W. Germany, Canada Act to Suspend China Aid

West Germany and Canada on Friday announced plans to suspend aid and development programs with China in the wake of Beijing’s bloody suppression of its pro-democracy movement.

In Bonn, the West German government said it has frozen more than $110 million in development aid to China because of the recent “bloody events” there.

The government also has ordered all of its aid experts and advisers in China to return home and canceled travel to the country by its economic development personnel, said Hans-Peter Repnik, an official of the Ministry for Economic Cooperation.

And he said that, because of the “still unclear situation in China,” Chinese students and delegations who fear problems if they return home will be permitted to remain in West Germany.

In Ottawa, External Affairs Minister Joe Clark announced that Canada is withdrawing from three Chinese development projects and is taking other measures to protest the crackdown by Beijing.

“The Chinese authorities have called for ‘business as usual’--this cannot be accepted,” Clark said.

Among projects to be canceled are Canadian training of China’s state auditors and an urban traffic management system. Canada will also cancel development of a television transmission facility because it would be used to support Chinese propaganda, Clark said.

Canada’s participation in China-sponsored trade shows and exhibitions will also be suspended.