New China
CHINA: NEW AGE AND NEW OUTLOOK. By Ping-Chia Kuo. (Gollancz, 16s.)
THERE is no lack of serious studies on Communist China, but the present volume by Dr. Ping-Chia Kuo is perhaps the first from the pen of a Kuomintang scholar which attempts an interpretation from an objective and historic point of view. As such, it is a most valuable study important alike for the light it throws on many aspects of Chinese policy, as also evidencing the change of attitude towards the Peking Government in Liberal Nationalist ranks. That change of attitude may be briefly stated as follows : The Peking regime is firmly established and has for the first time brought a sense of unity, solidarity and pride to the Chinese people. More, to quote Dr. Kuo, 'powerful forces are at work which will make the coming age one of the greatest in Chinese history.' Among these forces he notes the establishment of a strong central government, a leadership securely anchored in its command of all the springs of national life, the liquidation of the groups of privilege and a comprehensive economic policy. Historically, Dr. Kuo argues that the present Peking regime represents a reversion to the dominance of the North, which has been a special feature of all great periods of Chinese history. The attempt of the Kuomintang to base its power on the Yangtse Valley was, it would appear, one of the sources of its weakness.
Dr. Kuo brings out clearly the interrelation between the pro- gramme of industrialisation towards which Peking is bending all its energies and the historic tradition of maintaining the predomin- ance of the North. Says Dr. Kuo : 'Overshadowing all other considerations in importance is the effect of the Northern industrial belt on the future division of China into an industrial north and an agricultural south, which in turn will have a direct bearing on the perpetuation of the Communist regime.' This, it may be added, is the basic difference between the programmes of industrialisation in India and in China. Industrial planning in India takes into consideration every part of the country and consciously attempts to prevent the division of the country into an industrial north and an agricultural south, seeks in fact to ensure a mixed agricultural and industrial development in each major region. In China, on the other hand, the tendency is to confine industrial development to certain key areas.
Dr. Kuo has produced a notable book which no student of Far Eastern politics can afford to overlook. While there may be Political judgements with which one may not agree, his main thesis and the arguments which he uses to sustain him throw a Welcome light on the problems of new China.
K. M. PANIKKAR
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