Taiwan Today

Yen Chia-kan served as president of the Executive Yuan (premier) from December of 1963 to May of 1972. For six years of this period he was concur­rently Vice President of the Republic. The vice presidential chores are no sinecure in free China and C.K. Yen's burden was a heavy one. Re-elected Vice President May 22, C.K. Yen was able to yield the double duty of the premiership May 26 with the accession of Chiang Ching-kuo, who moved up from the vice premiership. The two had worked in har­ness at the helm of the Cabinet for three years. Under the direction of President Chiang Kai-shek, their partnership raised Taiwan to new heights of economic prosperity and social progress. They are shown here (Chiang left, Yen right) at a meeting.

 

The Yen-Chiang partnership has been a close one. It has involved many diplomatic and social occasions as well as cooperation for effective government. Far left: top, C.K. Yen and Chiang Ching-kuo with Vietnamese Vice President Tran Van Huang (second from left); center, talking to former Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi; bottom, applauding together with Ku Cizeng-kang, hon­orary chairman of the World Anti-Communist League, the nomination of President Chiang Kai-shek for a fifth term. Center: top, vis­it to a U.S. oceanography research vessel with American Ambassador Walter P. McCon­aughy at right; second from center top, attending a Ma Sitson violin recital; third from center top, receiving decorations from Foreign Minister Lorenzo Guerrero of Nicaragua; center bottom, a reception for the Yatung girls' basketball team after a tour of the Americas. Far right: Welcome home for Chang Chun, then secretary­-general of the Presidential Office, who was returning from the inaugural ceremonies for Republic of Korea President Park Chung Hee.

 

Vice President Yen has been the right­-hand man of President Chiang in receiv­ing foreign dignitaries. On these two pages he is shown with: Top row from left—President and Madame Mobutu of Zaire. President Carlos Arana Osorio of Guatemala. Nobusuke Kishi of Japan with Presidential Secretary-General Chang Chun at left, and Little League world baseball champions of 1971. Center row, from left Premier and Mrs. Tran Thien Khiem of South Vietnam, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Marshall Green, over­seas Chinese investor Chiu Yung-han and freedom-seeking violinist Ma Sitson and his pianist wife. Bottom left—U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Armstrong and Ambassador Walter McConaughy.

 

Both Vice President Yen and Premier Chiang are energetic leaders follow­ing schedules which would break an ordinary man. The Vice President is shown (far left) at groundbreaking for the North-South Freeway, (center top) pursuing his hobby of photography, (center) visiting an exhibi­tion of electronics products, and (center bottom) at a showing of Chi­nese paintings and calligraphy. Premier Chiang likes to spend his outings in visits to infrastructure proj­ects, farms and defense installations. He is seen (right top) at the construction site of the Tsengwen Dam and Reservoir and (right bottom) on the route of the East-West Cross-Island Highway in 1957. He has an affinity for people.

 

Premier Chiang was defense minister from 1965 to 1969. He is a four-general in his own right and has military friends through­out the free world. At left top he joins in toast with admiral John S. McCain, command­er of U.S. Forces Pacific, and General Kao Kuei-yuan. Center, he chats with Speaker Carl Albert of the U.S. House of Repre­sentatives. At bottom he stands beside Venezuela's Navy chief J. C. Seijas Villalobos.

 

When the need for a youth organization became apparent in Taiwan 20 years ago, President Chiang called upon Chiang Ching-kuo, his elder son, to help in its estab­lishment. Premier Chiang has remained director of the China Youth Corps through the years and pays frequent visits to young people's meetings and activities. At top, a dinner given by the Kuomintang Central Committee for outstanding youth. Right, he expresses his appreciation to members of the Yatung girls' basketball team for the friends they won on a tour of the Americas. At left, the Cabinet chief (then vice premier) casts his Kuomintang vote for President Chiang's nomination for a fifth term.

 

Chiang Ching-kuo puts in long hours at his desk and is still fresh for the endless functions which call for his attention. Far left: top, the premier reports to the Legislative Yuan with Ni Wen-ya, president of the body, and a portrait of Founding Father Sun Yat­-sen in the background; bottom, Chiang Ching-kuo at his desk. Left: top, giv­ing the seal of office to Chang Fung­ hsu, the new mayor of Taipei; center, shaking hands with General Huang Chieh after presenting a decoration to the President's strategy adviser; bottom, greeting overseas Chinese investor Chiu Yung-han and his wife. Center top: a­ warding the Order of Propitious Clouds to Foreign Minister Tram Van Lam of South Vietnam. Right: top, meeting with President Arana Osorio of Guatemala in Taipei; center, a talk with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Marshall Green in the company of Dr. Fredeick Chien, director-general of the Government Information Office; bottom, July 4 toast to United States and Ambassador Walter P. McConaughy.

 

Three generations of the Chiang family. Taken some years ago, the photo shows Presi­dent Chiang Kai-shek with elder son Chiang Ching-kuo standing behind him and grandson Chiang Hsiao-wu at his side. Chiang Ching-kuo often accompanies his father on walks.