News In Brief

Chinese barbs at UN strike balance between superpowers

Addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations, China's chief delegate , Wu Xueqian, struck a careful balance between the United States and the Soviet Union, Monitor contributor Louis Wiznitzer reports. He criticized both superpowers for what he called their ''hegemonic behavior'' and for their stockpiling of nuclear weapons.

With regard to the Gromyko-Reagan meeting, he wondered ''whether they really intend to hold talks or just use them to cover up their arms race into space.'' He singled out for condemnation Soviet aggression against Afghanistan, Vietnam's attempted annexation of Kampuchea, what he called Israeli aggression in the Middle East, and South Africa's occupation of Namibia.