Education must meet challenges arising out of the transition from developing to developed nation, he told more than 150 principals of elementary and junior high schools and other educators.
Last year, he said, 96.78 percent of primary school graduates went on to junior high. This is satisfying in terms of quantity, he said. Now it is time to examine quality.
The government embarked on a five-year education improvement program in 1976. The Central Government provided NT$2.2 billion and local governments spent NT$6 billion to upgrade school facilities and capacities.
Intangibles are to be improved in the second stage beginning now.
The Premier urged the conference to seek more efficient administration of schools, modernized curricula, improved moral education and use of TV. He said ways must be found to provide vocational training for junior high school pupils who are not going on to senior high.
The Republic of China will spend US$20 to $30 billion in developing transport in the next 10 years, Premier Sun Yun-suan said.
Addressing the Third Conference of the Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia, the Premier said, "Our transport policy is aimed at integrating such diverse elements as railroads, highways, airports, harbors, urban mass transit and rapid transit facilities, and rural roads into one smoothly functioning nationwide transportation network."
During the 10-year economic development plan (from 1980 to 1989), the Republic of China will invest US$l.3 billion to improve urban bus facilities and another US$l.7 billion to develop rapid-transit systems in urban areas, he said.
Other development projects include the paving of some 5,000 additional kilometers of roadway.
"We shall develop modern mass transport as the major means of transportation within our cities and metropolitan areas, thereby moderating the growth of private transport," he said.
In the past, Taiwan spent US$l.2 billion on a 375-kilometer freeway. Other investments were made in electrification of the 408-kilometer western trunk line and building of the 8l-kilometer mountain line between Suao and Hualien.
The Republic of China, Sun said, experienced energy crises in 1973 and 1979 that posed an immense challenge to our economic development.
"The most important and most pressing concern, at least for the foreseeable future, seems to be how to conserve energy. In fact, energy conservation is likely to be the most crucial factor in world economic development over the next 20 years or longer," Sun said.
"The ROC's energy elasticity, 1.17 in 1979, dropped to 0.97 in 1980, a clear indication, it would seem, of progress in cutting relative energy consumption."
Taiwan, he continued, is facing a growing demand for energy as a result of steady advance of the transportation sector, the growing economy and social progress. "It is imperative that our transport policy be oriented toward energy conservation," he said.
More than 800 experts from 18 countries took part in the five-day conference.
Premier Sun Yun-suan said the Republic of China is facing the threat of a devious enemy and therefore must place national security above all else.
"Everything would be empty talk if we failed to assure the security of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu," he told legislators.
Premier Sun reaffirmed the government's position that this is not the time to lift martial law, which has not affected the basic rights of the people while it protected the nation against subversion.
Premier Sun noted that the Republic of China has three political parties and that there are no restrictions on political participation by individuals.
"The question is not whether we should have more political parties," he said. "Our concern is to assure national unity for the sacred task of toppling Communist tyranny on the mainland."
He assured legislators that the government will not pause in trying to perfect democratic rule but reminded them of security considerations.
These were questions and answers in an interview Premier Sun gave J. Pauly, program director of Luxembourg TV:
Q. 1. After decades of cooperation between your country and the U.S. and Japan, don't you see a tendency for closer relations with European countries and especially EEC countries? How do you see this evolution in a not too favorable political environment?
A. 1. EEC is the world's largest economic community, and the Republic of China has worked hard to improve relations with it. This effort can be considered as beneficial to both sides. Although most of the West European countries do not maintain formal diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, many of them are aware of our continuing economic prosperity and excellent trade potential. In recent years, several members of EEC have established trade offices and commercial banks in Taiwan. I am confident that this trend will continue and I am of the opinion that closer commercial ties could be achieved if there were a better political environment.
Q. 2. What do you think about the evolution of relations between ROC and the Chinese Communist regime? What is your opinion about the future political and economic evolution in mainland China?
A. 2. From its establishment, the Republic of China has sought to assure a free and democratic life for all of the Chinese people. But for the past 30 years and longer, the Chinese Communists have tried to impose a non-Chinese political system of totalitarianism on our people on the mainland. Reconciliation of these two diametrically opposed ideologies and political systems is impossible. The unceasing power struggle, economic confusion and impasse encountered in the "four-modernizations" program on the Chinese mainland have shown once again that Communism is not good for China. I am convinced that our compatriots on the Chinese mainland will repudiate Communism in the end.
Q. 3. Politically speaking the Republic of China considers the Communist regime in mainland China as the arch-enemy. But it is generally believed that your country has kept rather close if not important ties via Hongkong and Macao to mainland China. Could you comment on this question?
A. 3. We will never compromise or enter into any contact with the Chinese Communists. If some of the Taiwan products were sold to mainland China by a third party, that is entirely beyond our control. This is not a close economic relationship at all.
Q. 4. Since derecognition by the U.S. and most important nations around the world, the Republic of China does not exist any more diplomatically speaking. How has the Republic of China survived this shock and how far has it affected the nation economically and militarily?
A. 4. The survival of any country depends on its own endeavors. In the last few years, the Re public of China has suffered several adversities in the international scene, but we have been able to pull through this crisis through determination and hard work. At present the ROC is as strong, as prosperous and as stable as ever. We still maintain formal diplomatic relations with 22 countries. Our economic growth rate has always been higher than that of the Chinese Communists. The total volume of foreign trade, in spite of our small population, is considerably higher than that of mainland China. From the strategic point of view, we are an important link in the defense chain of the Pacific. A strong, stable and prosperous Republic of China is a great asset to the free world.
Q. 5. You stated in interviews in the past, that the ROC intends to stay in the so-called Democratic Camp. Do you feel such a thing as a Western style democracy can be installed in your country?
A. 5. I do not believe that varying standards can be applied to democracy. The political system of the Republic of China is based on Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People. In spirit, this does not differ from the democracy of Western Europe. Of course, the systems and the practice of democracy cannot be precisely identical because of national differences in history, culture and social background.
Q. 6. Did you ever feel that the U.S. and Japanese presence, economically speaking, was too heavy as compared to your European partners? What should be done about this?
A. 6. Due to geographic and historical reasons, the economy of the Republic of China has been close to the United States and Japan. But during recent years, my government has made the decision to diversify our economic relations with as many countries as possible, especially with European countries. Both government and private sectors have been working closer together to promote our trade. Economic relations with many European countries have good results. It is my sincere hope that the European countries will get more interested in the economic activities and trade potential of the ROC and will reciprocate measures in promoting the relations between the European countries and mine. I am quite confident that with the joint efforts of Europe and my country, the future of economic relations, trade and cultural ties between our countries will continue to improve and be strengthened.
Q. 7. You stress the importance of close economic ties between your country and Europe, but there has been a strike going on. In November, 1980, all textile workers in the European countries of the EEC went on strike in order to protest the cheap imports from your country. Would you comment on this, sir?
A. 7. Well, in the years to come we are going to buy a lot of more sophisticated products from Europe. In order to pay for these high-priced imports, we must sell something in order to earn foreign exchange. As you know, we are buying air buses from France. It will take a lot of shirts to pay for an Airbus. At present we have a trade balance in our favor, but our effort is to try and buy more from Europe. That is our policy. I still hope that we all maintain the principle of free trade which will be beneficial to all of us.
Premier Sun also answered questions raised by John Roderick of the Associated Press in Tokyo. The text follows.
Q. 1. How would you describe relations between the ROC and the United States since January 1, 1979, when diplomatic relations were broken off?
A. 1. Although the economic and cultural relations between the two countries have made progress, channels of communication and mutual trust between the two sides still need to be augmented.
Q. 2. Do you anticipate that under President Reagan they will move forward more than under President Carter?
A. 2. Improvement of relations between the United States and the Republic of China must be based upon the common aspirations of the two countries. President Reagan is a political leader adhering to principles and ideals. He has said time and time again that the development of the relations between the United States and the Republic of China should not be interfered with by a third party. President Chiang Ching-kuo of this country has also made it clear that close cooperation of the two countries would be mutually advantageous and that disunity would be injurious to both. Since leaders of the two countries are now willing to improve relations, we sincerely hope that the new U.S. administration will follow the principles laid down by President Reagan in his statement of August 25, 1980, and also take into consideration the mutual benefits and factual needs required to enlarge cooperation. The prerequisite is the rein-statement of mutual trust.
Q. 3. What was the immediate reaction of the Chinese here to Carter's move and has that mood changed any since then?
A. 3. At the time people here felt disappointed and a sense of betrayal as a result of the Carter administration's sudden and unilateral termination of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Republic of China. This sentiment was tempered because the government of the Republic of China, recognizing the importance of maintaining a friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries, urged the people to place a high value on the friendship of the American people. The firm remarks on Communism made by President Reagan both before and since his election have won the unanimous respect of the government and people of the Republic of China. It is hoped that trust between the two countries will be gradually restored.
Q. 4. U.S. sales to the ROC of military hardware continues. How much money are you prepared to spend over the next few years? And what are the specific items, besides the F-16, you would wish to acquire?
A. 4. To resist Communist expansionism and to safeguard our freedom and maintain the security of this area, we have to acquire from the United States weapons to assure the control of our air space and the sea. The amount of money to be spent will be decided on a basis of the quantity and quality of the weapons the United States is willing to sell as well as by our needs and budget.
Q. 5. How many F-16s would you like to have and why is it of such high priority?
A. 5. The types and quantities of weapons the Republic of China hopes to buy will be determined by the following factors: (1) Willingness of the United States to sell them. (2) Our defense needs. (3) Our payment ability. Owing to the sizable imbalance of military strength between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, we must depend on high quality weapons to deter military adventures by the international Communists and maintain stability in Northeast Asia.
Q. 6. Do you regard the situation in the Taiwan Straits at the present time as one of war or of effective armistice?
A. 6. According to the Communist dialectic, peace and war are two sides of the same coin and are to be used alternately. Basically, the Chinese Communists still constitute a grave threat to the security of the Republic of China. They have never given up their intention to seize Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu and Taiwan by force.
Q. 7. The Chinese in Peking have extended what seem, on the surface, to be generous offers for ending the hostility between the ROC and the PRC. Why does your government reject them?
A. 7. All of the Chinese Communist offers are traps set to communize Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu by way of peace talks. We have learned much from previous lessons and will never take the bait. Additionally, we refuse to talk or deal with the Chinese Communist regime because we want our mainland compatriots to know clearly that we don't approve of Communism or the sys tem of the Chinese Communists. We want them to know that we are fighting the Communists together with them.
Q. 8. Is there any forseeable time in the future when talks might take place?
A. 8. No, we shall never abandon our principles of not having any contact or talk with the Chinese Communists. A united and peaceful China will emerge in due course if the Chinese Communists publicly renounce and realistically give up Communism and its system, faithfully carry out Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People and the Five-Power Constitution, and respect the political system, national flag and anthem of the Republic of China.
Q. 9. What is your appraisal of events of the past four years on the mainland? Would your government be more comfortable if the Maoists were returned to power?
A. 9. The final target of the Communists is to destroy the systems of democracy, free enterprise and free society. Power struggle among the Chinese Communist leaders will not change their fundamental attitude toward non-Communist societies. We would like to remind all free people to recognize the essence of Chinese Communism. Teng and his group have temporarily snatched power within the leading clique of the Chinese Communist Party after a four-year struggle. It is not easy to predict how long the current situation will continue, be cause Communist struggle is endless. In our view, both the Maoists and the Teng clique are Communists who believe in an inhumane system which we oppose.
Q. 10. Economically you underwent a period of high inflation last year, but plan to halve it this year. How is this to be done?
A. 10. The high inflation last year was mainly caused by two factors. One was that since 1979, international oil prices have continuously risen. The other was that during the three years preceding 1979, the Republic of China maintained a stable commodity price level lower than that in most other countries. Accumulated favorable trade balances brought about large-scale increases in the money supply and added to inflationary pressures. Today, the trade of our country has become unfavorable and the supply of domestic commodities is ample. The real money supply has been reduced by inflation. An excess of money no longer exists. If international oil prices are stabilized, the year's prospects for commodity prices will be improved. We shall adopt the following major measures: maintain a liberal import policy, liberalize interest rates and regulate domestic and foreign supplies and needs through market functions so as to stabilize commodity prices.
Q. 11. How do you see the future of Taiwan politically and economically? Is independence a possibility? If not, why not?
A. 11. Facts of the past 30 years bear witness to the accurate direction of developing our country on the basis of the Three Principles of the People. The people in Free China have enjoyed prosperity and an equitable distribution of wealth unparalleled in Chinese history. Even the Chinese Communists on the mainland were clamoring to learn from us, and our compatriots on the mainland yearn for the life style we enjoy here. Consequently, we shall continue our endeavors in keeping with past orientation and policy. We hope our government will be more effective, our economy more prosperous, the distribution of wealth more equitable and that the lives of our people will be happier.
The issue of "independence" stems from a misunderstanding of Chinese history. Since its founding in 1912, the Republic of China has been an independent and sovereign state. There is no such problem as "independence." The Chinese Communist insurgence and usurpation of the mainland in 1949 are responsible for placing Taiwan and the mainland in opposition to each other across the Taiwan Straits. This misunderstanding results from failure to properly solve the "China issue." As the confrontation continues, some people may fear an invasion by the Chinese Communists and attempt to escape from reality through the assertion of "independence." They fail to see that if the Chinese Communist regime becomes strong enough, it will try to capture Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu whether or not they are "independent." So we can never allow anyone to engage in divisive political campaigns and activities in the name of "independence."
Former President Yen Chia-kan addresses a Regional Council meeting of People-to-People International in Taipei. (File photo)
The international situation remains precarious and unpredictable and if some countries of the free world, lacking vision and foresight, refuse to distinguish or cannot distinguish friend from foe, serious consequences will result, former President Yen Chia-kan warned in an address to the opening session of the Fourth Asian Regional Council Meeting of People-to-People International.
Yen said if world peace is to be maintained, everyone must retain the courage of his convictions and remain dedicated to justice and morality. He said:
"First, we must protect the liberty of the individual. If we wish to understand the true significance of peace, then first and foremost we need to recognize human dignity and to protect individual liberty.
"Only people who are free can exercise independence of judgment, can really respect each other and can make contributions to world peace through their efforts for mutual comprehension and friendship.
"If the individual is deprived of his liberty, the entire world will degenerate into a concentration camp populated by slaves. In other words, without personal freedom, there can be no genuine world peace.
"Second, we must guarantee the safety and security of nations. History is full of examples of aggressor countries which, under the false pretense of pursuing peace, in fact launched invasions.
"Again, under the wishful thinking of obtaining peace, some countries relaxed their spirit of resistance and thus, caught off-guard, became hapless victims of an unfortunate fate.
"What the world needs today is not a fictitious, trumped-up peace, but a true peace, which can protect and assure the security of all nations.
"Third, we must promote international cooperation. One thing is very important for the preservation of world peace, and that is to induce the people of every country to engage in active and widespread interchange with each other not only in the areas of culture, education, science and technology but also in those of economic cooperation, trade and tourism.
"In this fashion, and only in this fashion, can we establish international understanding and friendship. And only under the banner of wholehearted cooperation between the nations can world peace and harmony be fully and genuinely achieved. Only this kind of world peace can endure and last permanently.
"The three points I have mentioned are, I strongly believe, the fundamental conditions for consolidating the true peace of the world. At the same time, they are the ultimate goals of our struggle for world peace.
"To obtain this aim every individual in every country should devote a part of his time and energy to people-to-people diplomacy, so that everyone can become an ambassador of goodwill and peace, so that the world we inhabit can become a free, prosperous, harmonious and cooperative family.
"It is my firm conviction that these noble plans of ours not only conform to traditional Chinese modes of thought but also embody the lofty ideals to which your organization has devoted its finest efforts during these twenty-five years."
People-to-People International was founded by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956. The committee's purpose is to keep world peace through promotion of international understanding.
On another occasion, Yen Chia-kan said Communism in China is dying and predicted that the Chinese mainland may witness massive famine and flight of refugees or undergo a convulsive revolution.
Addressing the third meeting of the Republic of China Strategic Society, Yen said the death knell of the Communist system has been sounded throughout the world.
Nowhere is the disintegration of Communism more pronounced than in China, Yen said.
Citing a long list of political movements in the Mao Tse-tung era and the post-Mao period, he took note of the worst mainland natural disasters in 38 years, the suffering of tens of millions of people in affected areas, economic bankruptcy and the termination of international credibility.
People are fed up with the Communist system and longing for a change, the former President said.
"In the Republic of China the successful implementation of the Three Principles of the People has pointed to the correct path for the development of China in the future," he said.
The Ministry of Communications received a request from the Provincial Government to conduct a feasibility study for a second freeway. The request goes to the Transportation Planning Board of the ministry.
Possibility of a second freeway was brought up by President Chiang Ching-kuo recently when he visited central Taiwan.
According to the ministry, a second freeway would cost about NT$100 billion.
The existing 375-kilometer Sun Yat-sen Expressway will reach maximum capacity by 1990. Some sections will be at capacity by 1985. These are the stretches between Taipei and Chungli, Hsin-chou and Miaoli and Fengyuan and Changhua. The Tainan-Kaohsiung section will reach capacity in 1987.
Most of the freeway is four lanes. Only the Taipei-Linkou section is eight lanes. The Linkou Chiang Kai-shek Airport section and Nantze-Kao hsiung section are six lanes.
The Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau has started widening some parts of the freeway.
To cope with congestion, some experts propose a new highway down the west coast. Others suggest widening and improving the existing highway.
Governor Lin Yang-kang presented a seven-point rural and farm aid program to the Provincial Assembly.
Between January and June of next year, the Provincial Government proposes to spend NT$3 billion on grass roots construction. NT$1.8 billion will be in the form of subsidies to city and county governments. Farm income was about two-thirds of non-farm income last year.
Lin said the Provincial Government will encourage merger of farmlands to produce economic units of 25 to 200 hectares. Merger of 267,000 hectares will be sought in five years.
Land consolidation will be continued with a goal of 100,000 hectares in five years.
Lin said priority also will go to housing and transportation. Warning signals will be installed at 481 grade crossings.
Rural administrative efficiency will be strengthened. Recreation, education and social security will receive increased attention.
Vocational training centers for the handicapped have been established at Hsinchu, Yunlin and Tainan.
People over 70 (there are about 300,000 in the province not including Taipei and Kaohsiung Cities) will have improved access to medical care.
Plans for a trust company to finance agricultural enterprises in the second stage of land reform have been announced by the Provincial Government.
The Council for Agricultural Planning and Development is making a feasibility study.
The second stage includes land consolidation and farm mechanization.
The trust company will engage in farm management, distribution of seeds, processing and storage of crops, dissemination of information, land consolidation, reclamation of tidal lands, industrial zones for food processing, grass roots construction projects and development of rural tourism.
Initially, the company will be financed by the government and government-owned banks. Later it will sell 49 per cent of its stock to fanners who are willing to sell their farms, farmers' associations, its employees and businesses related to agriculture.
Guaranteed prices of rice were raised by the Cabinet. The price of ponlai was set at NT$ 17.60 per kilogram and that of tsailai at NT$16.60 for this year's first crop.
The increase is NT$3.10 over last year's first crop prices and NT$1 over 1980's second crop.
The government will spend more than NT$5 billion to buy about 310,000 metric tons of rice between April and October.
The Cabinet will set second crop prices in September.
The Council for Economic Planning and Development approved a 76.6 percent increase in fertilizer prices effective June 1.
CEPD said fertilizer now accounts for 3.9 percent of the grain production cost. This will rise to 8 percent after the increase.
This is the first fertilizer price hike in seven years. A big deficit faces the Taiwan Fertilizer Company as a result of higher costs for oil, gas and electricity price hikes.