China's Nationalist Party - the Kuomintang-showed a more youthful look and unchanged dedication to the liberation of the mainland at the conclusion of its historic Tenth National Congress at the handsome Chungshan Building on scenic Yangmingshan (Grass Mountain). The meeting of more than 1,200 delegates and observers opened on March 29 (Youth and Martyrs' Day) and closed on April 9 to resounding applause for a job well done.
President Chiang Kai-shek, who is the Party's Director-General, was re-elected by acclamation. Cries of "Long Live the Director-General" rang out in the hall during a tumultuous ovation. The Director-General himself was not present and was immediately notified by a nine-member delegation headed by Vice President C.K. Yen.
President Chiang attended many of the sessions and addressed the congress on several occasions. Speaking of the April 1 opening of the long-postponed Ninth National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Peiping, the Director-General said the second round of the "great proletarian cultural revolution" power struggle has now begun.
"In the civil war of the contending Chinese Communist factions," he said, "troops of the so-called liberation army who have become disillusioned with Mao's indoctrination and policy will rise up and join hands with the national revolutionary armed forces of the Republic of China.
"At that time, our counterattack against the Chinese Communists for national recovery will end in great success and the final victory will be ours." Mao is trying to establish a party in his own image to replace the disintegrated Chinese Communist Party, the chief executive said, but "the Red dictator in Peiping can never succeed; he is dreaming". President Chiang expressed gratification that the KMT had adopted so many "practicable resolutions for national recovery and reconstruction".
The center of gravity of the world situation is still in China, the Director-General said, and the Republic of China holds the key to the resolution of the China problem. The actions to be undertaken from Taiwan, the Pescadores, Kinmen and Matsu will decide whether catastrophe or well-being is in store for mankind, he said, and this attests to the supreme importance' of the decisions and undertakings of the Kuomintang.
"Our efforts to eliminate the Maoist regime provide the key to world peace," the President said. "Every KMT member should have a sense of responsibility for what he says and does, because the Party will have a great influence on world events. It is my hope that each of you will contribute to the well-being of mankind."
As the Party's leader, Director-General Chiang urged reforms that will emphasize science not only in Kuomintang affairs but also in the government. Reform also means the discovery of faults so that these may be corrected. "We should not try to conceal our faults or hesitate to correct them," he said.
Elected by secret ballot from 344 candidates were 99 members and 51 alternate members of the new Central Committee. Fifty-five of the 99 were incumbents. The other 44 were new faces. The youngest member - at 31 - is a woman, Professor Li Chung-kui, who teaches international law and political at her alma mater, National Chengchi University. She received her doctorate from the Sorbonne. Defense Minister Chiang Ching-kuo received the largest number of votes and Vice President C.K. Yen the second largest number. Six hundred and seventy votes were cast. Four delegates were absent.
Twenty-one members of the Central Committee were elected to the Central Standing Committee by acclamation. The slate of the Director-General's nominees included 15 holdovers of the Party's most powerful body and 6 newcomers. Among the latter, the accent was on youth and technical ability. This is the new Standing Committee, which acts for the Party when the Central Committee is not in session (*designates new member):
-C.K. Yen, 64, of Kiangsu, Vice President and Prime Minister.
-Chiang Ching-kuo, 59, of Chekiang, Defense Minister.
-Ku Cheng-kang, 68, of Kweichow, President of the Asian Peoples' Anti-Communist League and Council Chairman, World Anti-Communist League.
-Chang Chi-yun, 68, of Chekiang, Commandant of the National War College and Chairman of the Board of the College of Chinese Culture.
-Huang Shao-ku, 68, of Hunan, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the National Security Council.
-Chow Chih-jou, 71, of Chekiang, Chairman of the National Reconstruction Planning Committee of the National Security Council.
-Huang Chieh, 67, of Hunan, Governor of Taiwan Province.
-Yuan Shou-chien, 64, of Hunan, Director of the Political Affairs Committee for War Areas of the National Security Council and former Minister of Communications.
-Nieh Wen-ya, 65, of Chekiang, Vice President of the Legislative Yuan.
-Cheng Yin-fun, 67, of Kwangtung, Deputy Secretary-General of the Presidential Office.
-Hu Chien-chung, 67, of Nanking, President of the Central Motion Picture Corporation.
-Hsieh Tung-min, 62, of Taiwan, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly.
-Chen Ta-ching, 64, of Kiangsi, Commander-in-Chief of the Army.
-Kuo Cheng, 62, of Shansi, Secretary-General of the National Assembly.
-Kuo Chi, 57, of Chekiang, Deputy Secretary of the National Assembly and Secretary-General of the Mainland Recovery Planning Commission.
-*Kao Kuei-yuan, 62, of Shantung, Chief of the General Staff.
-*Tsiang Yien-si, 54, of Chekiang, Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan.
-*Yen Chen-hsing, 56, of Honan, Minister of Education.
-*Sun Yun-suan, 55, of Shantung, Minister of Communications.
*-Li Kwoh-ting, 59, of Nanking, Minister of Economic Affairs.
-*Lin Ting-sheng, 49, of Taiwan, Board Chairman of the Tatung Engineering Company and Chief of KMT Taipei Headquarters.
Named to the Central Committee's Presidium were such honored leaders as Dr. Sun Fo, the son of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and President of the Examination Yuan; Madame Chiang Kai-shek; Chang Chun, the Secretary- General of the Presidential Office; Li Yu-ying, Senior Adviser to the President; General Ho Ying-chin, Chairman of the Military Strategy Advisory Committee; Chen Li-fu, Senior Adviser to the President; Chang Chih-pen, Senior Adviser to the President; Hsieh Kuan-sheng, President of the Judicial Yuan; Lee Shih-tsung, President of the Control Yuan; Huang Kuo-shu, President of the Legislative Yuan; and General Hsueh Yueh, Chairman of the Mainland Recovery Planning Commission.
Speaking of the youth of Congress delegates and observers, Madame Chiang Kai-shek called the fresh faces "new green shoots". She gave a luncheon for the 104 women attending the Congress and told the guests of her gratification at their interest in the affairs of the Party and the nation. She urged them to learn from the experience of those who have served the Kuomintang through the years.
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The Tenth Congress revised and simplified the Party Charter. Formerly the constitution had 12 chapters and 65 articles as adopted by the Ninth National Congress in November of 1963. It still has 12 chapters but the number of articles has been reduced to 47. The post of Deputy Director-General, last held by Vice President Chen Cheng, who died in 1965, was abolished. These are other important changes:
-Embodiment of the Director-General's instruction regarding "freedom within the organization and freedom with discipline" in Article 4.
-Article 7 was revised to read: "The Kuomintang's relationship with society shall be as follows: (1) to understand how the people live and to know their difficulties so Party resolutions will conform to their Interests and (2) to inspire mass movements, advance the people's welfare and improve social morals and manners so as to serve the people and further social and national reconstruction."
-Amendment of Article 9 to include the obligation of "engaging in struggle against the enemy".
-As a result of the abolition of the post of Deputy Director-General, addition of a Presidium of the Central Committee "to assist the Tsungtsai (Director-General) in handling Party affairs and in examining disciplinary cases recommended by the Discipline Committee against individual Party members or Party branches and organizations. Members of the Presidium (listed above) shall be nominated by the Tsungtsai and approved by the National Congress".
-Provision that the district Party organ shall provide nuclear leadership at the basic level.
-Stipulation that "leading cadres from the national to cell level shall have the responsibility for selecting, examining and recommending new talent as reserves for training and employment. Success in making such recommendations shall be taken into account in rating the performance of Party organs and their leading cadres at various levels".
-Financing of the Party from dues, contributions and the earnings of Party enterprises.
The Kuomintang Declaration was adopted on the last day of the Congress. Noting that 75 years had passed since the Tsungli, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, organized the Party, the document reviewed the history and accomplishments of three quarters of a century, and then focused on the modern period:
"The Kuomintang is uniting our compatriots at home and abroad in an anti-Communist struggle for the survival of our country and people and for the happiness of humanity. We are on the threshold of a decisive battle against the Maoist Communists and have chosen this moment to convene the Tenth National Congress of the Kuomintang in Taiwan, the bastion of national recovery. We have reviewed the revolutionary situation and developments and accomplishments since the Ninth National Congress, revised the Party Constitution and Political Platform, and, based on the requirements of our current revolutionary tasks, have approved important plans dealing with Party reconstruction, political renovation, social reconstruction, equalization of land ownership, warfare behind the enemy's frontline, Mao suppression and National Salvation, and mainland recovery."
The Party made these points for the Chinese people in general and for compatriots on the mainland and members of the Chinese Communist Party in particular:
1. Maoists will try to restore their old line of the "three red banners"; this will accelerate their downfall.
2. Mao is manipulating the border conflict with the Soviet Russia behind a facade of phony nationalism "in an effort to cheat the people and divert attention from internal crisis". "The current Sino-Soviet border situation is entirely the result of Mao Tse-tung's actions when he leaned one-sidedly toward the U.S.S.R. as leader of the Communist bloc and faithfully followed Stalin." The Party called on mainland compatriots to stand with the free people of Taiwan on one front, and said: "We are determined not to allow any country to invade Chinese territory."
3. Plans for the counterattack are being expedited so as to extend relief to the long-suffering people of the mainland.
Addressing the free world, the Kuomintang said the Communist occupation of the Chinese mainland has led to "a tragic series of endless wars in Asia and chaos throughout the world. Riots in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas have been directly or indirectly instigated and supported by the Chinese Communists or result from their infiltrations".
The Declaration continued: "Far-sighted people can readily see that if not suppressed and eliminated in time, Maoist subversion and upheaval will seriously threaten humankind and may even touch off a nuclear holocaust. We hold the key to elimination of the Chinese Communist danger. We are convinced that only through the Republic of China's mainland recovery and liberation of 700 million people from Communist oppression can Asia be secured and world peace restored. Some people overestimate Maoist strength and underestimate Maoist ambition. They advocate recognition of the evil actuality and harbor the illusion that Maoism will change itself. Still others seek to profit from trade with the Chinese mainland and close their eyes to the Maoist infiltration, subversion, rioting and people's war that are consequences of such commerce. We wish to point out that there is only one Maoist ideological line -to start people's wars in various countries so as to attain the goal of world communization."
Moral courage is required, the Party said, to provide the foundation for world security, peace and freedom. These points were set forth as the basis of the Kuomintang's foreign policy: (1) Solution of the China problem and the world crisis through the struggle of the Chinese people themselves; "We do not pin our hope on changes in the international situation". (2) Participation in Asian and Pacific collective security arrangements. (3) Support of a United Nations "that represents international justice, not an organization that seeks temporary peace with the aggressor".
The Declaration takes note of the fact that some people doubt the ability of Taiwan, with limited area and small population, to cope witl1 the vast area and large population of the mainland. "Those who have reached this conclusion are ignorant of Chinese history and culture and of our national spirit and success in resisting totalitarianism and aggression during the last 50 years."
The Party pledged itself to:
1. Augment construction of the Taiwan bastion of national recovery. Emphasis will be placed on, education, the promotion of science, completion of land reform, urban land equalization, community development, furtherance of the Chinese Cultural Renaissance Movement and improvement of social welfare.
2. Step up the tempo of warfare behind the enemy's frontline. Following the Tsungtsai's instruction of "30 per cent in front of the enemy and 70 per cent behind his lines", "We must unite all anti-Mao and anti-despotism forces to accelerate development of an anti-Communist network behind the enemy's frontline as well as the organization of an Anti-Mao and National Salvation United Front and the Anti-Mao and National Salvation alliance of forces. We shall fight shoulder to shoulder with all political parties and groups and individuals who participate in our National Revolution".
3. Acceleration of the anti-Communist struggle overseas. "Overseas Chinese are prime movers of the Revolution and the propagators of Chinese culture. The seed of Chinese culture is sown wherever the Chinese go and the revolutionary stamina of the Chinese people is demonstrated wherever the Chinese live. Overseas Chinese have carried on a determined struggle and have dealt the Maoists heavy blows during the last 20 years despite the complicated, difficult circumstances they have faced. Although the poison of international appeasement is continuing to spread, we are confident that our overseas compatriots will unite themselves, strengthen people-to-people diplomacy and spur the world anti-Communist movement to frustrate the enemy's front operations and prevent his atrocities."
"There are no lucky successes and accidental victories in the history of revolution," the Party said. "Successes and victories are the fruit of confidence, determination, fortitude, wisdom and blood and tears. To win the final victory and score the ultimate success in the anti-Communist and National Salvation struggle will require all of us to display the strongest possible sense of responsibility to our country, to our people and especially to our compatriots on the mainland ... The Tsungtsai is the center of our national revolutionary leadership and all of our comrades should close ranks around him." The text of the Declaration will be found in the Documents section of this issue.
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The Kuomintang's Platform included these major points:
-Election of additional members of Central Government representative organs and improvement of the system of local government.
-Development of basic and sophisticated industries in Taiwan.
-Encouragement of private enterprise and investment.
-Expansion of the infrastructure.
-Reform of the tax structure to increase direct taxation on a progressive basis.
-Cultivation of social morality through a modern code of conduct.
-Protection of women's rights, interests and employment opportunities.
-Improvement of programs for retired and disabled servicemen.
-Extirpation of Maoist Communism and all the evils it has perpetrated.
Text of the Platform also will be found in the Documents section.
The Congress adopted a plan to complete rural land reform and to spur urban land equalization. Government was urged to undertake a program to facilitate the development of industry, commerce and agriculture in appropriate areas. The goal of land equalization is to prevent speculation and earmark the unearned increment from the increase in land values for public welfare projects.
A resolution of the Congress called upon Kuomintang members to provide better leadership in government and legislative bodies and to undertake active programs at the grass-roots level. Members were urged 'to participate in monthly neighborhood meetings and to become active in community welfare activities.
The Congress heard reports on every phase of Taiwan construction and Chinese mainland developments. Among the delegates and observers were underground personnel who had been leading anti-Mao forces on the mainland. Representatives of overseas communities reported on their activities and on the failure of Communist attempts to infiltrate and subvert the overseas Chinese population of more than 18 million. Hundreds of congratulatory messages poured in from all over the world. Some of them came from the mainland and told of guerrilla attacks on Chinese Communist installations.
The Director-General and the more than 1,200 delegates and observers made it clear that the final evaluation of the Tenth National Congress should be based not on what was said at the meeting but on what is done during the rest of 1969 and in the early 1970s. This is the period in which Maoist Communism must be crushed, lest the world be subjected to nuclear holocaust in furtherance of Mao Tse-tung's determination to subjugate the United States and the Soviet Union and enslave nearly 4, billion people. The Kuomintang has stood up to be counted in the struggle to make sure that this never happens. Now the action moves from Yangmingshan to the Chinese mainland Taiwan stage where the fate of the Chinese people and the peace of the world will be decided.