Dragon's embrace

Taught by his experiences in China-graphically recorded in his first book, An African Student in . China-to distinguish between Peking's assertions of goodwill for newly independent peoples and its r~al intention, Mr Hevi addresses a moving and closely argued appeal to his fellow Africans to avoid becoming pawns in China's international power game. Mao's reqirne is urging
Africans to 'revolutionary struggle' against their own governments where these do not kow-tow to Peking; against normal economic and diplomatic relations with Western countries; and against the rival influence of the Soviet Union, 'Must our children shed their blood •. our resources be squandered in warfare, and all our past efforts be brought to nauqh., so that China might win an
argument against the Soviet Union?' is starting-point is Chou En-Iai's tour of the continent in 1963-64: the tour in which the
Chinese Communist Premier repeatedly proclaimed the Panch Shi/a and assured Africa of China's good faith, Mr Hevi traces, stage by stage, Peking's cynical betrayal of 'the five principles' in its dealings with Tibet, India and other Asian countries, and then examines China's record of subversion in Africa.