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Although the United States closed its embassy in the Seychelles, the U.S. Navy endeavored to maintain a goodwill relationship with the country. There was first a consignment of medicines worth $1 million that was donated to the Medical Department, after which the U.S. Navy assisted in the costly dismantling of the "Golf Ball," which remained standing after the closure of the U.S. Air Force Tracking Station at La Misère. Finally, there was a donation of five Coast Guard vessels worth $2 million.
The long-term minded China has of course been consistent in cultivating a very special relationship with the Republic of the Seychelles since it became an independent nation in 1976.
Today Geng Wenbing appears to be the happiest and most contented diplomat in the Seychelles as he waves to the islanders from his chauffeur-driven limousine floating the red flag of China around Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles. Ambassador Geng Wenbing is the 10th ambassador plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China attached to the Seychelles since the two countries established diplomatic relations on June 30, 1976.
Today the Chinese Embassy, proudly flying the red Chinese flag, stands in clear relief over the St. Louis hills overlooking the Seychelles capital, Port Victoria -- a port which is becoming manifestly busier and busier with regular visits by naval vessels of different nations.
The People's Republic of China opened up diplomatic relations with the Seychelles when the country became independent in 1976. But China's diplomatic endeavors became more active after France Albert René of the Seychelles Peoples Progressive Front took over power in a coup d'etat against the Western-oriented government then in power in 1977. It is to be noted that the governing SPPF Party has for years enjoyed a sister relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. Thus, Beijing sends flags for the June 18 National Day celebrations; for Christmas they send lights for free to hang in town; they provide uniforms for school children who parade during National Day celebrations looking very neat and communist-like; they built the airport on Praslin when no one would help because the country is so much in debt; they built the Roche Caiman Olympic-size swimming pool; when an Irish company backed out on a housing project on Mahé, the PRC brought in the China State Construction Company to build a huge housing estate of a standard better than most housing estates in China; the PRC keeps the National Assembly Secretariat and the Ministry of Education running with supplies of computers, paper, fax machines and other equipment; besides low cost houses, their construction companies have built schools and health centers all over the archipelago and most recently, they have agreed to build the National Assembly building for free; when the government of the Seychelles was about to have to deal with a street protest last year; with farmers that had no pig meal or chicken meal, the PRC did not ask questions - it shipped out one year's supply of meal for free. China has the largest embassy in the Seychelles, dwarfing the French and British to the point of shear embarrassment; the American diplomatic presence in the Seychelles has been down to an answering machine for a number of months now.
Last year, while on an official visit, China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing signed an agreement for more schools and more houses. His main comments were about developing "stronger tourism links to the Seychelles," which he described as "the true Garden of Eden." But it is the view of all enlightened political analysts that it is China's insatiable appetite for energy and natural resources, and its desire to secure the sea lanes through which such resources are transported, that are propelling this great power's outreach to the tiny Republic of Seychelles. In the circumstances of today, China appears to be playing the game that a friend in need is a friend indeed -- and of course China expects this to work both ways.
The United States must be shocked and concerned about the actual turn of events. Having failed to seriously appreciate that a little bird in the hand is worth many birds in the bush, Washington on Jan. 30 dispatched Ambassador Cesar Cabrera from Mauritius (who is also accredited to the Seychelles) together with Rear Admiral Richard Hunt, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force in the Horn of Africa, to the Seychelles for talks with the government a few days before the state visit of the Chinese president. Washington must be anxious to determine whether the little bird is set to fly.
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(James R. Mancham is founding president of the Seychelles, and a special correspondent for UPI.)
