First published in The Age on December 23, 1972
Australia recognises Peking
East Germany to get envoy too
Australia yesterday recognised China and East Germany.
Then opposition leader, Gough Whitlam, returns from China after leading an ALP delegation in 1971.Credit:SMH Archives
The Prime Minister (Mr Whitlam) announced these historic changes in Australian foreign policy in Canberra at six o’clock last night.
He said the recognition of China would end a “serious distortion” in Australia’s foreign policy.
New Zealand also recognised China yesterday and announced it would sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
It’s Labor Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (Mr Kirk), in a statement timed to coincide with the Australian announcement, said ambassadors would be exchanged as soon as possible.
Taipeh closed
Front page of The Age on December 23, 1972.Credit:The Age Archives
Mr. Whitlam said the Australian Embassy in Taipeh would be closed by January 25.
“We have made the choice which we believe will be in the best interests of Australia,” he said.
The exchange of recognition between Australia and China was concluded in a communique signed in Paris by the Australian Ambassador (Mr Alan Renouf) and the Chinese Ambassador (Huang Chen).
The communique, said, in part: “The Australian Government recognises the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China.”
It went on to say that Australia “acknowledges the position of the Chinese Government that Taiwan is a province of the People’s Republic of China and has decided to remove its official representation from Taiwan before January 25, 1973.”
It said the two Governments had agreed to exchange ambassadors as soon as the administrative formalities and practical arrangements were completed.
Australia’s first ambassador to Peking is expected to be a 33-year-old fellow in Far Eastern history at the Australian National University, Dr. Stephen Fitzgerald.
Dr. Fitzgerald formerly was a China expert with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Canberra. He accompanied Mr Whitlam to China last year as an interpreter and adviser.
His name is expected to be submitted to Peking within the next few days. Australia’s embassy should be opened before the end of January.
Mr Whitlam is planning to visit Peking about next October.
The formula which Australia used in the communique in relation to Taiwan is far less guarded than the so-called Canadian formula which Mr. Whitlam said recently would be the basis of Australia’s negotiations.
Canada simply “noted” China’s claim to sovereignty over Taiwan.
Australia’s agreement that Taiwan is “a province” of China is in line with the British form of recognition and is the term which Mr Whitlam used in his talks in Peking last year with the Chinese Premier (Chou Enlai).
The completion of Australia’s negotiations with China came less than three weeks after Mr. Whitlam, fresh from his victory in the Federal elections on December 2, announced that he had ordered talks to begin in Paris.
Objective
Announcing the conclusion of the talks last night, Mr Whitlam said: “It has long been the objective of the Australian Labor Party to establish diplomatic relations between Australia and the People’s Republic of China. It accordingly gives me great satisfaction to announce that this important step has now been taken.
“While it has long been recognised that Australia’s geographical position gives it special interests in the Asian region, up until now we have not come to terms with one of the central facts of that region, the People’s Republic of China. This serious distortion in our foreign policy has now been corrected.”
The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Snedden) said last night: “Prior to the election Mr Whitlam stated his policy was to recognise the People’s Republic of China. In that sense, he has been given a mandate for recognition by Australians.
“However, it is important that the terms of recognition should preserve the interests of the Australian people.
“I will arrange for Mr Whitlam’s statement and the communique signed by the ambassadors to he examined from that point of view.
“After the examination, a further statement will be made.”
The leader of the DLP (Senator Gair) said: “The Age”, why didn’t you ring me during the election campaign? I have no comment for “The Age” until I have checked the details.
“But it’s not bloody remarkable, is it ?”
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