NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY (CABLE): SOVIET COMMENTARY

Created: 5/30/1989

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

BRIEFS AND COMMENTS

USSR-CHINA-EUROPEi Soviet Commentary

Moscow's continuing concern over Chinesender-scoredew indictment in Pravda of Beijing efforts to cement ties with the US while developing ite relatione with the Jugoslav. Romanian, and Italian Communist Partite. I

Attributed to the high-level peeudonyn "I.hich connotes Central Conraittee approval, commentary on Monday declared that China has decided to avoid any improvement in relations with the USSR. toeijing is now striving to reassure its partners abroad that domestic developments, such as the posthumous rehabilitation of Liu Shaoqi, signify no change in china's anti-soviet policies, psa

Chinese officials have been stressing Beijing's opposition to Moscow in recent weeks,-apparently hoping to neutralise Soviet diplomatic tactics and set aatmosphere for Vice Premier Geng Bieo's visit to the US to discuss expanded security relations. The Soviets are particularly agitated over the visit, which they viewajor step in the development of China's military ties with the West. The veiemence of the Soviet article may also reflect Moncow'e dlupleasure overHue Guofeng's current visit to Japan es well as recent Chinese flight testing of an ZCBM. bJmj

"Aleksendrov" also accused Beijing of "stepping up" its campaign to undermine the world Communist movement "fromsensitive theme which the Soviets usually play down. Moscow objects to the recent visit to China of Italian Communist Party leader Berlinguer, whom the Soviets have already publicly attacked for "objectively assisting" Chinese policies, despite his willingness to disagree publioly with his Chlnoee hosts about their conflict with the USSR. Ths Sovists may also be upset by Hua Guofeng's visit to Romania after President Tito'she publicly snubbed Soviet President Brezhnev, bjbbj

This latest "Aleksandrov" commentary appeared only three days after the same by-line was used to defend the Soviet-backed European Cornmunist Parties Conference in Paris in late April. None of the European parties that have good relations with China attended the conference, and none is likely to give up those relations merely to placate the USSR. ttfj

Tflp im UTT"""

0