Forging Links with Africa

To Africa he is known as "Mr. Africa." To the people of the Republic of China, he is known as the founder of "Operation Vanguard" and other programs of technical aid to Africa. Although now in his 70s, Yang Hsi-kun is still working hard as the Republic of China's ambassador to South Africa. Sinorama reporters interviewed him recently in his Cape Town office during a tour of Africa which reviewed technical cooperation missions in Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, and the Ivory Coast.

After World War Ⅱ, the winds of independence were blowing around the globe, and nowhere more strongly than in Africa. In his capacity as a member of the United Nations Trusteeship Council, Ambassador Yang made many trips to Africa, and was on close terms with many independence leaders on the continent. At that time he could see that those countries would soon be independent.

In 1960, Yang was recalled to the ROC to take up a new position as head of the African desk of the West Asian Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the same year, as he expected, 17 African nations became independent, and formed a powerful bloc in the United Nations.

Ambassador Yang remarked; "At that time, in order to win the friendship of these new African nations and to strengthen our position in the UN, we sent delegations to their independence celebrations and established diplomatic relations with them. Friendship between two countries, besides relying on diplomatic relations, must also be based on substantial cooperation so that those relations can progress. That is why I proposed my technical cooperation plan."

The program was based on the ROC's achievements in the technical field and the needs of the newly independent African nations, which at that time were economically weak. Before any progress could be made, the problem of adequate food supplies had to be solved. The Republic of China is noted for its successful food production program, and agricultural production was therefore made the cornerstone of Operation Vanguard.

The program included inviting African leaders to visit Taiwan, training African students, and sending missions to Africa.

Operation Vanguard began in 1961 when the first mission was sent to Liberia. It was to run until 1974, with teams sent to 23 countries around the globe to help in such areas as agriculture, handicrafts, veterinary medicine, and fisheries.

Ambassador Yang said; "The big difference between our missions and those from many other countries is that our technicians do not stay in offices, but go out into the field. This not only assures the success of the missions on the technical level, but also wins respect and friendship from the African people.

"The African peoples' customs, traditions, attitudes, and agricultural methods are all different from ours, so while Operation Vanguard was being carried out, problems would often arise. We were not afraid of difficulties, however, and one by one each problem was overcome.

"Between 1960 and 1973 I traveled to Africa every year to meet with African presidents, foreign ministers, and agricultural ministers. We discussed our technical cooperation projects and once they saw how ambitious and sincere I was, we became friends. That is when they began to call me 'Mr. Africa.' "

"After the ROC was expelled from the United Nations, many African countries broke off relations with us and established relations with the Communists. At the same time they ended technical cooperation missions. Now, even those countries which have received arms, smiles, and promises from the Communists, have found it impossible to replace our agricultural teams."

Currently there are four agricultural missions in Africa stationed in Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, and the Ivory Coast, and two handicraft missions in Swaziland and the Ivory Coast. Ambassador Yang feels that in diplomatic work, methods must suit the occasion. The important thing now, he says, is to look ahead to the future rather than dwell on the past.

"Personally, I feel we should approach countries where we formerly had technical missions, but which now have relations with the Communists, and work toward re-establishing diplomatic relations", the ambassador said.

[Picture Caption]

1) The originator of Operation Vanguard, current ambassador to South Africa, Yang Hsi-kun. 2) A South African university campus. 3) Yang Hsi-kun has worked the hardest to advance Chinese-African technical cooperation. Through his many trips to Africa he has won the friendship of the African people and also the name "Mr. Africa".

1) Cape Town harbor at dusk. 2) South African market. 3) The Cape of Good Hope is a major tourist Area. 4) Table Mountain affords a beautiful panorama of Cape Town.

A South African university campus.

Yang Hsi-kun has worked the hardest to advance Chinese-African technical cooperation. Through his many trips to Africa he has won the friendship of the African people and also the name "Mr. Africa".

Cape Town harbor at dusk.

South African market.

The Cape of Good Hope is a major tourist Area.

Table Mountain affords a beautiful panorama of Cape Town.