Freedom Day is the unique contribution of the Republic of China to the theory and practice of liberty in the world of today. In Taiwan, the occasion is known as One-Two-Three, recalling that on January 23 of 1954 some 22,000 Chinese and Korean former Communists who had been prisoners of the United Nations Command became free men after a long and arduous struggle against the brainwashers and provocateurs of the Peiping and Pyongyang regimes.
The Chinese former POWs crossed Freedom Bridge in Korea and then "came home" to a free China they had never seen. Once the welcoming ceremonies and sightseeing were over, they settled down to occupations of their own choosing. Young freedom fighters went back to school. Older men chose to return to such previous callings as farming and business. Almost all have done well. None has regretted his decision not to return to Communism.
Although the United States and the United Nations have chosen to forget the world's first venture in "voluntary repatriation," the Republic of China has not. The American negotiators fought hard and long for this principle in the armistice negotiations at Panmunjom. The Chinese and North Korean Communists grudgingly went along only in order to keep the talks from failing, in which case the United States had promised an all-out offensive against weakening Communist forces.
The prisoners - including some Americans still held by the Communists - were herded into the "explanation compound" at Panmunjom. They were temporarily in the custody of Indian troops of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission, which also included Poles and Czechs from the Communist side and Swiss and Swedes from the free world. The Armistice Agreement provided that each side could "explain" its position to those who did not wish to return to their original homes.
In fact, the Communists did not meet with many of the 22,000. Their brainwashers quickly discovered that nearly all of the former Communists preferred death to return to tyranny. They threatened and cajoled. In some cases, they attempted physical violence and had to be restrained by the Indian Custodial Command. In the end, only about 700 of those who had fought under the Communists returned to North Korea and Red China. Most of these were agents who had been planted in the UNC prison camps and who had engineered riots and even taken an American commandant prisoner. Only 21 Americans finally opted for life in Red China. Over subsequent years, most of these returned to the United States.
Freedom Day was taken up by the Asian People's Anti-communist League, which was established in South Korea only a few months after the prisoner release, and then by the World Anti Communist League, which was organized in Taipei some years later as an outgrowth of APACL's success on a worldwide as well as a regional basis. For the last two decades, Freedom Day has been marked by week-long observances throughout Taiwan. Distinguished guests from throughout the free world are invited to participate. The original freedom fighters and many who have made their way to liberty by escaping from mainland China appear at meetings and rallies to tell their stories.
In 1979, Freedom Day observances were highlighted by a rally of 3,000 people at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei. Premier Sun Yun-suan was the principal speaker. Other addresses were made by Dr. Ku Cheng-kang, the honorary chairman of the World Anti-communist League, who presided; Representative Eldon Rudd of the United States; Japanese Diet member Muzuki Kato; French National Assemblyman Georges Mesmin; former Saudi Arabian Communications Minister Omar Tawfiq; Brazil National Assemblyman Daso Do Oliveira Coinbra and former Upper Volta U.N. representative Fredric Gurima.
Premier Sun briefly traced the history of Freedom Day and noted that the occasion had won the support of free people all over the world. He said "love of freedom is inherent in human nature and conscience and may not be altered by any temptation or undone by an intimidation. The more ruthless the repression of freedom, the more determined will be the struggle against tyranny." Chinese Communists, he declared, "are ravagers of freedom. Class struggle and class rule are rampant on the Chinese mainland. The Chinese Communists seek to reverse every value and example of human nature in order to take away the freedom and human rights of the people and transform the mainland into a closed and dark society. Under the rule of the Communists, the people will make a run for freedom even at the risk of death whenever they have the chance."
"Truth," the Premier said, "is the shield of freedom. The way to world peace and freedom is beset with twists and turns, yet our destination is clearly and brightly visible. Freedom will triumph over slavery, justice over violence and brightness over the dark. The Freedom Day Movement has illumined our times with the light of these irrefutable truths.
"In the world of today, free democracy and Communist totalitarianism are face to face in fundamental confrontation. All turmoil arises out of Communist provocation. The Communist apparatus on the Chinese mainland is one of the roots of this world upheaval. In the last twenty years and more, one Asian country after another has been victimized. Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have fallen like dominoes. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been massacred by the Communists; others are persecuted, wandering in the wilderness and drifting helplessly on the seas all homeless and without food and clothing. They are crying out in hunger and cold and calling for help. This is one of the world's most terrible tragedies and has led us to the understanding that:
"- Policies of appeasement and detente toward the violence of Communism by some of the free world democracies have brought only agony to the world. They have fueled the flames of Communist expansionism and exacerbated human misery.
" - These days the Chinese Communists are resorting to all manner of united front tricks and mounting a smiling-face offensive against the free world and especially the United States. Their iron fists are concealed in velvet gloves. If the free world continues to be beguiled by these smiling false faces, it will fall victim to their conspiracy of 'divide and conquer.' The Chinese Communists will be given the opportunity to infiltrate and subvert and annihilate their enemies one by one."
The Premier described the U.S. decision to establish diplomatic relations with the Chinese Communists as "a mistake of historic proportions," He said: "The United States has lost its credibility with the free world and has piled new afflictions on people already agonizing under Chinese Communist tyranny. As they increase the tempo of their united front activities in the United States, the Chinese Communists are also speeding their worldwide peace offensive and trying to pull the wool over the eyes of people everywhere."
Referring to Teng Hsiao-ping's visit to the United States, Premier Sun said that "talk of so-called peace is merely another form of Communist class struggle. In plain terms, this is a strategic maneuver intended to induce our surrender. These so-called peace talks have nothing to do with peace, but are aimed at war. We shall never forget the tragic mainland experience of falling into the Chinese Communist peace trap. We hope the truly peace-loving people of the world will see through the lies of the Chinese Communists regarding peace, tear off the Communist mask and penetrate the confusion of Communist deceptions.
"These days, cries for freedom, democracy and human rights are to be heard everywhere on the Chinese mainland. The Chinese Communists are enlarging their united front to confuse the world with the illusion of peace and alleviate their internal crisis. Our constant and continuing efforts in this anti-Communist bastion are intended to restore freedom to the people of the Chinese mainland as well as to enhance the well-being of the Republic of China. It is greatly and deeply significant for us to be meeting here and proposing to people both at home and abroad the themes of 'Pool All Strength and Destroy Red Tyranny!' and 'United, We Shall Prevail - Freedom Is Not Negotiable!' I am convinced that the solidarity of the anti-Communist forces of all the world in our common cause will shorten the way to true peace and freedom and add a glorious page to history."
The rally adopted a Declaration which charged President Carter with ignoring human rights in "normalizing relations" with the Chinese Communists. The United States, it said, has fallen into the trap of the Red China international united front. The United States was called upon to preserve friendship with the Republic of China, guard against Communist infiltrators and uphold freedom, justice and the American constitution. Congress was called upon to redress the consequences of President Carter s abrogation of the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of China.
The Declaration said: "Freedom and democracy are perpetually incompatible with Communist totalitarianism; there can be no coexistence. All informed people know with certainty that the Communist ideology, system and way of life are totally aligned against human nature and can never be accepted by those who love freedom. Communism must be wiped out before people can enjoy peace and freedom.
" The Republic of China's dedication to anti-Communism is an essential contribution to freedom, security in the Asia-Pacific region and peace throughout the world. In our insistence on the restoration of freedom and human rights to the 800 million people on the Chinese mainland we shall carry on the struggle against the Communists with all our might and will never negotiate with the enemy. We shall never rest until we have won the final victory."
Dr. Ku Cheng-kang spoke of man's entitlement to freedom and the challenges he faces in implementing this heritage. ''The United States of America has a great tradition characterized by love of freedom," he said. "The Americans have been respected for their stand for freedom. The U.S. Declaration of Independence is world famous for its spirit of freedom. The Statue of Liberty at the entrance of New York Harbor is a symbol of the American call to the world. But the Carter administration's recognition of the tyrannical Peiping regime has overnight brought serious damage to America's long-standing national spirit, has overnight put freedom-loving Americans to shame and has overnight alarmed people everywhere as they find their confidence in the United States weaken and shaken.
''The peoples of the Republic of China and the United States share the tradition of strong passion for freedom. The two peoples have fought shoulder to shoulder in defense of freedom. The two nations also have been allies against Communist forces. The Carter government's unilateral derecognition of the Republic of China and abrogation of the U.S.-ROC Mutual Defense Treaty contradict the wish of the American majority and hurt the precious friendship of the two nations."
Dr. Ku expressed fear that in the end the Chinese Communists would unite with the Soviet Union to oppose the United States.
"Peiping's so-called 'four modernizations' plan is destined to fail," he said. "Modernization requires a proper political foundation, but the regime's tyranny is in sharp conflict with modem democratic systems. Modernization needs an appropriate social basis, but the regime's tight control of the people's life is poles apart from the open society patterns of modernized countries. Modernization is possible only in the presence of certain fundamental economic factors, but the regime's extortionist policy against the people does not even permit capital formation. Judging from the regime's ongoing power struggle, we can say that Teng Hsiao-ping's modernization line can at any time be subjected to criticism and struggle. If Peiping tries to push modernization, it cannot stop the infusion from abroad of liberal thinking and knowledge about free ways of life. Ideologically awakened people will then stand up for an all-out anti-Communist struggle to win freedom, democracy and human rights. That will be the beginning of the end of Peiping's Communist system and tyranny."
The Republic of China will stand firm against the united front conspiracy of the Chinese Communists, refusing to have anything to do with their "peace" bait, their "negotiation" bait and their "unification" bait. "We must raise our voices," Dr. Ku said, "and issue the following calls to the U.S. Congress, media, academic circles and general public:
"- Americans must strive to manifest their traditional national spirit, give full play to the strength of public opinion and correct the Carter administration's mistaken Peiping recognition move.
" - The U.S. Congress must uphold the dignity of America's constitution and take active steps for concrete legislative measures to assure freedom and security in the Taiwan area and the rest of the Western Pacific so as to restore America's prestige and rectify the harmful Carter error."
The Republic of China, Dr. Ku said, is entering a new phase of anti-Communism. "As our late President Chiang Kai-shek told us, we will remain fl1111 with dignity. We will continue to expand our social mobilization for vigorous national construction, and with unity strive to the very end as supporters of our capable government. We will pool the strength of Americans who are determined to safeguard freedom, enhance the unity of anti-communist free Asian nations, promote close cooperation with all the freedom-loving peoples of the world and see to it that all-out joint endeavors are exerted against Communism and appeasement. We will bring together the masses of compatriots abroad and, for the sake of China's free democratic future, strive with them, one heart and one soul, against Peiping's united front plots. We will rally our like-minded 800 million compatriots on the mainland for joint anti-Communist struggle behind and in front of the enemy's lines to overthrow Peiping's tyranny."
Representative Eldon Rudd of Arizona told a convocation at the Taipei City Auditorium that "the decision to unilaterally abrogate the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the government (of the Republic of China) was a tragic error in judgment." Citing the prosperity of Taiwan and the poverty of the Chinese mainland, Congressman Rudd said: "The difference - the remarkable difference between the two Chinas the world sees today - is to be found in the fact that you are free on Taiwan and they are slaves on the Communist mainland."
Turning to Freedom Day, he said: "We are here to remind ourselves, and to remind all men, everywhere, that all humanity prospers when the human spirit escapes from bondage. We are here to underscore the eternal truth. Tyranny enchains its subjects in both body and mind. Superior force has the capacity to overpower those who stand in opposition and make them captives physical prisoners subject to the will of the conqueror. No force on earth possesses sufficient power to subjugate and control the mind and the spirit of man. It is to celebrate that freedom of spirit. It is to re-emphasize the inviolability of free will. It is to rededicate our talents and our energies and our physical strength to continuing resistance to those who would hold dominion over the minds of men. It is for this we are assembled.
"And in a world where freedom is shrinking with each passing year, the importance of our exercise increases. It is not given to us to know what the future holds, nor how long we will remain on this earth. The engines of destruction our advanced technology have produced may one day destroy this earth and all of its inhabitants. The forces of tyranny may one day exercise physical sovereignty over all mankind. We who are gathered here can be certain of this - that no tyranny will ever exercise control over the mind of all men. In the long river of history, lovers of freedom have suffered greater setbacks. We must not surrender to despondency. We must not for one moment believe the cause of freedom is lost. Look around you - your friends are gathered here. And we represent millions who could not come, but who send to you their strength and their goodwill and share your commitment to freedom. I do not object to any action my country might take, or any other country in the world might take to extend the blessings of freedom to 900 million Chinese on the mainland. I categorically reject, and will resist with all the strength at my command, any effort to condemn the 17 million people on Taiwan to slavery.
"And in this simple statement, which I believe is shared by a majority of my countrymen, and by most of the people in the free world, lies your comfort. My friends, on the excuse of expediency, millions of American people feel they were betrayed and honor was discarded for what appeared to be a momentary advantage. I am persuaded, from my review of your history and my conversations with your leaders, that the people of Taiwan are made of sterner stuff - that you hold a clear vision of the future - and that your commitment to the cause of freedom will not be compromised. The people of Taiwan and the people of the United States are inseparably locked in friendship, held together by our mutual understandings of the nature of man and that one indispensable support virtue - human freedom."
J. T. Kolane, speaker of the Lesotho National Assembly, brought this message from his mountain-girt kingdom: "This is a great island with a mighty heart and reliable and hard working people, where no one is crying over spilt milk. Your amazing fortitude and strength in adversity have enabled you to become the great and prosperous nation that you are today. You march confidently forward, strengthened as never before by the wise philosophy of Confucius and your other sages who wrote for all times many centuries ago. And, of course, you have your illustrious and wise Founding Fathers, Dr. Sun Yat-sen and President Chiang Kai-shek of blessed memory who watches quietly over you from his temporary resting place at Tzuhu.
"As the leaders of tomorrow, you should be vigilant 24 hours a day against Communist infiltration and subversion so that in the end the wicked system may be finally wiped from the face of the earth. Communism 'is an evil ideology that has nothing whatsoever in its favor but misery and untold suffering. We were born free, but Communism denies us this freedom, and man who was created in the image of God becomes a mere statistic, a screw in the huge machine of repression that grinds people to a horrible death after a most woeful life. "
George Mesmin of France said the free countries must use their own strength to safeguard their future. He said that the free world's trust in the United States was shattered by President Carter's termination of the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of China. The same point was made by Kevin M. Cairns, a member of the Australian parliament, who said that U.S. treaties with Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines are similar. Cairns said, "The termination of the U.S.-ROC defense treaty brings into question whether the Americans will also turn their back on other allies in the Asia-Pacific region."
Bo Turesson of the Swedish parliament said that Communism is penetrating Western Europe on an increasing scale. Europeans are beginning to wake up, he said, but many do not yet realize the dangers of Communism.
Dr. Woo Jae-seung, secretary-general of the World Anti-Communist League, said South Korea now fears betrayal by the United States.
Muzuki Kato, a member of the Lower House of the Japanese Diet, said the Republics of China and Korea should join with Japan to safeguard the peace and security of Asia. Japan and South Korea understand, he added, that they would be further endangered if Taiwan fell into the hands of the Communists.
Some 200 freedom fighters who escaped from mainland China told Freedom Day guests that any help given to the Chinese Communist regime is a crime against the Chinese people. Shen Kuang-hsiu said, "No one should help Peiping oppress the Chinese people of the mainland. No assistance of any kind should be given to a region which is bent on punishing the people. Any act of collaboration with the regime implies hostility and is a crime against the Chinese people as a whole."
More than 100,000 persons turned out at Kaohsiung for a Freedom Week rally and military demonstration. The several score dignitaries who came from abroad were honored guests.
Freedom Day and Freedom Week are also observed by the 22 million people of overseas Chinese communities and by the South Koreans. Elsewhere, the occasion has somehow not caught on. Foreigners who came to Taiwan for the occasion said that this was a reflection of the declining faith in freedom among the developed countries. The United States, they noted, has recognized the Chinese Communists and soon will have not a single soldier in Taiwan. American troops are withdrawing from South Korea. Americans are interested in Asian freedom merely as an academic exercise and not to the point of doing anything to protect or advance it. They have not realized, as one of the speakers at the Freedom Day events said, that in neglecting the freedom of the Republics of China and Korea, they are putting their own freedom on the line.
Freedom fighters of the Korean War made the right decision, although it took tremendous courage and the endurance of great pain. They have had no regrets. They would make the same decision again. Others who now hesitate are asking if they should be their brothers' keepers. As far as the heroic prisoners-of-war are concerned, the answer is yes; there is no other way. Many years ago, when the American colonies were facing the ravages of French and Indian attacks, Benjamin Franklin said the colonists would have to hang together or they would be hanged separately. That was the real beginning of American unity and the movement that led to the Declaration of Independence and the great United States of to day.
Representative Eldon Rudd recalled that "In an earlier age, when the American patriots were seeking to break the chains which bound them to the tyranny of an island king, Tom Payne declared: 'These are the times to try men's souls.' And so they are. In every age, succeeding generations are confronted with the necessity of making a choice between slavery and freedom, between honor and expediency. Tyranny can triumph only when the people, responding to the promptings of expediency or the promises of material benefits or to threatened punishments and hardship, knuckle under to the will of the tyrant."
The free Chinese have not forgotten the lessons of the American founding fathers and the precious quality of liberty. They are keeping alive in Freedom Day the spirit that is essential to liberty everywhere.