The replies provide keen insights into the issues and expectations that occupy the minds of people who are key decision-makers and opinion-formers on the domestic scene.
Excerpts from Tien Hsia's lengthy article follow:
Sun Yun-suan, Senior Advisor to the President
Solidarity, cooperation, and stability are most important at this moment. People need to sacrifice their personal gains because only thus can they work with one another. Now we need not be in such a great rush to perform, to speak out, or to lake action. Just let things go step by step and wait until everything settles down. It's a rare opportunity for us. If people unite together and support the new leader of the country, we will be able to develop more open and positive policies.
People here are rich, but wealth doesn't necessarily result in happiness. The rest of the world considers us a great economic power and says we are excellent at making money. But money can do us harm as well when we resort to any means to make money.
In the past the government devoted itself primarily to the economy because it was anxious to improve people's lives and make the country wealthy and powerful. It didn't strive as much for cultural development. As a consequence, though we have made great material advancement, we have fallen behind in a spiritual sense. The imbalance between material and spiritual development is the main factor behind many recent social maladies and problems. Since we have successfully created an economic miracle, it's time for us to work for another one—a cultural miracle—to make the ROC not only economically rich, but also culturally rich.
Hsieh Tung-min, Senior Advisor to the President
People must still remember that the late President Chiang Ching-kuo, when asked by foreign journalists if he was cultivating a successor, said: "Everything is being done in keeping with the Constitution." Truly, less than four hours after President Chiang's death, Vice President Lee Teng-hui was sworn in smoothly. This clearly indicates that our country has been "systematized"—both the systems of constitutional rule and of administration are soundly operating.
In addition, people are now allowed to form new political parties and we are moving toward a more pluralistic society. It is inevitable for people in democratic societies to have conflicting ideas. But no matter how differently people think, they should discuss and solve the problems in the Legislative Yuan instead of on the streets. These are my favorite sayings of the ancient sages: "To forgive leads to greatness;" "desirelessness creates strength;" "adopt mutual tolerance for the sake of the nation;" "work for the interests of the whole."
Lee Ta-hai, Minister of Economic Affairs
The ROC's future really should be quite smooth; people only need to do what they're supposed to do. Being a constitutional and democratic society, it should diminish the influence of individuals. Strong leaders execute national policies more effectively, but we can't be sure of having the most outstanding leaders all the time. That is the advantage of building up political systems. The ROC must have had a sound political system to enable the Vice President to succeed to the presidency within only four hours. I feel very optimistic about the future of our country.
The level of education in the ROC is already quite high, and no doubt we will move toward a more rational society. Many foreign governments are led collectively—the U.S. for instance, where the president has to exchange views with the heads of Congress before making decisions. In this regard, it is all right for our government to be led for the time being by those eminent members of the Central Standing Committee of the ruling party. After a while of collective leadership, the most capable individuals will emerge.
Fredrick F. Chien, Representative of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs Office in the U.S.A.
Today in Taiwan some people scream and shout when suffering the slightest loss—but here nobody dies of starvation. People instead are particular about their private interests and fight about trivial problems like who gains five dollars more or less than the other. I won't take issue with those who take direct steps demanding a legal remedy if they are starving. But this isn't the case. They are just fighting for more personal gain—and that is simple selfishness.
If we want the people to throw off this selfishness, the government and the media should inform them precisely of what the national goals are. For the present, our national goals are to establish a free, democratic, prosperous, and progressive nation. There is no one who doesn't love freedom, and the time of magisterial government is past. Everybody should have the opportunity to express his opinion and to develop his prospects.
Since all administrative measures should be based on the people's will, they must first pass through the legislative bodies, where the minority can fully express themselves without blocking the enactment of laws. We look forward to a capable government, not a restricted one. Once having acquired the support of the legislative bodies, the government should make sure those important policies or acts are thoroughly carried out.
While working to realize our ideals of freedom and democracy, we shouldn't neglect our other objectives of prosperity and progress. It is these that win us international respect, and only national solidarity can bring them about.
It appears that today people take opposition as progress, and unity as regression. But don't forget, our achievements today are a direct result of solidarity, where every individual wholeheartedly dedicates himself to his work and creates high productivity. And we shouldn't forget it. Why aren't employers more concerned about the lives and welfare of the employed? But at the same time, employees consider that by working harder to make profits for the company, they should receive year-end bonuses equal to four or five months' salary. Management shouldn't exploit labor, and labor shouldn't work against management. Only through solidarity can we have prosperity and progress.
In our country, people often have only a partial understanding of the way things are done overseas. For instance, we have begun to hold public hearings in our country now, but some people regard public hearings merely as opportunities to curse and rail, and vent their anger. In the United States, however, people who attend public hearings usually are well prepared beforehand, and come provided with statistical information and the like to support their points. Each person naturally has the right to speak up and say what he thinks, but before doing so, he should first deliberate on what to say. Otherwise, it is just empty posturing, and he will never learn the true spirit in which such things are done elsewhere.
We should always bear in mind that it is not the land or the government, but the people of a country that determine whether a nation performs badly or well.
Koo Chen-fu, Chairman and President of Taiwan Cement Corp.
Since Mr. Chiang Ching-kuo had already laid a solid foundation, his passing will not have a major effect on Taiwan's future. The Pacific areas will undoubtedly take the place of the Atlantic and become the center of the world economy, or even the center of a new world culture. In the course of such a transformation, the ROC will play an important part. Therefore we have to make every effort toward internationalization and liberalization, and make the most effective use of our resources. Moreover, we need to systematize. In other words, we need a norm under which we can freely work to develop the function and potential of the market.
Kang Ning-hsiang, Legislator
In the past, both the political and economic powers of the ROC were distributed under the powerful leadership of the ruling party. During their administrations, the late Presidents Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo were capable of managing the ruling party, the government, and the army. Now the personnel of the three are facing reorganization after the late President Chiang Ching-kuo's death. If this reorganization can be smoothly accomplished, Taiwan can enter a new stage; if not, it could easily result in political chaos. There are two methods of avoiding political chaos: first, both the leaders of the ruling party and the influential members of the opposition should avoid giving the conservatives excuses to interfere in political affairs; second, among members of the leading level of the ruling party, those who are socially well-connected such as Lee Huan, Liang Su-jung, James C.Y. Sung and Chen Li-an, should open their minds to cooperate with the people to make our country more politically democratic and prosperous.
In the next two years, there will be successive elections in both the central and local levels. This readjustment of the political infrastructure will have a definite effect on Taiwan's political development. Everything depends on whether we have a fair and reasonable norm for competition among political parties, as well as a legal system of local government autonomy, and are able to apply our political system to redistribute and reorganize political power.
Aside from this, in the process of the government's power reorganization, the public should support the effort of turning the "Democratic Progressive Party" (DPP) into a constructive, organized, disciplined, and responsible opposition party. And the DPP members should also strive for this.
Chi Ning-yuan, Executive Vice President, Chung Hsing Bills Finance Corp.
Society must remain stable and progressive; the leaders must have correct directions; while people of all levels should perform their duties as best they can within the framework of their positions.
What consensus should the government and the people reach? The government should look more to public opinion and better publicize its policies. In this way the people can understand the government's policies and the government can understand the people's desires. In other words, they need to communicate better.
I hope that the government will lead according to the political system. Administrators are as important as before, but there must be norms available for them to work by.
Wang Chou-ming, Vice Chairman, Council for Economic Planning and Development
Although the late President Chiang Ching-kuo has passed away, there is not much possibility of any major change in the ROC's future direction; it will definitely continue to move toward a society of law, democracy, and a highly-developed economy.
To achieve such a goal, it is imperative that we stick to our existing economic policies of liberalization and internationalization. Secondly, the ROC will unavoidably confront keener competition, so we have to use every effort to increase the competitiveness of our enterprises and economy.
Regarding the form of future leadership of the government, let national policies decide. That is to say, we should choose people in keeping with national policies, instead of tailoring policies to fit different individuals.
Wang Hsing-ching, Chief Editorial Writer, The Journalist
Mr. Chiang's death gave us an opportunity for reflection. Now even those who used to blame him must—either as a result of the pressure of public opinion or from careful consideration—recognize his contributions.
I hope the ROC will become a truly pluralistic and democratic nation, a society without pressure, where people have various channels to participate in all kinds of activities.
The realization of this goal depends on whether high-ranking political leaders, those active in the democratic movement, and the people themselves are self-aware enough to be able to consider the question of democracy from a historical angle, and to map out an advanced strategy and a clear schedule to develop democracy further in our country.
Liu Chao-kai, President of Tecom Co., Ltd.
We business people will not change our expectations of the government's economic policies as a result of the death of the late President Chiang Ching-kuo. Still, it is clear that his death has influenced foreign viewpoints about the ROC. Our company happened to have customers and engineers from the U.S. and Europe visiting us at the time, and their head offices called us right after President Chiang's death to ask if any crisis would result. Although it was peaceful in Taiwan and people behaved maturely, we couldn't sway foreigners' image of the ROC for they have never understood it completely.
So, we should be attentive particularly to maintaining political stability and social order. Foreigners never worried much about Taiwan, for the authority of its strong political figures made them think that Taiwan was the most stable country in Asia, even though its social order sometimes seemed unsatisfactory. From now on, they will demand more than before because of their lack of understanding. The slightest disturbance could cause them to feel pessimistic about our country.
Most of all, the government must have firm policies and be sure to carry them out. We have done a good job in agriculture thanks to the group of agricultural experts on the ROC's Joint Committee on Rural Reconstruction, who worked directly with the farmers and understood their needs. Today, government employees taking charge of industrial development seldom keep in touch with industrial circles and therefore are not so grassroots oriented as those who dealt with agricultural matters in the past. Also the scholars with whom the government consults tend to focus only on the liberals and rarely ask what people in industrial circles want.
I hope that government officials will communicate with the people more, and that the people in turn don't take government responsibility for granted. People actually should express themselves more, because public opinion can be a vehicle to supervise government. The late President Chiang Ching-kuo himself used to visit the people often, and our success in agriculture is partly a result of the close association between the government and the people. Therefore, it shouldn't be difficult to do it again.
Yu Po-lung, Professor, School of Business, the University of Kansas
The ROC needs a more cosmopolitan viewpoint, and it's absolutely a waste of time to discuss the so-called "Taiwanese complex" or "Chinese complex." By working hard for decades, we have accumulated much wisdom and wealth which we should now put to good use. How can a prop airplane at a speed of less than 200 miles an hour catch up with a jet airliner? Our existing systems are like prop planes; they require improvement in flexibility, smoothness, and adaptability.
Chu Kao-cheng, Legislator
For us, Mr. Chiang's death is a crisis and a turning point as well. By crisis I mean we have lost a reputable and influential political leader. And it's a turning point also because we can now move faster toward constitutional rule.
Personally I hope the ROC will be able to adjust to the changeable international situation. This involves strengthening more pluralistic, person-to-person communications on a cultural level with the mainland and Southeast Asia. We can use our cultural and economic weapons instead of military force to counterattack.
As far as the domestic scene is concerned, I look forward to seeing the establishment of a sound system which will allow the ROC to grow into a society that is cultured, humane, just, and kind as well as affluent.
Wu Mei-yun, Editor-in-Chief, Echo Magazine
We mourn the death of the late President Chiang Ching-kuo, but it is a decisive moment for our country at the same time. For the sake of the nation, I hope the ROC, and especially Taiwan, realizes its position and importance both in history and for the future, and sets up its long-term national goals accordingly—goals for which people can work hand in hand.
Socially speaking, Chinese in Taiwan are enjoying a kind of peace and prosperity that has been rare in Chinese history. But a wealthy society also requires a sense of values as well. Chasing only after money makes a society snobbish and mean, and its people narrow and shortsighted.
We can find examples of humanism in our history that we can emulate. People should respect one another under the existing social systems in order to seek improvement.
Sun Chen, President of National Taiwan University
People expect that the government will do more and more for them on the one hand, and yet ask for tax reductions on the other. This is "taking without giving." We should agree that the government must secure sufficient resources in the case that the people demand that it serve them more. At the same time, the government should submit feasible blueprints for developing the country.
Yao Chia-wen, Chairman, the "Democratic Progressive Party"
There won't be chaos in the future of the ROC because people are unwilling to see it; instead, they are eager about systematic innovation through peaceful ways, not through violence or revolution.
With regard to our policies toward the mainland, before the overall re-election of the congress and the formation of a body representing the will of all the people in Taiwan, temporarily it's unnecessary to discuss political issues between the mainland and us. However, activities in business, athletics, science, and tourism should be mutually allowed on the basis of equality.
With the end of the age of rule by political strongmen, the ROC should emphasize parliamentary government from now on. The president handles foreign affairs and coordinates with the people domestically; the parliament and the congress are responsible respectively for actual administration and supervision of the government.
Hu Chiao-jung, General Manager, Canontex Industrial Co., Ltd.
I believe that Mr. Chiang Ching-kuo always acted only after careful consideration. Therefore, I hope his successor will also understand and analyze the overall situation, not just its superficial side, before making any decisions.
We must be careful not to lose a lot to gain a little in the matter of our relations with the mainland. To the Chinese Communists, every goal is political without exception. If we work for obvious trivial gains only, and separate economic issues from political ones, we might lose all we have in the long run.
Before Mr. Chiang died, people in Taiwan were like children in a family who are always fighting and squabbling. Mr. Chiang was like the head of the family, arbitrating their disputes. Without such an arbitrator, there is a problem that both the government and people may be inclined to trivial short-term interests without considering the whole picture as in the past.
Therefore, I hope the government and people both perceive that the individual—personal and short-term interests—should be sacrificed for the sake of the whole nation and long-term interests. Of course, it's important that we all work together to determine what the interests of our nation as a whole are.
Lin Hwai-min, Founder and Head, Cloud Gate Dance Ensemble
I hope that the Taiwan of the future will be a place of democracy, freedom, culture, and a high quality of life.
For such a goal, each individual has to be reflective and assume his responsibility. Really we should not confuse sympathy with favoritism. Revise the laws if they are not good. Once revised, they should be abided by even if they are not completely satisfactory. And it is especially important that we do away with bribery.
The late President Chiang Ching-kuo has passed away, and I hope our government can be led by systems henceforth.
Our policies toward the mainland must be made according to the people's will. Times are changing, so we should change our thoughts accordingly. I like the term "to unify China under the Three Principles of the People." No matter what policies we may adopt, we have to reinforce ourselves politically, economically, and culturally.
In the future, we should learn to think independently and avoid being passive, not only to adjust to existing circumstances but also to create in our own right.
Wu Den-yih, Magistrate, Nantou County
The direction of Taiwan's future should be, and must be, to create pollution-free prosperity: pollution-free not only in terms of the environment, but in political and social areas as well. It's not an easy goal and the government and people have to work together in a spirit of mutual understanding and trust to achieve it.
No government official should blindly uphold the authority of the administration. Government administration must be based on justice and rationality in order to win the people's hearts as well as their cooperation. The government should pay more attention to fairness, balance, and efficiency when determining public policies in the future. For instance, the conflicts of interests between management and labor, agriculture and trade, and central and local governments all need to be reconciled in a spirit of fairness and modesty by the powers that be. The time when the word of a government official was regarded as law has ended forever.
Cheng Chung-hua, President of Delta Electronic Industrial Co., Ltd.
We are all in the same boat. Economic development stems from political stability because they are closely related. On the contrary, instability stops buyers from placing orders with us.
It's healthy to have opposition in democratic societies. But people desire democracy with peace. Those who purposely cause social disorder will probably not cause harm if they just use this as a temporary measure and stop at the right moment. If on the other hand it ends up like in Korea, it will have a negative influence.
The prosperity of Taiwan today is attributable to our hardworking leaders in economy and finance, but they seem to be moving a little too slowly to keep pace with modern society as it is today. The more efficient the government, the more stable politics will be. We anticipate political stability, but we hope that some of the older people in power will retire earlier so that newcomers can participate in politics.
Chen Kuo-tzu, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Law, Soochow University
The most important thing is to keep up our efforts to make the ROC a country completely ruled by law. The interference of privileged groups can be best reduced on the basis of law. The prerequisite of rule by law in a country is to institute appropriate laws. Laws of any country are usually instituted to cope with particular conditions, and should be abolished or revised when they become outdated owing to changes in the original conditions. We must be cautious however, that the process of any abolition or revision of laws be legal or else we wouldn't be qualified to call ourselves a country "ruled by law."
Once there are appropriate laws, the government has to execute them exactly. Executing laws exactly is the best way to teach people the concepts of law. The ROC will become a country genuinely ruled by law only when its government and people develop the habit of executing and observing the law.
Wu Ssu-chung, President, Kingtel Telecommunication Corp.
There were few who noticed the existence of medium and small enterprises ten years ago. We, the medium and small entrepreneurs, understand the hardship of starting a business for we have experienced it. By travelling abroad over the years, we have been opening up the world market for our country and are a great strength in maintaining national stability. I hope the government won't sacrifice us tightly and will try better to understand the situation of small and medium business enterprises.
The late President Chiang Ching-kuo left us not long ago, and the business world may wait and see for a while whether our economic and financial policies will change. People were confident of the government when Mr. Chiang was alive, and they still feel the same about our country now. If the government demonstrates its capabilities in the near future, people will work as aggressively and determinedly as they did during the administration of Premier Sun Yun-suan. I hope the authorities can rebuild the people's confidence in the government's economic and financial policies.
Wu Chung-chi, Professor, Department of Economics, National Taiwan University
The transfer of political power takes time. But no matter what form future progress takes, it must be based on the Constitution.
Over the past two years, the late President Chiang Ching-kuo pointed out clearly the direction of the open-door policy; therefore our goal is clear. The only problems are the right order and timing of our next steps. The government should reinforce the credibility of public administration by keeping its promises instead of emphasizing its authority as before.
When making improvements, the government should be as patient, firm, and steady as possible. Before making decisions, there must be advance communication among the respective departments of the government. It won't work if the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Affairs have varying points of view.
Moreover, people should have a sense of tolerance. Give the government time to modify itself and establish its credibility. Simultaneously, lack of time shouldn't be the government's excuse for any of its failures.
The age of strongman politics is over, and it's time to stress collaboration among government departments, as well as the balance between political power and responsibility.
Yu Chin-lu, Managing-Director Copam Electronic Corp.
The per capita income of the ROC has exceeded that of Spain and almost equals that of Italy, but our public facilities are greatly inferior by comparison. For instance, a major metropolis like Taipei hasn't yet managed to establish a rapid transportation system.
In fact, the government only has to clarify the main principles and do the administrative planning, then leave the details to the people because they are absolutely capable of accomplishing them. Governments need not handle everything by themselves for no government has a high level of efficiency. Therefore the people should even take part in foreign affairs more actively in the future.
Since society is becoming more and more affluent, we should also change our perspectives accordingly. It may be too early for us to discuss the possibility of solving the problem of reunifying China. The following generations and we ourselves still have to live in Taiwan for a long time, so we must think more of our living environment. It's not right to save money which should be spent, just for the sake of making more money; if we continue in this way, I'm afraid that the affluence we are enjoying won't last longer than three generations.