Chinese Leaders Denounce Hussein Plan for Splitting, Undermining Struggle ‘against Imperialism, Zion

King Hussein’s proposed federation of the West Bank with Jordan has been denounced by China as “a plot aimed at splitting the unity of the Palestinian and other Arab peoples and undermining their struggle against imperialism and Zionism.” The Chinese Embassy here reported that those were the words of Foreign Minister Chi Peng-fei at a reception several days ago in Peking for the ambassadors of seven Arab states and “the head of the mission of the Palestine Liberation Organization.”

The Foreign Minister addressed the ambassadors of Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Morocco, Algeria, Yemen and the Sudan. He reiterated that “The Chinese government and people have always supported the Palestinian people and the people of all Arab countries in their just struggle against US-Israeli aggression.”

According to Chi, the Hussein plan was “dished up” by the “Jordanian reactionaries at a time when the anti-imperialist struggle of the Palestinian peoples is growing in depth day by day.” He said it was China’s “consistent stand that the national rights of the Palestinian people must be restored and Israeli Zionism must withdraw from all Arab territories it has occupied. We firmly believe that so long as they persist in unity and struggle, the great Arab people and the Palestinian people will surely win against aggression,” Chi told the envoys.

Earlier in Peking, Deputy Premier Li Hsiennien said Hussein’s plan would fail “in the face of 100 million awakened and militant Arabs.” He added, “This plot can serve only to push the Arab peoples of the Middle East into an even greater resistance and struggle against imperialism and its lackeys.” LI spoke at a banquet honoring Mahmoud Riad, the former Foreign Minister of Egypt who is now a foreign affairs advisor to President Anwar Sadat.