In his arrival statement August 1, Secretary Rogers said in part: "Your nation has a reputation - which it so justly deserves - for preserving the best in the moral and cultural values of Chinese life. In addition to that, Taiwan's outstanding economic progress has won wide admiration and respect. And you have been willing to share that success with other nations by providing economic aid to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
" ... What I wish to give while I am here is an assurance of my country's continuing deep concern for East Asia - a concern having firm roots in history. We will continue to meet our treaty obligations to our allies, including, of course, our ally of long standing, the Republic of China.
"The United States seeks nothing more fervently than a lasting peace in Asia. In this effort we welcome the continued cooperation and understanding of your government. I hope in my exchanges with your President and others to convey the warm affection and sincere admiration which my countrymen have always felt for the Chinese people. I also hope our talks will further that mutual understanding and trust which has been the hallmark of the long association between our two peoples."
Greeting the new Secretary of State the China News said: "William Rogers comes as a stand-in for Richard Nixon, who had time to visit only the Philippines, Indonesia, South Vietnam and Thailand in our part of the world.
"There is no crisis in Sino-American relations. But there are some differences that should be explored and straightened out before they become serious. Just before President Nixon left Washington, the State Department announced a relaxation of the ban on travel to Red China. Additionally, Americans were given permission to buy US$100 worth of goods made on the Chinese mainland. These steps were taken in the wishful hope that Peiping would tone down its hostility that exist in this area-and the kind of future that we both want in the Asian and Pacific community.
"The Chinese Communists will not respond, of course. So nothing is changed. Americans newly allowed to go to the mainland will not get there because the Communists won't admit them. Nor will many Americans go looking for US$100 worth of shoddy Chinese Communist goods. The Reds will do a little extra curio business in Hongkong; that's about all.
"What disturbs free Chinese is the fact that Americans continue to put credence in the fallacious belief that somehow, some way, the Chinese Reds are going to change for the better, settle down with the family of civilized nations and live happily ever after. All known evidence is to the contrary.
"Peiping had a scathing rejection ready for the latest proffer of American friendship and coexistence. The Maoist regime is sworn to destroy the United States and the free world by any and all means, including nuclear war. Mao Tse-tung and his mouth pieces have said so over and over again. Why should the Americans refuse to take such threats seriously?
"Some Americans may suggest that the Republic of China has its own ax to grind and that our warnings against the Maoist Communists are not those of disinterest. Although this is essentially so, the motives of the free Chinese are unselfish. The objective is not mainland recovery for purposes of aggrandizement but to free 700 million people from tyranny, prevent World War III and Nuclear War I, and serve the causes for which the United States and the free world stand. Uncle Sam is no cat's-paw to pull China's chestnuts out of the fire. We would not insult American intelligence with such Machiavellianism.
"Recently the United States raised its eyebrows at a raid on Chinese Communist shipping in the Min River estuary. Americans have followed a policy of trying to prevent a large-scale explosion in the Formosa Straits. This is the reason why the Republic of China has mounted no large offensive actions, even during the period of Mao's 'great cultural revolution'.
"In the past, however, the Americans have not objected to the carrying out of small military operations of an essentially defensive nature in the general vicinity of the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu.
The need for such defensive undertakings can be expected to increase as the Chinese Communists return to a more offensive international stance. Freedom of free Chinese military action is essential in defense of Taiwan as well as the offshore islands.
"Secretary Rogers and President Chiang will no doubt give detailed attention to President Nixon's suggestion that Asia defend itself with its own manpower but with American material and moral support. This has always been President Chiang's policy, too. But there are some problems, such as the lack of an Asian collective security system, the position of Japan, etc. If the Taipei talks imply some answers to these questions, the cause of free Asia will be well served by Secretary Rogers' visit."
Secretary Rogers received a 50-minute briefing at the U.S. Embassy the morning of August 2. U.S. Ambassador Walter P. McConaughy took personal 'Charge of the session. The Secretary then went to the Foreign Ministry for a 40-minute talk with his Chinese counterpart, Wei Tao-ming. Rogers was reported to have said that the United States does not intend to change its policy toward the Peiping regime and to have pledged continued support of the Republic of China at the United Nations.
At the Executive Yuan, Deputy Prime Minister Chiang Ching-kuo briefed Rogers on Chinese mainland developments. The Secretary invited the elder son of President Chiang to visit the United States early next year and Minister Chiang Ching-kuo accepted. Minister Chiang had met Secretary Rogers at the funeral services for Dwight Eisenhower.
Rogers' next call was on Vice President Yen, who had arranged briefings on regional economic cooperation by Finance Minister K.T. Li, on Taiwan foreign trade by Economic Affairs Minister S.Y. Dao, on economic construction by Chang Chi-cheng, the Secretary-General of the Council for International Economic Cooperation and Development, and on Sino-American science cooperation by Wu Ta-you, chairman of the National Science Development Guidance Committee. Stress was placed on the importance of unfettered trade with the United States in the development of Taiwan's economy.
Vice President Yen and Mrs. Yen were luncheon hosts to Secretary and Mrs. Rogers and the other members of their party, including Ambassador Richard F. Pedersen, State Department counselor; Marshall Green, assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Robert McCloskey, deputy assistant secretary and spokesman; Thomas W. Wilson Jr., senior planning adviser; Dr. Carl Nydell of the Medical Division; and Robert Duemling and Robert Mott.
Secretary Rogers and his party flew to Taichung in the afternoon and motored from there to scenic Sun Moon Lake 2,500 feet up in the foothills of the Central Mountain Range. Secretary Rogers and President Chiang met before and after dinner and again before luncheon the next day. Interpretation was by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs James Shen. President and Madame Chiang Kai-shek gave the dinner and luncheon in Rogers' honor.
The Rogers' party motored back to Taichung Sunday afternoon and departed for Hongkong from the Ching Chuan Kang air base. At a press conference, he said that the conversations with President Chiang covered a wide range of topics. One of these was Vietnam. "I think it is fair to say," he said, "that there is no fundamental difference between us on the objective of bringing this conflict to an end at the earliest possible time so that the people of South Vietnam can be guaranteed the right to make their own decisions without interference or pressure from any outside quarter. I think it is also fair to say that in a general way we were in agreement on the problem of troop replacement that President Nixon has initiated."
The Secretary described his visit as "full and valuable". "This is especially so," be said, "because we (he and President Chiang) have been talking primarily about favorable trends in free Asia over the past several years - the new elements of dynamism that exist in this area - and the kind of future that we both want in the Asian and Pacific community.
"Of course, we do not underrate the very real threats and dangers that may lie ahead. Obviously we must remain alert. But we will not allow the dangers to deflect us from the constructive policies and programs that can lead to a more stable and progressive and dynamic community of nations in this area. As your leaders fully recognize, the Republic of China has an important role in that future.
"In an area where the major drive is toward economic and social progress in an atmosphere of security, you already have reached the stage of self-sustaining economic growth. This is an extraordinary achievement in itself. But there is something even more heartening - and I believe - more significant than the rational achievement of independence from external aid.
"You needed a certain amount of help to reach that stage. We are pleased to have been in a position to provide it. Now you have taken up your role as a provider of aid to others. Now ,we are in a position the Republic of China and the United States - of being co-sponsors of economic and social growth for our other Asian neighbors - and, indeed, the nations of Africa and Latin America. We have other associates among the more developed nations and still others will join us as they, in turn, come to stand on their feet economically."
Rogers repeated in Hongkong his assurances that the United States would continue its friendship with and U.N. support of the Republic of China. He added, however, that Washington hopes to relieve tensions with the Chinese Communists through discussions. "One of the ways to relieve the tensions is to talk to the people who are causing the tensions," he said.
Fifteen young Americans studying in Taipei went to the U.S. Embassy August 2 to protest to Secretary Rogers against relation of the travel and trade restrictions involving mainland China. They were not permitted to see the Secretary but a group of three was admitted to the compound to deliver a written statement. Those outside the Embassy carried posters reading: "Buy Mao, Pay Later", "State Department Masters of Deceit", "Cooperation Not Intimidation" and "U.S. Students Oppose State Department Lies".
The 15 and 2 others had conducted a protest demonstration at the Embassy the preceding week. Their statement to Secretary Rogers claimed they had been lied to by a second secretary of the Embassy and that Chinese reporters and photographers had been excluded and mistreated. The lie, they said, was the secretary's assertion that the Republic of China had agreed with the trade and travel relaxation. They said they checked with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and found the facts to be precisely the opposite. They demanded rescinding of the relaxations, dismissal of the second secretary and assurances that Chinese journalists and other nationals be treated "in a civil manner by the entire Embassy staff in Taipei".
The original protest, signed by 20 students attending a seminar on contemporary China, maintained that similar attempts to placate Red China had been futile. The protest said the students "oppose any American governmental action which would have the effect of undermining the legitimacy of the government of the Republic of China".
Economic development of the Republic of China came under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Chiang Ching-kuo with reorganization of the Council for International Economic Cooperation and Development, of which he is the new chairman.
Reports made at the first meeting of the reconstituted CIECD indicated the Council will carry out these functions:
-Mobilization of economic resources at home and abroad and rational allocation for accelerated growth.
-Implementation of policies leading to increased national savings and monetary stability.
-Coordination of agriculture, industry and public enterprises to avoid duplication and make maximum use of resources.
-Adoption of legislation and simplification of regulations to meet the requirements of rapid economic growth.
-Efficient use of foreign capital together with selective use of overseas investment.
CIECD will be the nation's principal economic planner and designer. Plans will be of short, medium and long range (up to 10 years). These are some of the immediate goals:
-Increase of government revenue through efficient tax administration rather than increasing rates or new levies.
-Achievement of monetary stability by regulating money supply and bank credit. Modernization of the banking system.
-Expansion of foreign trade through market research, improvement of credit and raising the quality of exports.
-Matching of economic development with the needs of national defense.
-Scrapping of laws that impair economic development.
-Reappraisal of the food policy to reflect the present economic situation.
-Accurate records and statistics keeping. Minister Chiang told the Council that coordination and teamwork are essential. The other members of CIECD are Finance Minister K.T. Li, vice chairman; Communications Minister Y.S. Sun, Central Bank Governor Yu Kou-hua, Cabinet Secretary-General Y.S. Tsiang, Controller-General Chow Hong-tao, Taiwan Governor Chen Ta-ching, JCRR Chairman T.H. Shen, Secretary-General Chang Chi-cheng and Yang Chia-lin, former vice minister of economic affairs.
Trade was barely out of balance at an all-time high of US$1,178,176,000 for the first seven months of 1969. Exports totaled US$588,048,000 and imports US$590,128,000. The gain over the corresponding period of 1968 was 32.2 per cent for exports and 28 per cent for imports.
For July alone, exports were just under US$100 million for an increase of 53.6 per cent over the same month in 1968. Imports were nearly US$107 million, up by 39.8 per cent.
Big export gainers were processed goods, which reached a volume of US$217 million for the first half of 1969. This was a gain of 47 per cent. Textile reached US$95 million for 53 per cent growth. Electrical products were up three times to US$30 million.
These were other leaders: Wood products (principally plywood), US$34.5 million, an increase of 44 per cent; chemical products, US$32 million, up 14 per cent; metal products, US$20 million to reflect growth of 5 per cent; and paper and pulp, US$3.2 million for a 7 per cent gain.
For the first time in history, Taiwan had a favorable balance of trade with the United States during the January-June period-and a US$30 million balance at that. Statistics of the Central Bank of China showed US$184.7 million worth of exports to the United States and imports of US$154 million. Exports were up by US$61 million and imports by only US$4.4 million.
Taiwan did well in trade with Hongkong, too, running up a surplus of US$33 million for the six months. Exports were US$39.7 million and imports only U5$6.6 million.
Three missions are going out across the world this month to promote increased sale of Taiwan textiles. Target areas are Europe, Africa and Latin America. The United States has been threatening to impose additional quotas on Far Eastern textiles. Meanwhile, increased sales in America have much to do with Taiwan's favorable trade balance there this year.
Two measures to relax trade regulations have been taken recently. The Central Bank of China reduced the guaranty money required for obtaining import foreign exchange from 50 to 25 per cent. The government decided that foreign suppliers may ship commodities to Taiwan without consular invoices 'when there is no consulate nearby or time prevents. Procedures will be completed in Taiwan. The fee is US$10.
Minister of Economic Affairs S.Y. Dao said the Republic of China hopes to attract U5$1 billion in foreign investment during the next four years. He added that while investments will be carefully screened to avoid competition with established industries, the process of approval will be made more flexible.
Minister Dao also told of plans for increased exploitation of natural resources. These include coal deposits totaling 200 million metric tons, some of them under coastal waters, and the still unproved oil deposits of the continental shelf. Copper fields in eastern Taiwan will be further explored.
For the January-July period, overseas investment was US$62 million, compared with US$103 million for all of last year. Overseas Chinese put up US$17 million and the rest came from foreigners. Electronics and service industries received the bulk of the money.
Taiwan's first export processing zone at Kaohsiung is virtually sold out. Space remains for only four more factories. One hundred and five plants are in operation and 51 more are under construction. Capital invested totals US$32 million.
The second export processing center at Nantze in suburban Kaohsiung will be opened to investment next July. Public works installations will be completed by then. The new zone has 86 hectares of space for factory buildings, sufficient for about 200 plants.
In the planning stage is a government electronics investment corporation to finance the manufacture of sophisticated products in technical cooperation with foreign companies. Existing local electronic plants would be modernized and upgraded to serve newly established foreign factories and to produce components for export. The Taiwan industry now makes some 100 components and parts but only 30 of these are mass produced.
The Taiwan Provincial Government is reviewing land reserved for industrial purposes with a view to making some of it available for other purpose. Of the 61 sites totaling 2,860 hectares set aside, only 699 hectares has been used for factories. Some locations are inconvenient and without adequate public utilities.
Vice President and Prime Minister C.K. Yen told graduates of the Tenth Seminar on Agricultural Techniques for African Technicians that the industrial progress of Taiwan is largely the result of agricultural development.
"Not only does agriculture provide the essential raw materials needed by manufacturing industry, but the prosperous rural community is also the most important market for industrial products. In the case of this country, agriculture and industry benefit from each other in the process of economic growth. It is apparent that the progress of industry will further accelerate the development of agriculture and, on the other hand, the prosperity in the rural area will also constitute a sound foundation for rapid development of industry. "
Vice President Yen said Africa has plenty of land and that African farmers are intelligent and industrious. "We believe that by better utilization of the land and by providing farmers with proper guidance and encouragement, a bright future in agricultural development is in store for Africa," he said.
Fifty-five technicians from 20 African countries completed 'the six-month seminar.
Japan will buy 4,150,000 cases of bananas during the October-December period under an agreement reached at the 16th Sino-Japanese banana trade conference in Taipei. The price was raised US$20 cents to US$2.30 for fruit from the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area and US$2.50 for that from the Taichung, Tainan and Taitung areas. The new agreement assures a record volume of banana sales to Japan during the 1969 calendar year.
The 17th conference will be held at Tokyo early in November to set trade conditions for the first quarter of 1970.
Dr. Hsu Shih-chu, chief of the Rural Health Division of the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction was named winner of the 1969 Magsaysay award for government service. He was recognized for "his enthusiastic yet practical role in establishing rural health, sanitation and family planning services that are models for developing nations."
With about 90 per cent of farm youths leaving for towns and cities, Taiwan may be facing a shortage of agricultural labor. A survey showed that of those engaged in agricultural production, some 70 per cent are at least middle-aged.
Migration to the cities results from the more diversified interests of urban life, increased education and farm fragmentation that makes it harder and harder for large families to derive a livelihood from the soil. Increased mobility of the population is another factor.
Consolidation of Taiwan farms will be completed on schedule in 1977. About 192,000 hectares has already been consolidated and crop yields raised 30 per cent. The area yet to be consolidated totals 558,000 hectares. The process brings scattered plots together and provides improved access to transportation and irrigation.
Rice production is expected to total 2,860,000 metric tons in 1974, a rise of 350,000 tons over the figure for last year. Per hectare output will rise from 3,219 tons next year to 3,417 in 1974. Planted area will be increased only slightly.
Revision of the Sino-American aviation agreement has opened the way for China Airlines service to San Francisco starting next February via Osaka, Tokyo and Honolulu. The accord also provides for Trans World Airlines passenger and Flying Tiger cargo service from the United States to Taipei and beyond.
CAL is buying two Boeing 707s and will have six transpacific flights weekly. Pilots are in training at the Boeing Company plant in Seattle. Part of the financing for the two jetliners will come from a U.S. Export-Import Bank loan of US$7,175,000.
TWA has already begun its Taipei stops in round-the-world service. Westbound flights to Hongkong stop in Taipei daily. Eastbound flights stop on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The transpacific route is via Guam and Honolulu.
Northwest Airlines, whose western terminus is Taipei, is now flying the Pacific via Honolulu as well as the Great Circle route. There are 30 NWA Great Circle flights weekly and 15 by the longer mid-Pacific routing.
An aviation agreement was signed in Taipei by Indonesia and the Republic of China. China Airlines and Garuda are expected to begin service between Taipei and Jakarta late this year or early in 1970. CAL will use Boeing 727s and Garuda will fly Douglas DC8s.
A US$5 million expansion of Sungshan International Airport in Taipei is getting under way in preparation for the boom in tourism expected to result from Expo 70 in Osaka. Parking aprons will be enlarged and the runway lengthened to accommodate the Boeing 747 jumbo jets. .
Governor Chen Ta-ching said prohibitive cost will delay the construction of a round-the-island rail system. Instead, he said, the Provincial Government will build sections of such a system as economic development warrants.
The most urgent requirement of Taiwan's railroad system is more cars. Seventy new ones will be added to sightseeing express runs along the west coast by March of 1970. This will nearly triple the present fleet. Express tickets are now difficult to come by and there have been complaints of scalping.
To augment transportation between Taipei and Taichung, the most heavily traveled interurban route on the island, the Taiwan Highway Bureau has introduced two air-conditioned bus runs each way daily. There is only one stop (at Toufen) and the time is 3 hours and 40 minutes versus 2 1/2 hours on the fastest train.
Keelung Customs has announced regulations for the handling of containers. Arriving containers destined for door-to-door delivery will be sealed by the authorities. An inspector will be dispatched to the destination to open the container and inspect the cargo. The process will be reversed for export cargoes. Where cargo fills less than a full container, inspection will take place at the container center.
Senior members of harbor administrations at Keelung and Kaohsiung and representatives of shipping companies went to the United States to study container shipping operations. The personnel of the two missions totaled 24.
Six full container ships of the Chinese Maritime Trust, the largest line flying the Chinese flag, will begin Taiwan-U.S. service in October. There will be two sailings from Taiwan to the U.S. East Coast monthly.
Taiwan's first nuclear power plant is expected to begin operations in 1975. The U.S. Export-Import Bank has approved a US$79,704,000 loan for the project, which wilt cost a total of US$157.5 million. Capacity will be 550,000 kilowatts.
The enriched uranium reactor system will be water cooled and moderated. Nuclear steam supply system and main turbine generator are to be purchased from American manufacturers. The site is at Chinshan on the coast 17 miles northeast of Taipei.
Repayment of US$62.6 million for equipment, materials and services will be in 30 semi-annual installments and of US$17.1 million for the uranium, conversion, enrichment and fabrication into the initial fuel core in 10 semi-annual installments. Payments will begin in May of 1976 and the interest will be 6 per cent annually.
Chinese and Philippines First Ladies exchanged greetings to open the US$1 million microwave telephone link with the Philippines. The tropo-scatter system has a capacity of 96 channels. Calls also were made by Vice President C.K. Yen and other officials. Calls may be routed to the United States via the Philippines and the Pacific satellite and delays have been eliminated or reduced.
Taiwan's own ground station for satellite communications is expected to be completed in October. There will be 165 telephone channels and one for TV, which may relay live coverage of the Apollo 12 moon shot in November.
Slated to take the air October 10 is China Television Company, which will have color equipment. The station will transmit from temporary quarters adjacent to the Broadcasting Corporation of China building pending completion of permanent facilities. Down island relays to Taichung and Kaohsiung will be installed subsequently. CTV will be the island's third station. The others are TTV, also commercial, and the educational station, which is improving its facilities.
West central Taiwan is to have a regional development plan that will integrate 22 cities and towns in a metropolitan area of 3,650 square kilometers with Taichung at the center. The coastal town of Wuchi, which will become Taiwan's third major international port, is in the area. There will be population allowance for 4,427,000 people versus the present 2,675,000.
Provincial Government projects will increase the supply of tap water from 34.6 per cent to 40.2 per cent of the island's people. Priority will go to areas that suffer from "black foot disease" as a result of the heavy arsenic content of well water. The program will cost US$19.5 million and be completed in 1972.
Fifty-nine thousand dial telephones will be installed in the next three years with proceeds from a US$17 million World Bank loan. Taipei will get 30,000 of them. Long-distance dialing will be installed for Taipei, Taichung and Kaoshiung.
To help reduce Taipei traffic accidents, the City Government is planning a center to re-train drivers involved in mishaps. Police estimate that 7 out of 10 accidents are caused by speeding or reckless driving.
Taipei streets are bus-crowded these days and the lot of the straphanger is greatly improved. Three of four approved private companies already have begun service. The fare is the same as for the municipally owned line: US$3 3/4 cents. Although the city line has more buses - 800 - the private competitors with new and more comfortable buses numbering about 500 are in a good position to spur better service for everybody.
Another Taipei move to cope with traffic congestion will be the covering of part of the 3.7-mile Liukung canal that runs down the middle of Hsinsheng South Road. The canal will be covered from Hsinyi to Chung Cheng Roads. The remainder will be covered later.
Originally an irrigation canal, Liukung canal no longer serves that purpose. Farms have long since given way to houses, businesses and apartments. However, the canal still is useful as a drainage ditch that becomes a river during typhoons. The cover will keep the channel free of garbage and debris, contribute to quick drainage and provide a roadway.
Old-timers will wonder what happened when they visit the third section of Hsinyi Road. Nearly 450 shacks have stood there illegally for two decades. Now they are gone. Squatters will be accommodated in a slum-clearance apartment building a little farther out on the same main street.
For this year, Taipei is constructing 4,100 housing units to relocate those who have been living in illegal dwellings.
Taipei's air is to be cleaner, too, after a three-year campaign against pollution. Six test stations are being established to detect over concentrations of smoke, dust and other pollutants. Control stations are planned to check the movement of illegal soft coal into the city.
An African chief of state will come for the celebration of the Double Tenth National Day. He is President Hamani Diori of Niger, who will arrive October 6 and spend six days. With an area of nearly 500,000 square miles, Niger has a population of less than 4 million.
Recent Taiwan visitors have included 22 members of the U.S. Congress, the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Leabua Jonathan, and Dr. Shih Tae Hwan, the Korean Minister of National Unification. Le Minh Lieng, the Minister of Education and Youth of the Republic of Vietnam, came to look into the Chinese educational system.
A good Australian friend departed. Ambassador Frank Bell Cooper went home to a post in the Ministry of External Affairs. He was his country's first ambassador to the Republic of China and stayed more than two and a half years. His successor will be A.H. Dunn, who has been assistant secretary for external affairs.
Chang Hsun-shun, the new Commissioner of the Provincial Agricultural and Forestry Department, returned from Africa with news that the Chinese agricultural demonstration teams have materially expanded the scope of their activities.
Formerly, he said, the Chinese demonstrated the cultivation of rice, then of vegetables. Now the Africans want the Chinese teams to go out into the countryside and give help and advice. Chinese agricultural specialists are roaming a number of African countries, establishing Taiwan-style farm villages and providing technical assistance.
Chang said Taiwan will have to train more farm experts to help Africa. The need for team leaders is especially great, he said.
Bolivia is the newest country to be added to the growing Latin American list of those who welcome ROC assistance in agriculture. A survey will be made by a Chinese specialist before decision on the scope of the demonstration plan.
Far from Bolivia - in Iran - a 13-member Chinese farm team is expecting to raise the rice yield by 50 per cent after less than half a year of work.
More than 23,000 high school graduates made it into colleges. This was roughly 1 out of 3 applicants. Girls are outnumbering boys in the liberal arts to a point where college administrators have expressed alarm.
The nine-year educational program and termination of elementary school cramming quickly led to an increase in the weight and height of children in the first six grades. A survey of nearly 200,000 children in more than 300 schools showed weight and height gains for both girls and boys.
According to a Taipei study, more than 93.5 per cent of elementary school pupils plan to attend junior high school this fall. Of the dropouts, about two-fifths want vocational training.
For the summer of 1969, more than 120,000 young people participated in some 1,000 summer camps sponsored by the Chinese Youth Corps. There were nearly 100 different activities. Some of the programs were designed to benefit the residents of cities and towns. Several projects were in the area of health and sanitation.
Vice President Yen opened the second Young Asians' Summer Recreation Tour to Taiwan with a call for cooperation of free young people in the face of Communist aggression. More than 60 student leaders of 12 countries and Hongkong participated.
A government announcement said that 276,166 public functionaries of 4,398 organizations were covered by insurance programs as of the end of July. The government is losing money on the program--almost US$5 million in the last decade. A full range of social security benefits is included. ,
These other Tajwan statistics were announced;
-National income rose by 9.2 per cent in the first half of 1969. Per capita income was up 6.4 per cent and is expected to be reach US$259 by the end of the year.
-Private consumption has doubled in the last 10 years.
-An average Taipei household earns a little less than US$150 a month and manages to save US$7, according to a City Government survey. Expenditures for food make up 40 per cent of the typical budget. Housing costs 34 per cent.
-Taipei cost of living increased 2.29 per cent from June to July, largely as a result of higher vegetable prices during the summer period of short supply.
-The wholesale price index for Taiwan was 100.48 in June compared with 103.94 in August of 1968.
President Chiang Kai-shek congratulated the United States on its moon landing. He said the American feelings of elation and pride are "shared by the rest of the world".
In an interview with a Spanish editor, the chief executive said the Peiping regime is at the end of its rope and the time of mainland recovery is drawing steadily closer.
President Chiang appointed an electoral office to plan for the election of representatives to national organs December 20. Heading the committee is General Chow Chih-jou, chairman of the National Reconstruction Planning Committee of the National Security Council. Subcommittees headed by Taiwan Governor Chen Ta-ching and Taipei Mayor Henry Kao will as some responsibility for the Province and Special City of Taipei.
Plans are also under way for the election of a Taipei City Council November 15. The old Council was held over when Taipei was made a Special City on July 1, 1969. The mayor, who previously was elected, is now appointed by the President of the Republic. President Chiang named Henry Kao, who was the last elected mayor of the municipality when it was under the Taiwan Provincial Government.
Taipei now is co-equal with Taiwan Province.