Taiwan Today

President Chiang Ching-kuo told the 11th National Development Seminar that the contributions of some 240 scholars attending the July meeting in Taipei would help assure the unification of China under the banners of freedom and democracy within this decade. At the outset of the 70s of the Republic of China, he said, Free Chinese everywhere are confident that the victory of the Three Principles of the People (Dr. Sun Yat-sen's foundation stones of the Republic of China) is not far away.

The successes achieved in Taiwan Province, the chief executive said, have proved the validity of the Three Principles. On the mainland just across the Taiwan Straits, the Chinese Communist failure is clear and overwhelming. The Republic of China on Taiwan offers prosperity, progress and a government of benevolence in contrast to the Communist presentation of poverty, backwardness and a regime of oppression.

The Three Principles of the People, he said, meets the idealistic, cultural and pragmatic requirements of China and is therefore China's only road to the future. He called on the delegates to the National Development Seminar and Chinese everywhere to take these steps in furthering the advance of the Three Principles toward mainland recovery and a China restored to peace and its proper role in the world:

First, encouragement of the mainland people to take their stand on the Three Principles as the way to salvation and Communism as the way to destruction. Once this stand has been taken, the Communists will be overthrown.

Second, utilization of the strength of the overseas Chinese in supporting the Three Principles for China's unification. Foreign friends will help once they understand that only a China of the Three Principles can contribute to the peace of Asia and the world.

Third, provide the strength and unity for the accelerated reconstruction of the Taiwan bastion. Political stability must be maintained, economic prosperity enhanced and social harmony augmented. This will lead to improved national defenses, technological innovation and the development of education and culture.

President Chiang recalled that the late President Chiang Kai-shek had emphasized that perseverance and self-reliance would bring victory and that struggle had to be ceaseless. All of the Chinese people, President Chiang Ching-kuo said, support the Three Principles of the People and want a China inspired and governed in keeping with Dr. Sun Yat-sen's ideals.

The national leader mingled with the Development Seminar delegates—133 of them from abroad—at a reception. He talked informally to many of them, soliciting their views as to ways in which the government could improve its service to the people and enlarge the Republic of China's contribution to the Free World.

As the two-week meeting concluded July 20, a total of 693 recommendations from panels and individuals were turned over to the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission of the Executive Yuan for compilation. Premier Sun Yun-suan addressed the closing session as he had the opening one (see the Free China Review August issue). He asked those present, nearly 68 percent of them holders of doctor's degrees, to keep in close touch with the departments of government and continue to make important contributions to the nation's progress. Summing up the work of the six working groups, he said:

—Politics and diplomacy should be advanced through exercise of the rule of law and vigorous initiatives based on democracy and independence.

—Education has to improve the quality as well as the quantity of its endeavors.

—Culture and information must lead to the development of an open society.

—Economics needs to emphasize technological and managerial renovation and the advance of industry.

—Science and technology seeks modernization and the cultivation of talent.

—Medicine and public health are essential to assure a strong nation and people.

Participants spent the first week visiting political, economic, social and military establishments and acquiring a working knowledge of nation and government. For the second week, they gathered in discussion groups and heard the views of government and other leaders. Premier Sun Yun-suan made appearances before all of the panel sessions and took a close interest in the deliberations and recommendations.

Wei Yung, chairman of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission handling the Development Seminar proposals, appeared before the diplomatic and political group to summarize government measures being taken in implementation of reconstruction projects. He identified the chief undertakings as a 20-year overall development project, six-year economic reconstruction project, 12-year scientific development project, 5-year vocational training project, 13-year land survey project and 5-year social welfare project. All of these are carefully monitored by RDEC. Altogether, 565 projects are in the process of planning or implementation.

Panel members agreed that academic circles should increase their cooperation with government administrators in carrying out these undertakings. Scholars expressed concern lest the government call on too many scholars for full-time assistance and weaken the academic structure. Professor Chang Chung-tung of National Taiwan University suggested that the government might limit the period of service by scholars so as not to constitute a brain drain on universities. Wang Jen-huong proposed that curricula could be geared to the needs of government, especially the studies of graduate schools and departments. Some speakers said the government could attach greater importance to teachers and researchers from the social sciences.

Among the government officials participating in the panel were Shen Chang-huan, secretary general of the National Security Council; Interior Vice Minister Yi Chun-po; Chen Kwei-hwa, director general of the Central Personnel Administration; and Chung Shih-yi, director general of the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics. Chen told of the government's efforts to improve administrative efficiency. Unnecessary personnel have been eliminated, he said, while the quality of essential workers has been upgraded. Pay has been increased and on-the-job training improved. Of the 410,000 persons serving in government at all levels, 35.6 percent were appointed after passing government-sponsored examinations. The figure was 24 percent in 1971. At the end of 1980, government pay had risen 4.7 times since 1973. The rate of inflation for the same period was 190 percent.

Addressing the science and technology panel, Premier Sun said that the government didn't expect "instant proposals" but was basically interested in continuous cooperation for the guidance of administrative programs. The National Development Seminars serve their most important purpose by bringing scholars and administrators together and creating the basis for cooperative endeavors. Communication is established, the Premier said, and the conclusion of the meeting thus marks a beginning rather than the end. He said that delegates to this year's seminar had been asked to make recommendations for invitations to be issued to an expanded 12th seminar in 1982. A national science and technology meeting will be held within this year to revise the national plan. Government, the Premier declared, will import technology not only for its own needs but for private enterprise. He urged seminarians to consider the plans and technologies which should receive priority.

Premier Sun told the industry and commerce group that not all Development Seminar proposals can be implemented immediately. Some are too costly, he said, and others pose various difficulties. But all proposals are welcome and most will eventually be put to use. He renewed his invitation to scholars and experts to come to the Republic of China, contribute their talent to the government and help speed modernization. The group considered the energy picture and proposed that the government adopt policies appropriate to the country's situation, diversify energy sources and spur research. Another recommendation called for cultivation of the concept of law in school and adult education so as to advance industrialization.

Wang Mei-hua, chief engineer of the Director General of Telecommunications, told panelists that computers are being called upon to serve the needs of communications. Overseas Chinese are contributing their experience and know-how, he said. Research will be conducted at home to the fullest possible extent, Wang added, but additional facilities will be imported as required. The group suggested that the government will need to spend NT$4 billion on telecommunications development during the next four years.

Members of a subpanel on agriculture recommended establishment of an environmental protection bureau and pesticide research bureau to move more strongly against farm hazards. Dr. Chang Yi-peng, an ecologist from the University of Indiana, cited the seriousness of river and ocean pollution in Taiwan. Coastal fisheries are endangered, he said. Yuan Wei-po, division chief of fishery for the Council of Agricultural Planning and Development, agreed that pollution is serious and took note of efforts to prevent industries from dumping wastes into rivers and the sea. Panelists also gave their attention to changes in the ecological balance produced by the use of pesticides. Insects are becoming immune to tire chemicals used, they pointed out, and the residue left on plants may be harmful to humans. It was proposed that more research be undertaken on heredity engineering, biology and the requirements for energy growth. Agriculture requires a higher level of technical personnel, the panel agreed. Research conditions should be improved, international cooperation augmented and agricultural education upgraded.

Specialists on water utilization said that more planning is essential. One panelist wanted to raise the stature of the Taiwan Water Conservancy Bureau to the same level as the Taiwan Reconstruction Department. Pan Pu-sheng, director of the Electricity Development Department of the Taiwan Power Company, said additional hydroelectric generation is possible through the construction of additional multipurpose dams and reservoirs. He also indicated the government's interest in generating power from tides and marine temperature inversion.

Members of the science and technology panel called on the government to more than treble its expenditures on research and development during the next five years. The current rate of R&D expenditure is 0.6 percent of the gross national product. A figure of 2 percent is recommended. The money would help establish an R&D foundation with the government supplying funds to match those of private industry. A sound administrative system is also essential in developing science and technology, the scholars said, and a special government agency should be in overall command. Also asked is the revision or repeal of laws and regulations that are detrimental to science, technology and industry. Technology transfer is needed, the panelists said, and can be assured by the establishment of consultant firms, the facilitating of key industrial technology imports and a program of science education at the Hsinchu Science Industrial Park during the summer months.

Premier Sun informed the culture and information group that the government plans to set up a cultural construction commission and may even consider a ministry. Concrete proposals are needed from the academic community, he said, so that the government can lay down a helpful and realistic program. The initial fund for the commission will be US$27.7 million, half of it from the government and half from the private sector. Creative artists and writers will be encouraged to raise the level of their work and make greater contributions to the cultural development of the country.

Information specialists of the cultural panel were told of the government's plans to establish a public television station and increase education via radio and television. A portion of the earnings by the three TV networks may be set aside to improve programming and conduct research on the public station. More than 175,000 persons have registered for study on "school of the air" materials during the last 10 years. About 41,000 of them were graduated and another 35,000 completed their courses. These were among the panel's recommendations:

—Increase in the number of newspapers and the number of pages together with improved quality of reporting and editing as an answer to the erroneous charge that the press is under government control.

—Formulate a mass media policy that will safeguard national security and serve the interests of Chinese culture and tradition.

—Stress the importance of law and order and the dissemination of news carried out in keeping with the nation's statutes and regulations.

—Encourage specialized reporting and sponsor panel discussions by leaders and experts so as to communicate all ideas, including those of government and people, for revision of the press law.

—Improve the professional quality of television personnel and programs.

—Adopt a code of ethics and standards for mass media personnel.

Medical and public health specialists turned their attention to the problem of storing and disposing of poisonous chemicals. Special attention was given to the contamination resulting from the plastics industry. Control steps would include the giving of sufficient authority to a proposed environmental protection agency, setting up of a data bank and coordination of government activities related to the transportation, packaging, labeling, use and handling of poisonous substances.

Overseas Chinese returning for the National Development Seminar established 14 correspondence centers overseas and have held meetings and conducted other activities to bring Chinese together all over the world. Nine of the centers are in the United States. There are three in Europe, one in Canada and one in Japan. Lien Chan, chairman of the National Youth Commission, said the centers were set up with NYC assistance but should be expanded to meet rapidly expanding requirements.

The text of Premier Sun's concluding address to the National Development Seminar follows:

The 1981 National Development Seminar comes to a successful conclusion today. For the last 15 days, you have suffered through the hot summer weather in order to contribute your wisdom and experience to the nation's development. You have made the best use of every minute and have come directly to the point in discussing the problems before you. Your candidness, patriotic enthusiasm and foresight are regarded as good auguries by me and the responsible officials of the various ministries and departments of government. You have augmented our courage and confidence in the execution of our duties. On behalf of the government, I wish to express my sincere appreciation and respect to all of you.

At the opening of this seminar, I mentioned some of the problems facing our country. These included the problems of national integration, political participation and national development. I have also mentioned some of my concepts and approaches in solving these problems and solicited your counsel. During the course of the seminar, these views have received a warm response from you and also from the mass media and society. I believe that the biggest gain from this seminar is our gradual establishment of common understanding.

We have come to understand that "Free China is good but we must make it better."

We all know that "We enjoy freedom and we want our compatriots on the mainland to enjoy freedom, too."

After lengthy endeavors by our compatriots at home and abroad we have reached a progressive and innovative common understanding—a consensus that benefits ourselves and others, a common understanding that we are striving not only for the advances of today but for those of all time.

I hope sincerely that the closing of this seminar will not mark the end but the beginning of your contribution of advice and counsel. I invite you to keep in touch with the various departments of the government and continue to provide us with your sagacious views. I want to reiterate that the government welcomes your opinions about national development. The government will always keep its doors open wide, travel along our broad thoroughfare and struggle for the nation and the people.

During the course of the seminar, I have attended sessions of the groups discussing politics and diplomacy, education, culture and information, economics, and science and technology. Additionally, I have carefully reviewed the daily reports of the discussions. Your opinions are thoughtful and worthy of reference. The views of Professor Lee Yu-chen of the public health group provide an example. He is concerned about the health of our people and therefore suggests that the name of the "Longevity" brand of cigarettes be changed to "Short Life." Although this is humorously intended, it has profound meaning: I hope the Taiwan Tobacco & Wine Monopoly Bureau and industrial and commercial circles will not ignore the health of our people in the interest of business. Professor Mou Tsung-san emphasized that in the world of today cultural construction should be directed toward the establishment of an "open society." This is an outstanding concept that comes directly to the point. He is indicating the goal and direction of our common endeavors.

I cannot enumerate all of your excellent contributions here. To sum it all up, each of you expects to have a "rich and truly courteous" society in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. Each of you also expects our achievements in national development to be transplanted to the Chinese mainland in the near future. As a result of this seminar, we have come to agree on the common direction and goal for national development in our country's decade of the 70s. Now let me report on some of the conclusions reached by the various seminar groups:

—Politics and diplomacy. Internally, we should continue to strengthen the concept of rule by law and the functions of democracy, cultivate the people's spirit of abiding by the law and building the nation through hard work and austerity, reinforce efforts to maintain social peace and order, enlarge the area of social participation, establish the same common understanding of the need for helping each other that is to be found among those who are in the same boat, and gradually enlarge our program of social security. We should protect the interests of those with low incomes, enact laws to safeguard consumers' rights, cultivate talent for social science, improve our services to the people and promote coalescence among government, academic and business circles. Externally, we should bring additional countries to our side by taking vigorous initiatives in keeping with our spirit of independence. We should mobilize the strength of our foreign friends and overseas Chinese to help us establish our image as the vanguard of Chinese modernization. We should open up a new diplomatic horizon and elevate our international stature.

—Education. The cultivation of talent is basic to national development. The system and content of education will decide the success of our efforts. We must vigorously pursue projects to raise the quality of our teachers in higher education, provide guidance and assistance to private schools, improve the college joint entrance examination system and emphasize physical education. We also must set up a university of the air and multiply other broadcast teaching efforts so as to reinforce social and extension education.

—Culture and information. We must establish that the direction of our cultural development is leading to an "open society." We must also cultivate talent and provide more funds for cultural development while encouraging cultural and art activities centering around the people that will contribute to the further development of traditional Chinese culture. Last Saturday, the Legislative Yuan approved the statute setting up a cultural development commission under the Executive Yuan. This is substantial evidence of the determination of the government to see that the Republic of China becomes a more important country culturally. We want to express once more our appreciation for the encouragement and support provided at the last several sessions of the National Development Seminar. As for mass communications, we must consider the possibility of setting up a public television station, review the page restrictions placed on newspapers and draw up a law covering journalists. We seek a mass communications policy based on our national principles and interest, freedom of the press, social and educational benefits and cultural development.

—Economics. We must stress technological and managerial renovation to facilitate the upgrading of industry. While placing equal emphasis on stability and growth, we must give special attention to the balanced development and coordination of industry and agriculture while assuring the harmonious advance of economic, defense, social and cultural construction. We also need to reinforce our research and development in the energy field so as to consolidate the foundation of economic development. At the same time, we shall be promoting external trade to assure the continued prosperity of the economy. Vigorous improvement must be sought in the organization and management of government enterprises so as to assure their salutary development.

—Science and technology. We must place great importance on scientific technology and know-how in modernizing the country and expedite the cultivation of scientific and technological talent. We must also reinforce research development and measures to expedite the transfer of scientific and technological know-how, promote strategic and information industries and push industrial automation in order to accelerate the upgrading of industrial and scientific technology. Attention must be given to the economical use and rational distribution of water resources. Research must be undertaken so that we can guarantee high quality.

—Public Health. Attention must be given to the health care of the people, the ecological balance and protection of the environment. We need to strengthen pharmaceutical and food controls, industrial hygiene, pollution prevention, family planning, mental health of the young and adult disease prevention. We must cultivate more medical personnel, promote follow-up medical education and advance the scientific study of herbal medicine as a part of our traditional Chinese culture.

The experiences of the past more than three decades teach us that tangible development is easy but intangible development is difficult. We completed the Ten Major Construction Projects step by step in less than 10 years. At the same time, we failed to cultivate talent in every field so as to solve the many problems arising during the course of national modernization over a period of 30 years.

In the 70s of the Republic of China we shall not only enter the ranks of the developed nations but also must shoulder the historic mission of expediting freedom and democracy for the mainland. We are aware that many problems and difficulties lie ahead. Although we have the confidence and determination to face up to all challenges, we also understand that the development of talent is essential to success. On the one hand, we shall add to the capitalization of education in order to raise the quality of talent, and on the other hand we shall renovate the personnel system so as to seek talented people in the hope they will make further contributions to the nation. I should like to take advantage of this opportunity to sound a sincere call to scholars and experts abroad to return to the motherland and join enthusiastically in the tasks of national development. As for the scholars who participated in the National Development Seminar, I hope they will join organizations related to the Seminar and join in activities in their places of residence, thereby continuing their dedication to the great enterprise of building up the motherland and moving toward the goal of national reunification.

President Chiang Ching-kuo recently pointed to "perseverance and self-reliance" as spiritual guidelines for survival and development. We know that only through perseverance and endurance can we triumph over adversity and succeed, and that only through unceasing adherence to self-reliance can we open up a favorable horizon and move on to victory. I should especially like to point out that national development has no end. I hope sincerely that all our compatriots will develop their spirit of "perseverance and self-reliance" so as to make progress and then more progress and so as to be stronger and then even more strong.

The Chinese are an outstanding race and the Republic of China is a great nation. It is our progress that has compelled the Chinese Communists to display the portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China, at Tienanmen. But that is not enough. Our goal is to plant the ideology of our founding father in the hearts of millions and millions of our compatriots on the mainland and to extend our political system to every corner of the Chinese mainland so that it will bloom and bear fruit, exalt the glory of freedom and democracy and contribute to the prosperity of the people of the world.

The 70s of the Republic of China is a great era in which the Chinese people are displaying their talents and demonstrating their patriotism.

The problems of China should be solved by the Chinese themselves.

The future of China will be created by the Chinese themselves.

Let us march forward together in this common effort.

Let us reconstruct the backward mainland with the developmental experience of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.

Let us remodel the closed mainland in the grand constitutional pattern of the Republic of China.

Let us light up the dark mainland with the sacred torch of freedom shining now in our bastion of recovery.