"Facing Reality" in East Asia - Colin Adair - July 1975

Colin Adair

MANILA: The recent visit to China by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos was perhaps the most dramatic affirmation of his intention to establish contacts with the communist world. During the four-day visit to China in early June, President Marcos had one long meeting with Chairman Mao, two meetings with Premier Chou En-lai and three meetings with Vice Premier Teng Hsiao-ping. The capstone of the trip was the signing between Marcos and Premier Chou En-lai of a joint communique which provided for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two governments. In the communique the Philippine government acknowledged that the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China. The Philippines bound itself to break off all ties with Taiwan. The Philippines, long a strongly anti-communist country and American ally, but one that is now questioning the value of American military bases on her soil, thus becomes the second member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to recognize Peking as the sole representative of the Chinese people. - Information Supplied By: Herbert W Armstrong Library