Taiwan Today

In the following excerpts from The Oregonian, editor J. Richard Nokes describes his impressions of the ROC

WHAT ARE THE Three Principles of the People? The phrase rolls off the tongue (it is San Min Chu I in Chinese), and appears in print so often in Taiwan without fuller explanation that obviously it is understood automatically by the Chinese, just as Americans understand the words: "First Amendment."

Whether one is reading the translation into English of a speech by President Chiang Ching-kuo, or interviewing the deputy foreign minister or talking to a leader of the Kuomintang, one is confronted with "Three Principles of the People."

The ultimate goal of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is to carry out Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People. So what are they?

Chen Li-an, deputy secretary general of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party), said they meant about the same thing as the phrase "of the people, by the people, for the people" in Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Sun, who died in 1925, described San Min Chu I as being similar in meaning to the slogan of the French Revolution, "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite."

Simply, the "Three Principles" are nationalism, democracy and livelihood of the people.

Chen had gone just about that far with us during an interview in the council chamber of the Kuomintang building in Taipei. When I asked him to explain further, he handed me a book, which included the lectures of Sun Yat-sen on the subject in Canton in 1924.

The book offered more information than I really needed to know at that moment, but let me pass some of it on to you.

Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the revolt against the entrenched Ch'ing Dynasty, beginning in 1896 and culminating in its overthrow in 1911, based his movement toward a republic on what he called the three principles of the people.

The first, nationalism, came from his conviction that the Chinese people had shown great loyalty to the family and to the clan but had not extended loyalty to the nation or race. One could call it patriotism, I suppose, although the revolutionary leader gave it a deeper twist. It would evolve from several forces, he said: common blood (or one race), common way of making a living, common language, religion, customs and habits.

It seems obvious to visitors that the national spirit is high, as advocated by Sun ... "

The second principle, democracy, is apparent in meaning. It is government "of the people," something the Chinese didn't know at all under the emperors and warlords.

The third, and possibly most complicated, is livelihood, or welfare of the people. In his 1924 lectures, Sun said that "the struggle for a living and not material forces determines history." He rejected the Marxist concept of class struggle in favor of a reallocation of land modernization of production and a more nearly equal distribution of wealth.

Sun's writings make clear his rejection of socialism or Marxist philosophy. On the other hand, in the context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he also rejected the imperialism of the Western powers.

Even in 1924, Sun regarded the Western powers as the enemy because of the special concessions they had forced from a weak China. But he insisted that a modern China should be built on some of the advancements in technology and the concepts of democracy that had developed in the West. ..

(On Taiwan) the democratic process has been developing gradually since the first local elections were held in 1951. When we talked to party leader Chen he said there are "almost too many elections" in the republic today. "It seems we are just finishing one campaign when we are starting another."

Every citizen (who has an identification card) is entitled to vote without registering in Taiwan. He or she just shows up at the polls. There is no problem with illiteracy. The Education Ministry said the education level of the republic is the highest in Asia.

Election turnouts run more than 60 percent, Chen said. Campaigns are based mostly on local issues and personalities.

He added, almost with a shudder, that some of the personal slurs go beyond the realm of absolute truth - even in the 30 newspapers that serve the province. But he said post-election libel actions are unknown. "Just about everybody is afraid of the newspapers," he said. (There is no censorship except against pornography and pro-Communist expressions.)

The national government is divided into five parts, rather than the traditional three. Most important is the Legislative Yuan, which still comprises about 100 of the members who came to Taiwan with Chiang in 1949. They have been given permanent tenure. But other positions have been added and other legislators chosen. Today the old guard averages above 70 years of age. The newer members are mostly young, because the education provided during the 50 years of Japanese occupation was so limited, Chen said. "In five years there will be a big change," he said. "Almost all the members will be in their 40s, those who were born here."

It seems obvious to visitors that the national spirit is high, as advocated by Sun in his first principle. The uproar from the crowd at the National Day celebration when President Chiang defied the unification overtures from the mainland seemed quite genuine. Too, several persons born on the island with whom we spoke were just as pro republic as were those who came from the mainland.

As to the third principle, livelihood, Taiwan seems well on the road to fulfilling Sun's goal. Figures provided by government officials showed that the average caloric consumption is 2,700, among the highest in the world. Unemployment has averaged less than 2 per cent during the last 10 years.

The land reform program instigated by Chiang's government early after its arrival placed the farms in the hands of the tillers. The land owners became shareholders in industry. They eventually profited greatly because of the emphasis the republic has put on manufactured goods and foreign trade.

We saw no outward signs of poverty in the two big cities we visited, al though it well might be out of sight somewhere. People, especially the children, seemed well-dressed, mostly in Western-style clothing. Modern apartments were common sights.

Per capita income is among the highest in Asia .... more than $2, I 00 and the goal for 1981 is $2,500. The figures we have seen put the mainland at $450 with a goal of $1 ,000 in 1995.

We visited several places of employment - a steel mill, shipyard, pottery factory among them. The average pay of the 8,000 steel mill workers was $650 a month (plus subsidized housing), the general manager told us. That is for a basic 40-hour week.

A young woman painting a vase in the pottery factory told us, through an interpreter, that she worked seven days in a row ...

The government produces a whole string of figures to show success: industrial production up by 42 times in 30 years, agricultural production up three times since 1945. fishery production up seven times since 1952.

Maybe the most significant figures are in average lifespan: That for females has gone from 56.3 years in 1950 to 74.5 years in 1980; that for males from 52.9 to 69.4.

Sun, the father of the Three Principles, could well be proud of Taiwan and its 18 million people. But he certainly would hope that they could be rejoined with the I billion on the mainland and all could be as prosperous.

Will that time ever come? Maybe some day, but not likely in this century. The gap is too great, the systems too different. At least not without bloodshed that would likely destroy all three of Sun's principles.

International Buddhist Congress held in Taipei

The Third International Congress of the World Buddhist Sangha Council took place in Taipei with more than 2000 people attending. Representatives, Buddhist organizations, observers and religious leaders came from over 20 countries and areas.

Vice President Shieh Tung-min delivered the opening speech, with Rev. Pai Sheng, president of the Buddhist Association of the Republic of China, in the chair.

"Soon after Buddhism's introduction into China, it attained full flower, with elements of Confucianism and Taoism injected into it," Vice President Shieh said.

He expressed hope that through the congress, the Buddhist spirit of self-sacrifice will be brought forth for the salvation of all, particularly for those now in a religious void because they lack freedom.

"The land on both sides of the Tai wan Straits is inhabited by Chinese people," Shieh noted.

On the mainland, under Communist rule "our compatriots have suffered unprecedented disasters. There is no freedom of religious belief."

In Taiwan Province under the government of the Republic of China and under the Three Principles of the People, the vice president said, there is prosperity and well-being, and temples are everywhere. He added that it is obvious the two systems have brought vastly different social conditions and ways of life to the people.

"By calling for the awakening of all to truth, by bringing the torch of freedom to all corners of the earth and by eliminating the Red scourge, you will make an incomparable contribution to humankind, and build a new era for world Buddhism," he said.

563,000 temples destroyed

Chinese Buddhist leaders meeting in Taipei said that more than 563,000 temples on mainland China had been destroyed by the Chinese Communists. In a resolution passed at the closing session of the Third Chinese World Buddhist Conference, the participants condemned the Peiping regime for its atrocities, oppression of religion and evil ideology.

Some four million monks and nuns were forced to renounce their belief making mock of the so-called religious freedom pretended by the Peiping regime. About 300 buddhists from Hongkong, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, India, America, Australia, Burma and the Republic of China attended the conference.

In Venezuelan magazine

Leader lyrical about ROC

President Rodrigo Carazo Odio of Costa Rica hailed the Republic of China's achievements as a "combination of political decision by government officials and a positive and creative attitude of the people."

In an article entitled "Experiences a Trip - Taiwan" published in the weekly Poem Magazine of Venezuela, President Carazo vividly described the Republic of China.

Excerpts from the article follow:

• "Taiwan presents an extraordinary picture of a people's efficiency in a nationalistic political frame. The technicians, the white-collar workers, the farmers, the workers, all these inhabitants are engaged in achieving the national goals - surpassing them, overcoming all obstacles."

• "The exports increase, and give stimuli to the creative mind and to productive work. Taiwan's economic development is carried out by will and effort. Without any doubt, the challenge is derived from a continuing inspiration of great faith: The progress is an instrument of the unity of the Chinese people."

• "The people of Taiwan are inspired by the achievements of their economic and social situation, as compared with the situation that characterizes life on the mainland. Taiwan wishes to be a guide, to go ahead in order to attain total reunion under its principles and flag."

• "The desire to excel has political and social characteristics, also historical and cultural. To prove they can overcome misery and hunger in a democratic system is the desire of the Chinese people who live in Taiwan."

• "The government maintains a positive attitude towards production, and these political decisions play a large role in the people's will to create wealth for the island.".

Confucius stressed

Human rights

Huang Shao-ku, president of the Judicial Yuan, said that Confucian theory and culture, stressing "people as the foundation of the nation", clearly demonstrates the importance of human rights in Chinese history.

Speaking at a meeting in celebration of Human Rights Day, Huang said that protection of human rights in the Constitution is in line with the principles set out in both Chinese culture and the World Human Rights Declaration.

He called on people throughout the world to protest the violation of human rights by the Communists.

EX-RED TO BECOME COLONEL

Shao Hsi-yen, one of the first two Chinese Communist pilots to defect to free China, will be promoted to the rank of full colonel.

Red peace overtures

Form of war

Wang Miao, military spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, stated that the Chinese Communists' united front peace overture is in fact another form of war.

He said that by creating a false image of peace in the Taiwan Straits, the Communist regime in Peiping hopes to weaken the free world's vigilance, especially the United States', diverting attention from the Taiwan Straits and, thereby, making conditions advantageous for armed invasion of Taiwan.

Replying to a reporter's question at a regular Government Information Office news conference, Wang said the Communists have never stopped spreading the illusion of peaceful intention, while actively making preparations for an invasion of Taiwan .

California leaders hail

Governor Lee

Both California Governor Edmund Brown Jr. and San Francisco Mayor Ms. Dianne Feinstein have sent congratulations to Lee Teng-hui, on his appointment as governor of Taiwan.

Premier Sun stresses youth guidance

Patience, love required

Delivering a keynote speech at the opening of the 4th National Youth Guidance Meeting, Premier Sun Yun-suan called on participants to instill Chinese culture and the Three People’s Principles into the heart of Chinese youth.

Premier Sun then gave the following instructions to youth guidance personnel:

• In considering ideas, personnel must have patience and love to work properly with youths.

• In content, youth should be taught truth, honor, humility, courage and responsibility toward the nation and the society.

• In organization, systems at various levels should be established so that youths can find suitable work and develop their talents.

• In guidance techniques, specialization should be stressed in view of the complexities of modem society and of youth problems.

Adopt 10-point proposal

ROC envoys meet in San Jose

The fourth congress of chiefs of the diplomatic missions of the Republic of China accredited to Latin American and Caribbean countries was held in San Jose, capital of Costa Rica.

The three-day meeting, chaired by Vice Foreign Minister Fredrick F. Chien, and with the participation of Dr. James Soong, director general of the Government Information Office, reviewed the world situation and diplomatic, technical, cultural, artistic, commercial and financial contact between the ROC and Western Hemisphere countries.

The congress urged adoption of the following program:

1. To augment personnel of ROC missions in Latin America and to increase the annual budget for diplomatic delegations.

2. To encourage large enterprises in Taiwan to invest in small and medium industries in Latin American countries.

3. Actively offer agricultural, fishing and other technical cooperation to friendly countries to strengthen traditional friendships.

4. Increase mutual official and private visits.

5. Fortify trade and organize more ROC trade promotion groups to visit Latin American and Caribbean nations.

6. Encourage ROC firms to bid on international construction projects and public works programs in Latin America.

7. Encourage Chinese shipping companies to organize regular shipments from Taiwan to Latin America.

8. Publish Chinese-Spanish pictorial materials to introduce the up-to-date political and social aspects of the Re public of China on Taiwan to the people of the Western Hemisphere.

9. Sponsor annual Chinese cultural seminars for overseas Chinese youths.

10. Continue promoting goodwill delegations of sports and the arts to visit countries in this region.

Doctors urged 

Follow Sun Yat-sen

Dr. Hsu Tze-ehiu, director general of the National Health Administration, urged doctors to enhance basic medical practice and improve public health.

Speaking at a meeting marking the 34th Medical Doctors Day, Hsu said physicians of this country should ad here to the teachings and spirit of Dr. Sun Yat-sen .