6
Monday, February 5, 1979
University Daily Kansan
Teng's visit provokes varied reactions
By GENE LINN
Staff Reporter
HOUSTON—It was not the Peking Opera, although right and wrong seemed as obvious as they do in the ancient Peking drama to about a thousand demonstrators who swirled colorful flags and sane Chinese songs.
But the slogans shouted during the demonstration Friday belied the complexity of Chinese politics.
"Teng Hsi-paow jeedet, defect to freedom," the pro-Taiwan demonstrators jeered across a long line of grim-faced policemen.
Their banners proclaimed their belief in freedom and democracy.
"We would like to debate with Teng," one young demonstrator said. "We are confident in what we believe."
THE COMMUNISTS, who roared past their limousines and buses, and the ultimate symbol of legitimacy—China itself. They
The confrontation had its roots in the bitter Chinese civil war in the late 1940s; when the Communists forced Chiang Kai-shek's pro-independence government.
Taiwan still considers itself to be at war with the Communist People's Republic of China, which is now led by Vice Premier Teng
Away from the cold drizzle outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where Teng was staying there were many Chinese who did not know English.
"Now is the time for Chinese to get together and talk without so much conflict," said Arthur Paul, president of the Chinese Association.
HE SAID THAT most of the students in his group, about 65 percent of whom were from Hong Kong, were not against Teng's visit.
Poon disagreed with Houston Mayor Jim McConnell's statement that the overwhelming majority of the Chinese in Houston were
"The press gives a false impression of how much support Taiwan has had in the Chinese community," he said.
Poon said some students from Taiwan were opposed to the visit. But he said that for some people this onposition had a price tag.
"A couple of the demonstrators told me they are getting paid $30," he said.
Poon said he did not know who provided the money. But he said there were many people on Taiwan with a lot of capital who wanted to invest in it.
AS POON SPOKE, protesters were assembling outside the Hyatt
Regency, awaiting Teng's return from a tour of NASA's Johnson Seat
None of the demonstrators said they were on the take.
Of the eight demonstrators interviewed, only one middle-aged man from the China mainland was not from Taiwan. Five of the people from Taiwan were students who were reluctant to have their names used.
"That's crazy," said a tall Houston University student. "We just came by."
He answered questions politely until the crowd's roar announced 'Teen's arrival.
"Excuse me, he's here," the student said, turning to shout screams at Temp.
A COUPLE from the University of Texas at Austin agreed that the demonstrators were sincere.
"Most people from Taiwan very much regret that Teng has come here," the male student said.
In his eagerness to explain Taiwan's position in English, he sometimes jumbled his words together. The female student had to
The other demonstrators kept chanting slogans, led by several well-dressed young men with portable loudspeakers.
Another student debunked the idea that the demonstration had been organized and paid for by a few rich people.
"Long live the Republic of China," they shouted, waving red and blue ROC Flags.
"Nobody tell us to organize," he said. "We get the information of Tenet's schedule from TV."
IN A LOUD voice that turned a few heads, he said that the protesters were trying to influence Teng to change China's Com-
munity policy.
"He can learn democracy from Taiwan," he said.
"He has been purged twice," he said, apparently implying that Tenee must be dischanted with communism.
A student from North Texas State University, standing alone at the rear of the demonstration, also spoke of democracy. But he spoke of it briefly in a voice that could barely be heard over the chants of the crowds.
When he talked about Taiwan, he seemed to be homesick.
Another protester was hopeful about the prospects for democracy in China.
"IF THEY KEEP improving, then maybe they abandon communism." he said.
Communitist authorities recently relaxed their iron grip on their citizens' political life somewhat. For a brief time, people could put
About 1000 pre-Taiwan demonstrators marched in front of the hotel where Chinese Vice Premier Teng Hsing-o'ping was staying in Houston during his tour of the city. Below the hotel, a contingent of greeting is agreed with flowers from a Texas hostess.
up wall posters criticizing Mao Tse-tung, then chairman of the Communist Party.
A student from the University of Texas at Arlington said that the demonstration would show Teng that many Chinese would not permit him.
"He will know that the people of Taiwan are for freedom and democracy" he said
However, two protesters acknowledged that their Hong Kong countrymen were not all staunchly anti-Communist.
"People in Hong Kong are different," the Houston student said. "Hong Kong is a British colony. Some people there have no sense of it."
BUT AT A demonstration Saturday, Richard Chu said the problem was that Hong Kong Chinese were too nationalistic.
"Some young people in Hong Kong want to be part of a strong China," Richard Chu said. "They favor Commun China to satisfy their demands."
Chu, a Houston engineer, had been one of the young men who used a portable loudspeaker Friday.
Of course, only a fraction of the Chinese community showed up at the protests, indicating that many of them either did not agree with the government or were radicals.
The Chinese who did demonstrate were enthusiastic but polite and even cheerful.
WHEN THEY WERE not betering Tong, they smiled and chatted away from browser www.alfredflags.tags.org;
The mood of the demonstration was dominated by a simple
threatening.
Staff Photos by ALAN ZLOTKY
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