lately!
But that should suit you, I presume!
From the Tien-an-Men massacre to Kadhafi's downfall,... it's a one-way trudge for you... and paved with good intentions, from what I gather!
Not exactly like the Long March, mind you! That's another story!
It's now post "Gang of Four" and the rest is history and black on white!
Alfred Falzon
Emma Xerri
Feb 8th, 20:08
We all saw China changing.
It changed from a traditional Communist country to an outright fascist-Capitalist one. Western Corporations recognised a good deal when they saw one. So they took all their manufacture plants from North America, (following on their heels were the European corporate vultures) and opened up shop in China to make use of all that good slave labour. This caused thousands to lose their jobs in the West, while in the East thousands more were subjected to Dickensian wages and working conditions, so much so that a spat of suicides in Chines factories is ongoing (although hidden by State Media, the news is leaking out).
Franco Farrugia
Feb 8th, 17:02
What about Tiananmen Square? Eh? Eh? Or do you have a partial lack of memory?
And what about China's stance on the Syria question, together with Russia? Won't we ever learn that these two 'great' powers simply do not believe in the people, do not trust the people, are against the people and are led by crazy individuals craving power for their ends and those of their immediate relatives and friends! So, what's new?
Emanuel Debono
Feb 8th, 08:18
@ Victor Gelfo
Dear Sir,
Whilst some of your comments are correct others are not........the days of Mao are long gone....don't go back in History.....WE HAD the INQUISITION, don't forget...Have you been to CHINA lately ??????? You made the statement and I quote
"Workers in China work in primitive conditions" Cheap labour true but so is the cost of living...again how many times have you been to CHINA ????
Some do work in Primitive conditions but I live in Australia and we have Cheap Slave Labour HERE in Australia !!!!!
Come on and wake up.....and what do you call freedom.......we couldn't divorce in Malta till 2011 !!
Emma Xerri
Feb 8th, 20:25
Of course there is slave labour everywhere. In Canada this week 11 Peruvian chicken workers on a temporary working visa were killed outright when their vehicle slammed into a trailor. There are no safety regulations for transporting South American migrant workers. Some of them had just come over the week before from Peru and it was only their first day at work. The truth is that the only way we can achieve freedom from slavery is to control human poplulation. Since human life is so cheap, who cares about working conditions or workers' welfare.
Third world countries churn out babies like there is no tomorrow and these people are the disposable spokes in the wheels of industry. Also, if you have ever been on a cruise, you will notice that most of the cabin and kitchen/restaurant staff all come from overpopulated regions of the world. In truth, they are spoiling it for the rest of us. No wonder most State and Religious rhetoric favours baby-making at all costs. And despite the nice talk,
Mary Ann Borg
Feb 7th, 21:14
"the white race, always depicted as superior to other races, will have to come to terms with the reality that a different race is taking over".
So wrote Reno Calleja! His Lejber used to name anybody who did not side with Mintoff during the 70s as Laqghi tal-Barrani and 'mentalita' imperjalista'. With Reno Calleja's seemingly triumphant tone he should be remebered as the Ultimate Laqghi tac-Cinizi.
Reno should have perhaps tried writing his article on some Syrian Free newspaper. I'm sure the Syrians that are being butchered on a daily basis will have very different views of China.
Mr Calleja, you ought to remember that even when Japan thought it was mighty enough to take on the United States it completely miscalculated the will of the USA, Britain and its allies. Mr Calleja has yet to understand that power, it being economical or militarily, comes as a result of democracy. It seems even the relatively recent meltdown of the Soviet Union has not taught Reno a very basic principle.
Andy Farrugia
Feb 7th, 20:58
"I saw China changing............but I forgot all about Tiananmen Square!"
Victor Gelfo
Feb 7th, 18:24
Sending the Taiwanese ambassador to pack his bags was not a very wise move either. Taiwan or the Republic of China was very rich and prosperous compared to the impoverished mainland. If I am not wrong Taiwan has also helped our country during the 60's. This move was not in the country's best interests but in the interests of those who wanted to make another 'Cuba of the medittereanian'. These relationships brought a few millions, but we lost billions from American and western investments. Malta, which had a respected forighn policy during the 60's started behaving like a rouge state, with the conseguence that billions of investment was lost. There was the other treat of goverment socialism and investors, both local and forighn were concerned that their investment will be nationalised, ie taken over by the state. Above all these relationships were against the wished of the vast majority of maltese, who prefered dealings with the west.
Victor Gelfo
Feb 7th, 17:48
Mr Calleja, there is NOTHING honourable to be met by one of the most brutal butchers of the 20 th century. Mao has deliberatly killed more than 50 million of his own people. When he started his 'agrarian revolution' he was told that his 'collectivasation' of agriculture was causing millions to starve to death, and he was also told to look at the examples of the collectivisation done in Russia by Lenin and Stalin , but to no avail.China is sucessfull only at international markets due to its cheap labor and lack of workers rights. Workers in China work in primitive conditions using carcinogenic chemicals for manufacture banned in the west. Above all the Chinese people suffer the greatest poverty of all=Freedom. If the above is not told to you by your Chinese friends(definitly the well off types) the recent vote by China on Syria is enough to open your eyes. For your friends money and contracts are more important than human life!
Andy Farrugia
Feb 7th, 17:34
Jurassic Park!
Carmel camilleri
Feb 7th, 17:08
One thing has not changed in China. That the system is still dictatorial and the people have no say in what the communist rulers do.
Perhaps Reno can get from is Chinese friends the date of the first free election to be held in that country. Also when these poor Chinese can have their free media.
Inspite of the great improvement in the economy most of the chinese are still treated as slaves as no unions are to defend their rights.
Joseph Scicluna
Feb 7th, 15:33
"Within a few decades it will surpass that of the United States" At what human price?
"the white race, always depicted as superior to other races, will have to come to terms with the reality that a different race is taking over". God forbid
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Feb 7th, 21:12
We should thank the European Union and its socalist mentality and human rights. In 50 years they destroyed a civilization
Emma Xerri
Feb 8th, 20:44
@Malcom Seychell
I would correct your statement to say that as the EU and the Neo-Con policies (Mentality) that have destroyed civilization.
The New Conservatives of Neo-Con is an euphemistic name for fascist corporate rule, which if you are careful to consider, includes open borders in as far as indiscriminate immigration (under the guises of refugees, illegal immigrants etc,) total control of the Media under the guise of pluralism, but in fact most Media Corporations are privately owned multinationals, the rule by Banks, vide the unelected governments of Italy and Greece and Brussels on the rest of Europe, the dismantling of Unions and pension rights. And yeah, I forgot to mention that there is no Socialist anymore, it is only just a label, All political parties of any substance in existence at this moment in both Europe and North America and the Far East are Right Wing governments and have been so for decades, so your rough estimate of 50 years sounds correct. This world-wide movement to the Right started by the teaming of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and more too numerous to mention besides, with honourable mention to Milton Friedman of the Chicago School of Economic (Supply Side) They have all done Mussolini proud.
G G Debono
Feb 7th, 15:32
...told the Taiwanese Ambassador to pack his bags ? Now that's what diplomacy is all about ?
Of course Malta was chummy with such nice people in those heady days --- like Mao tse Tung, Nikolai Caeuscesku , Erich Honneker . At least the last two didn't die in their beds like Mao but were shot - like the good dictators that they were.
The mind boggles.
Joseph Calleja
Feb 7th, 14:35
Mr Calleja please let us know when you stop patting yourself on the back. First of all we happen to have different opinions of the Dom Mintoff era and dictatorship. Maybe that is why the Dockyard was taken over by the Chinese and left the Maltese Government holding the bag. Have you seen the latest news about how China treats their people? Wasn't the Tiananmen Square Square incident enough to convince you what China is all about? Isn't the recent NO Vote by China at the UN concerning Syria bothering you a bit? Why not try to convince your Chinese friends to look at the humanitarian side of this world and tell them how wrong they were to Vote No against stopping a dictator from slaughtering and committing genocide on his own people? Why not try to convince them that Assad is a perfect copy of Gaddafi?
William Flynn
Feb 7th, 13:16
There's a story around the Nixon historic visit to China that involves Malta. This is roughly what I remember.
Neither Nixon nor anyone in the USA had any way to contact anyone in China about his visit. All contact had been lost decades before and the lines of communication had been dead for a long time.
So the US Administration was casting around on how to make the contact with Red China.
The story goes the Aussie foreign office knew there was this Maltese Consul, Mr Joe Forace, who had visited China and had high level contacts in China. He was on speaking terms with Chou en Lai himself. (Forace had in fact been instrumental in the release by China of an Australian journalist accused of espionage).
So the US foreign office asked the Aussies could they please get a name and a number from him so they can make first base contact.
The rest is history.
Carmel camilleri
Feb 7th, 19:46
It was reported at that time that Joe Forace used to pee in Chou en Lai pockets. (as a sign of their great friendship)
Jon Vercellono
Feb 7th, 12:31
Nice to know the respect they have for the workers contributing to their wealth - i.e. the most recent articles regarding IPAD and IPOD manufacture. Additionally, it's always welcome news to see a country which admittedly has a lot to contribute to the world - tacitly support and condone massacres in Syria. Chinese (a different race) taking over - no thanks. Thank you Mr. Clleja for presenting a pro-Mintoff warped view of things; but thanks to the TImes in general for reporting the entire story.