Confidence was the keynote of this year's celebration of the Republic of China's Double Tenth National Day, which marks the Wuchang Revolution that overthrew the Ch'ing Dynasty in 1911 and led to the establishment of Asia's flrst republic on January 1 of 1912. Free Chinese in Taiwan and around the world saluted President Chiang Ching-kuo and echoed his de claration that Free China will overcome aH diffi culties, help liberate the mainland and defeat Communism, and rebuild the nation as a free and prosperous democracy.
More than a quarter of a million military personnel and civilians assembled at the Presiaent ial Square in downtown Taipei the moming of Wednesday, October 10, to hear the President and other representatives of the govemment and people, and to raise their voices in the cheers of the day: Long Live the Three PrincipIes of the People! and Long Live the Republic of China! Rashing by overhead in "V for Victory" for mation were 18 of the new F5E jet fighters financed by the voluntary contributions of the Free Chinese people at home and abroad.
F5E fighter planes paid for by the people fly over the Presidential Square during the rally on the Double Tenth. (File photo)
Worldwide, this was the biggest Double Tenth ever. The Taipei ceremonies were broadcast throughout Taiwan on the three television net works. Films and tapes carried the program abroad and still pictures went to foreign capitaJs via satellite. At home, every community had its own observance. Taipei had special programs for over seas Chinese and foreign guests. More than 2,000 visiting dignitaries and foreign residents attended a reception given by F oreign Minister and Mrs. Y.S. Tsiang. Military forces and civilians paraded past the presidential reviewing stand in Taipei. The missiles and tanks of last year's military parade were replaced by mechanized equipment destined for Taiwan's farm modernization program.
President Chiang sounded the note of confidence and high resolve in his Double Tenth message. He said:
In the last 68 years, the Republic of China has experienced aH manner of hardships, overcome countless difficulties and courageousJy defeated many adversaries. Our country has written a glorious history of struggle in blood, sweat and tears. During this time, we have experienced triumph and have known defeat. Under the leader ship of our National Founding Father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and the late President Chiang Kai-shek, and with the unwavering solidarity and fearless sacrifices of our people, we have broken through one time of crisis after another and again and again have overcome danger and achieved peace. This is an extension of the strength of our 1911 National Revolution and an enlargement of our Double Tenth Spirit.
Now we face another difficult momento That this will be another turning point is assured by the fact that we have transformed this bastion of freedom and national recovery into an im pregnable fortress and built a strong foundation for national recovery. Each of us cherishes steadily increasing hope and confidence. Each of us is bracing himself for the ultimate effort to win final victory in the struggle against Communist tyranny and to assure freedom and human rights.
Even though our government is not presently on the mainland, all of our compatriots there have deep-seated, heartfelt and increasing attachment to the enduring heritage of national culture, the concept inherent in Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People and the unconquerable spirit of the Double Tenth. After suffering ruthless oppression for 30 years, our mainland compatriots have raised their heads high and reached out toward this bastion of freedom and national revival. They demand the Taiwan way of life. They raise their fists to resist Communist despotism under the banner of the Three PrincipIes of the People. Actually, we have already linked our hearts to those of our mainland compatriots. In the foresee able future we shall. al so lock hands to raise high the national flag of White Sun in Blue Sky Over Crimson Ground, which will continue to inspire us during our struggle for national revival.
In celebrating our 68th National Day, governent and people of the Republic of China are united in self-reliance and prepared to wipe out Communist tyranny, recover the mainland and demonstrate the matchless confidence and courage to unify the country, despite all domestic difficulties and foreign adversities, in keeping with the fortitude of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and President Chiang Kai-shek in leading the National Revolution. We shall struggle to the end and fight on until victory.
"Let us join in prayers for the bright future and prosperity of the Republic of China and raise our voices in the cheers of the day."
President Chiang took note of the nation's military strength in remarks accepting the people's gift of the F5E fighter planes. "We have held aplane donation ceremony at this rally and witnessed a flyover of the Air Force's Self-Reliance Squadron," he said. "These aircraft pro vide a maximum expression of the patriotism and determination of the whole body of our fellow countrymen. This demonstrates that the more difficult the times, the greater our concen tration of will power and strength. At a moment when our country faces difficulties compounded by difficulties, our people have
- contributed their manpower, material power and financial power;
- demonstrated their determination, courage and confidence; and
- taken patriotic and righteous action for national salvation.
This constitutes complete assurance that our bastion of national revival can withstand the lashing of the wind and the buffeting of the waves and that we can stand erect despite gale and seas. We can sustain our posture and our strength for national revival despite all setbacks and blows. We can be certain of glorious victory in the end.
At this time when the Chinese Communists on the mainland have become more disarrayed after each change of circumstances, we have be come more energetic with each reverse and are able to count on the dedicated support of our compatriots in this bastion. Furthermore, our patriotic endeavors at home and abroad and in front of and behind the enemy's lines have com manded the response and support of our persever ing compatriots on the mainland. This attests that our anti-Communist movement is bound to succeed and that the mainland will be recovered in due time.
As the plane donation ceremony ends and the Self-Reliance Parade is about to begin, I wish
- to convey my sympathy and encouragement to the officers and men of the three armed services, and
- to express my respect and admiration for compatriots working at posts of national development and to farmers, industrial workers, business men and others working at posts of production.
On behalf of the govemment, I also wish to express my boundless respect and appreciation to all our compatriots inside and outside this country.
"Let us quicken our steps in marching toward national development and greet tomorrow's glorious victory with unity of purpose."
The chief executive, who spent more than 12 years abroad first as a student in Moscow and then as a virtual prisoner of the Soviet Union, has a warm regard for the overseas Chinese and a deep understanding of their problems. This is reflected in the emotional tone of his address to returnees attending the Allegiance and Self Reliance Rally on the eve of the Double Tenth. He told the capacity crowd in the Sports and Cultural Center:
You have returned. You have retumed to the soil of your own country. You have returned home!
We welcome our compatriots from overseas as we would welcome family members returning from a faraway land. We are joyful and jubilant.
"All of us know that the overseas Chinese are making their contribution with hard work in every country and region and at every occupation. Their great personality has been expressed in patriotism and fraternity and has convinced the world that the Chinese are a virtuous people. The overseas Chinese are actually ambassadors of Chinese cul ture and models of fortitude for the struggle of the Chinese people. They have portrayed in blood and sweat the irnage of the people of the Republic of China as 'benevolent people who are never troubled, wise people who are never confused and courageous people who are never frightened.'
We are now striving for political democracy, economic freedom and an open society here in this bastion of national revival, working assiduous ly and fearlessly in the spirit of self-reliance. Our compatriots inside and outside the country have forged a unity of one mind, one will and complete sincerity in opening up a broad highway to victory for the suffering motherland.
"Consequently. when one asks "
- Where is the true China? He may reply that it exists in each anti-Communist and patriotic Chinese and in the moral dedication of our compatriots at home and abroad to the cause of national recovery and reconstruction.
- Where is Chinese culture? He may reply that it is to be found in the heart of each Chinese who has conscience and enthusiasm for the great undertaking of national recovery based on the Three PrincipIes of the People with which all Chinese identify themselves.
This explains why it is that when an overseas Chinese returns to his free motherland from far away he intuitively feels an intimacy with things here, the fragrance of the soil here and the wann hospitality of the people here. Everyone he re welcomes the overseas Chinese to come and see what we are doing. We welcome our compatriots from overseas to join us in national development, to share with us the fruits of national development and to criticize the shortcomings of our endeavors. Your return has given our people here the sensibility of having received moral encouragement and an expansion of confidence.
Our people on the mainland have been agonizing under the tyrannical rule of the Chinese Communists and leading a poor and empty life for 30 long years. They are waiting futilely for the day of being wannly ciad and sufficiently fed and for freedom and democracy. There is no reason for the Chinese Communist regime to exist any longer.
The door of this bastion of national revival is always open to you. We welcome with open anns your return at any time. The overseas Chinese are the mothers of the Revolution. Today, the overseas Chinese are also the torch of national revival. Let us join hands, link our hearts and unite all our strength at home and abroad and in front of and behind the enemy's lines to rebuild tomorrow a free, democratic and truly Chinese China with the strength we possess in this bastion today.
This year's Double Tenth was a joyous occasion. Sorne 30,000 overseas Chinese carne for the September-October-November holidays stretching from the birthday of Confucius on September 28 to that of Dr. Sun Yat-sen on November 12. The Double Tenth was followed by Overseas Chinese Day, Taiwan Retrocession Day and the birthday of President Chiang Kai-shek during the month of October. As the President suggested, there was time and opportunity for contemplation and serious reflection. This was forthcoming in articles, editorials and commen taries throughout the period.
The Double Tenth began with thoughts of the Wuchang Revolution of 1911, which overthrew the Ch'ing Dynasty and led to the establishment of the Republic of China on January 1 of 1912. The Chinese people never forget the revolutionary fervor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the contributions of the Three Principles of the People, a system of democratic ideology on which the Constitution is based. The history is familiar and yet requires occasional recall, just as Englishmen need to be reminded of the Magna Carta and Americans of the Declaration of Independence.
China's revolution was one of youth carried out by a generation excited by the prospect of an old China born again and emancipated from the bondage of dynasty. The revolutionary martyrs and heroes had high hopes. They thought the monarchy could be taken off and the republic donned like changing a suit of clothes. But behind every revolu tion is all that went before. In China's case, that meant the oldest continuous history on the face of the earth and a culture which gave birth to those of Korea, Japan and Vietnam and influenced many others.
The new China was also the old China - and still is. For example, the beliefs of Confucianism are very much alive wherever the Chinese are found. The people of the Republic of China think that is good. They respect the values of Confucianism and regard them as essential to the system of ideals which every humanitarian state must uphold. Confucianism is not so easily changed, as Mao Tse-tung found out. Mao directed a long and immense campaign against the Sage and his teachings. He lost not only that campaign but also that of the "cultural revolution," which was intended to transform the mainland Chinese into blue ants who would thoughtlessly carry out the dictates of tyranny.
The National Revolution of the Republic of China is not in conflict with Confucianism. Old values are retained, especially those of family, friendship and respect for others. New ones are added: freedom and democracy, for example, which are sometimes depicted as antagonistic to Confucianism because Confucian ideology took form in times when freedom was differently defined and democracy did not exist.
The Republic of China has also embraced the value of nationalism, which had been winning Chinese adherents through the 19th century. Old China was one of Chineseness rather than na tionalism. The Chinese thought of themselves as a culture, a people and a civilization. For centuries China was the Middle Kingdom keeping at bay the barbarians of the rest of the world. This was akin to nationalism but not quite the same. It did not accept the existence of other nation sta tes as China's peers. Born with any true revolution is a national spirit which reflects patriotism and belief in the nation, the governrnent and the constitution as a reflection of the best part of the people and the land in which they live. The spirit of nationalism inherent in the National Revolution has grown and flourished during the 68 years of the Republic of China.
Chinese feel about themselves differently from the way their ancestors of the Ch'ing and earlier dynasties felt. The pride in being a Chinese has not vanished. Added is the national spirit that imbues the Chinese when they look up to the White Sun in Blue Sky Over Crimson Ground. They are Chinese and also of the Re public of China - a nation dedicated to the principles that men are born free, that they have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that tyranny is unacceptable. There are Chinese on the mainIand who believe otherwise and hold nearly a billion people in the straitjacket of Communism. The Chinese of Taiwan and the overseas communities number only about 40 million. But they are convinced that in their hearts the multitudes of the mainland stand with them. Those of the mainIand are also nationalists and not Communists. They, too, are Confucianists and of the Chinese culture.
In struggling against Communism, the people of Taiwan rely on the example of their good life. They know that mainlanders are looking toward Taiwan and that they like what they see. Everyone wants the good life. The Chinese of Taiwan have found that hard work and economic freedom can be combined to produce it. At the same time, the people of the mainIand want to be proud of their nationhood. They want a flag to look up to. They want leaders who tell them the truth and who have their respecto The Chinese people everywhere want to be nationalists, and that is a spirit and feeling the Communists can never provide. The Republic of China offers the only nationalism and the onIy national spirit for China and the Chinese. Chinese who gaze upon the Marxist flag find no nationalism - only adherence to a forelgn ideology. Free China's nationalism grows out of Chinese culture, the hearts of the Chinese people, the National Revolution and the Three Principies of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Nationalism, Democracy and Social Welfare.
Some may measure armies and compare defenses. Others can ask how a little island could hope to stand up to a subcontinent, how 17 rnillion people could overcome a billion. The Republic of China's answer is its national spirit. This cannot be measured and cannot be compared but will freshen, gladden and inspire the hearts of all the Chinése people - the billion as well as the 17 million - in the days and years ahead.
The Double Tenth found the Republic of China standing strong and firm on its position in the international sphere. As Leonard Unger. the last U.S. ambassador to Taipei, observed, "dire predictions" heard at the time of President Carter's recognition of the Chinese Communists "have not come to pass." These predictions, which were made abroad and not at home, were of a Chinese Communist attack on Taiwan, development of nuclear weapons, proclamation of an independent republic, rapprochement with the Soviet Union, economic catastrophe and so on. The Free Chinese predictions were for perseverance and survival, and that is what has happened.
Admittedly, the time of testing has only begun. But the shaking off of the first shock was a triumph of no small proportions. Those who thought the Free Chinese would lose their heads, go to pieces and do foolish things were proved wrong. The Republic of China was not disquieted in terms of adversity. Its people remained firm with dignity and self-reliant, just as President Chiang Kai-shek counseled in the dark days when President Nixon turned toward Peiping and Free China lost its seat at a United Nations it had helped to establish.
Non-recognition by the U.S. and other coun tries has created obstacles and handicaps but has not made enemies of these countries. Almost without exception, the free nations wish the Republic of China well. They have in creased their trade with Taiwan. In many cases, they are showing willingness to augment their social, cultural and quasi-diplomatic relations. These ties and friendships are making it extremely difficult for the Chinese Communists to isolate the Republic of China.
The link with the United States is the most important of all. The Taiwan Relations Act passed by the Congress and signed by President Carter provides a framework for the U.S. relationship with which the Republic of China can live, al though the Free Chinese people do not like and will never really accept this evasion of governrnent to-government ties. Negotiations are under way for changes in the U.S.-ROC aviation treaty of 1946. The Roe position is that agreements ex tended by the Taiwan Relations Act can be changed under their own terms and that the machinery for making the changes is in place. Terminations or substitutions would be contrary to the Taiwan Relations Act and unacceptable to the Republic of China.
Looming just ahead are renewed negotiations for the purchase of U.S. weapons. This year was marked by a moratorium agreed to by President Carter. Despite ROC efforts of defense self-sufficiency, imported arms are essential and will remain so for sorne time to come. Because of ROC weapons systems, it is better that these come from the United States. However, the Re public of China needs improved weapons, if it is to keep up with the announced plans of the Chinese Communists to modemize their armed forces. That will be another test of American sincerity. As Ambassador Unger said, "The con tinued supply of arms from the United States is indispensable. As time passes, defense systems should be progressively modemized."
In the time period just ahead, the Republic of China expects to be more active, not less so, in international affairs. It is going to be more flexible without compromising any of its basic positions or interests. All of the known evidence indicates that Free China will continue to grow stronger, and that the example of its success will eventually persuade the Chinese mainland that the ROC Taiwan way and not that of the Communists constitutes the Chinese wave of the future.
As for internal politics, the Republic of China is the most stable country in Asia even more so than Japan, which has a legal Communist party and which has had riots and other eruptions of political violence in the last two decades. Despite the Communist threat and the necessity for maintaining a martial law that could be actively invoked in time of danger, the people of Taiwan lead a normal political Iife of parties and elections. Postponement of last December's voting was only temporary.
Taiwan's economy enters the new years of the RepubJic in good shape but with solt'e un certainties. Of all the countries in the world, the Republic of China is probably most susceptible to outside influences and the state of the world economy. If the free world controls inflation and prospers, the ROC will, too. If it does not, the economic outIook is troublesome. With only one quarter to go in 1979, the gain in the year's gross national product is expected to be around 8 per cent. That isn't bad, but any rejoicing has to be tempered with the likelihood of double digit inflation. This is a threat to the steady advance in the standard of living. More encouraging is the expectation that foreign trade will be close to US$30 billion with a favorable balance.
With Taiwan's per capita income expected to exceed US$1,600 at the end of this year, the Free Chinese people are not dissatisfied. They are receiving regular increases in income and can rely on economic growth and stability. Their restraint has helped keep inflation under sorne semblance of control. Although the tax burden for defense is heavy, that for other govemment expenditures is light compared with most of the more advanced developing countries. The rate of savings is second to that of Japan. People have confidence in the economic future.
Foreigners and overseas Chinese also see a bright future for Taiwan and have put their money on that judgment. This year's investments from abroad will be around US$300 million for an all-time record - that in ayear when the United States recognized the Chinese Communists.
As they celebrated the Double Tenth, the Free Chinese did not forget that Taiwan is the cultural depository for all China so long as the Communists usurp the mainland. Visible evidence of this was found in the outstanding programs presented during the course of the holiday. When Communism is gone, China will face a task of huge proportions. Hundreds of millions of people on the mainland are culturally deprived in Chinese or any other terms. They are living lives that have changed little in the last several hundred years. Under Communism, they are worse off than in the early days of the Republic or during dynastic times.
The Chinese people deserve their own culture together with what has been added and borrowed in Taiwan. Only when people are prosperous and fIlled with hope for the future can China's cultural hunger be fulfilled and creativity resumed. Arnold Toynbee once said that China had the greatest civilization of all until about 2,000 years ago. Then the Chinese began to stagnate. That isn 't quite true but it has elements of truth. In the Republic of China the people have continued to create and have revitalized Chinese culture with imports. As these elements are mixed with those of a liberated mainland, Chinese culture and Jife will attain a diversity and richness that will con tribute importantIy to humankind the world over.