Bandung Conference

    The 1955 conference of African and Asian countries marked the inception of Sze Tu Mei Sun's political career. In the 1940s movements for national independence swept across Asia, ending colonial rule in countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and Korea and minting sovereign governments in its stead. In Asia and Africa independent countries increased to 30, but were undermined by the West's economic exploitation strategies, political interventions and general military coercion. The new and fragile sovereign countries shared a strong desire for the politics of peace and nonalignment and sought to develop friendly ties with all nations. But Western powers lingered on the continent, and some countries were suspicious of or even hostile toward a Communist China.

    Sze Tu Mei Sun, at the instruction of Bung Sukarno and in his capacity as a journalist and a staff member of the conference organizers, delicately signaled to the Chinese ambassador in Jakarta some issues that should be noted and which would help China to get fully prepared for the meeting. When the time came, Sze Tu Mei Sun took it upon himself to find accommodation for the Chinese delegation, for hotel rooms were sparse in the city. He placed its lead delegate Premier Zhou Enlai in the private villa of a Chinese migrant.

    The conference turned out to be a whooping success for the fledgling PRC. The convincing speeches delivered by Premier Zhou explicitly imparted to the world China's position and principles regarding international affairs, leading to a cascade of diplomatic relations being established with other countries in the years following the meeting.

    The next year President Bung Sukarno made a visit to China, and Sze Tu Mei Sun was sent as advance man and personal secretary. Premier Zhou Enlai spotted him during the welcoming ceremony, and introduced him to Chairman Mao Zedong. On hearing of his help to the Chinese delegation at the Bandung Conference, the chairman made him gifts of three of his signed calligraphy works.

PRC Takes over UN Seat and Security Council Membership

    After the military coup on September 30, 1965, Suharto came into power, and soon launched a blistering anti-Communist, anti-China and anti-Sukarno purge. The kidnapping of Sze Tu Mei Sun was being plotted, so he was forced to flee to Hong Kong by arrangement of Sukarno, who was under house arrest. But Sze Tu Mei Sun didn’t stay in the British colony long, for the Indonesian authority then threatened to revoke his passport. With the assistance of the Chinese government, he and his family moved to Macao, and started a business there.

    Sze Tu Mei Sun didn't leave politics behind when he left his government position. In September 1971 his old friend Adam Malik was headed to the UN headquarters for the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and seeing it was almost certain he would be elected its president, Mr. Malik made a stopover in Hong Kong to meet with Sze Tu Mei Sun. That was September 8, and Malik revealed his intention to play a positive role in restoring Beijing's seat in the UN, but hoped Sze Tu Mei Sun could fill him in on the disposition of the Chinese government beforehand. Sze Tu Mei Sun immediately passed the message to Beijing.

    On September 25 he was in front of Luo Qingchang, deputy director of the Premier's Office in the Chinese capital, telling him what China had articulated in a Foreign Ministry statement of August 20, and offering to send a copy of the English translation to Mr. Malik. The feedback was to be China was grateful for any help Mr. Malik could extend, but wouldn't press him to do what was beyond his power.

    On October 26, 1971, the 26th UN General Assembly passed, with an overwhelming majority, a resolution that restored all the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. It decided to ''recognize the representatives of the government of the PRC as the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from their unlawfully occupied place within the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it.'' The announcement of the voting returns was made by Mr. Malik and met with a standing ovation.

    In his long and colorful life Sze Tu Mei Sun was a witness and contributor to the rise of New China. But he never intended to court fame or fortune with his feats, living in seclusion for decades and running his private company. As gold still glitters amid sand, he is widely remembered for his commitment to world peace and justice. On the news of his death many people expressed their condolences on the Internet. One remembered him this way: Mr. Sze Tu Mei Sun has passed away, but our memories of his mettle, his integrity and his smile live on forever.

    With thanks to Sze Tu Mei Sun's son Si Tou Tek Lam for his assistance.