CHINA YEARBOOK 1965-66
China Publishing Co., P.O. Box 337
Taipei, Taiwan, China, 1966, 952 pp., US$5
Reviewed by Kao Yung-an
Publishers of the China Yearbook represent it to be the one reference work on China that you can't be without. Blurbs are usually exaggerated, but in this case the hyperbole is correct. Whatever its defects—and it has some—this is the only work that keeps you nearly up to date with the Re public of China.
In fact this series is becoming venerable. This is the 19th and the best. A number of additions and changes have been made, all for the better.
One weakness of the Yearbook has been the tardiness of its publication. By the time it is in print and reaches Western scholars and others interested in China, the contents are nearly a year out of date.
This volume, published in April, 1966, covers political, economic, cultural, social, and other activities of the Republic of China for the period that ended June 30, 1965. Of course, the problem of compiling so much data is a tremendous one. But it would certainly be useful to have fresher information.
A step in this direction has been taken with the 1965-66 volume. The section on "Major Developments of the Year" covers the whole of the 1965 calendar year, and in some cases includes events that took place as recently as February. Perhaps in time the entire contents can include the whole of the preceding year without delaying the date of publication.
Incidentally, the "Major Developments" of 1965 are—in the view the Yearbook editors, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's centennial, termination of U.S. economic aid, economic development and prosperity, establishment of the first export processing zone, technical assistance to emerging nations, support of the war in Vietnam, conflict in the Taiwan Straits, Communist defections, the return home of the leader of the defunct Taiwanese independence movement, and overseas visits by Chinese leaders.
Some rearrangement of material has been effected to make the Yearbook more consistent and more useful. The map of Taiwan is revised and brought up to date. It is indexed, as is the map of the Republic of China. Both maps are in color and inserted at the end of the volume so they may be removed.
Comprehensiveness of content is the key to the worth of any yearbook. On that score, the China Yearbook deserves high marks. This is what the reader will find:
Flag (together with color illustration), National Anthem, and "Major Developments of the Year".
General information section, which includes History and Culture, Geography, Population, Economic Resources, Philosophy and Religion, Political Parties, Taiwan Province, and the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu.
Government and its functions, ranging through Constitution and Principles, Presidency, Administration, Legislature, Judiciary, Examination, Control, and Self-Government in Taiwan.
National Defense, including the Armed Forces and Veterans' Affairs.
International Affairs, covering the United Nations, all the countries with which the Republic of China has friendly relations, Public Relations, and Overseas Chinese Affairs.
Economic Developments, including the overall situation, National Income, Budget and Accounting, Finance and Taxation, Money and Banking and Insurance, International Cooperation, Rural Reconstruction, Land Reform, Agriculture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Water Conservancy, Industry, Mining, Commerce, Foreign Ex change and Trade, Communications, and Tourism.
Social Affairs, which embraces Labor, Social Security, Cooperatives, Public Health, Women's Activities, and Civic and Business Organizations.
Education and Culture, extending through Education, Educational and Cultural Organs, Science, Literature and the Arts, Physical Education and Sports, and Mass Communications.
Chinese Communism, covering History, Political Activities, Anti-Communist Activities, Foreign Relations, Economy, Military Affairs, and Culture and Education.
Then come special sections—and perhaps the most valuable in the book—on the Chronology of the Republic; Who's Who of leaders from all walks of life, including Chinese residing overseas as well as in Taiwan; Constitution, Important Laws of the Year, New Treaties, Presidential Messages, and Important Official Statements; China and the World (a comparative chronology), Government Directory, National Holidays, Diplomatic and Consular Missions, and the Indices.
Of added interest are the many photographs interspersed through the books, some in color.
One shortcoming is the absence of a dynastic table for China's long history. The dynasties can be found in the historical account, but for quick reference, a table would be handy.
A huge amount of economic material is included, yet there is no detailed breakdown of specific exports. Partial lists are to be found on pages 377-381.
In this connection, the editors have a problem. They are subject to the differing ideas of many government departments and experts as to what should go into a specific chapter. Perhaps if the editors can provide more guidance as to what they want, the results will be more complete and useful.
However, let this reviewer not cavil—whatever its faults, the China Yearbook 1965-66 is an excellent reference work. To keep up with' free China without this series would be difficult, if not impossible.
Sea mail postage is included in the price, and both wood-free and India paper editions are available.
TWENTY YEARS SINCE TAIWAN RETROCESSION
Taiwan Provincial Information Dep't
Taichung, Taiwan, China, 1965, 1,334 pp.
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN TAIWAN
"Local Self-Government in Taiwan"
Editorial Committee
445 Sanmin Road, Section 3, Taichung,
Taiwan, China, 1965, 1,166 PP.
Reviewed by David C. Li
Both in Chinese, these are the most comprehensive studies of Taiwan's postwar progress yet published. They are not for sale. Free copies have been widely distributed at home and abroad and hailed as indispensable reference works on free China's island province. Free China Review does not ordinarily review books in the Chinese language, but an exception must be made in this case.
The first of these volumes appeared on October 25, 1965—the 20th anniversary of the return of Taiwan to Chinese sovereignty. The work on self-government came from the press on November 12, the beginning of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen centennial year. Both present a wealth of facts and figures about the growth of Taiwan as the anti-Communist base of mainland counteroffensive and national recovery.
Prefaces to the first volume are by Premier C.K. Yen and Taiwan Governor Huang Chieh. Hsueh Jen-yang, chairman of the Taiwan Provincial Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) Headquarters, who headed the editorial committee, provides the self-government foreword.
Both are huge books—about 5½ pounds each, 7½ by 10½ inches and girth of 2½ inches between necessarily sturdy covers.
Twenty Years encompasses all aspects of Taiwan construction—political, economic, social, and cultural—in no less than 2 million characters (equivalent to more than 1.5 million English words) in 20 major sections, 130 chapters, and 545 subdivisions. Treated in an introductory section are the island's history, geographical setting, population distribution, economic resources, and administrative divisions. At the end is a 47-page chronological listing of major Taiwan events from August, 1945, to August, 1965. Facts and figures are complete through 1964.
Especially valuable are the 773 tables and charts. The 19 maps and 191 pictures enliven the pages. No index is provided, but the reader usually can find what he seeks by consulting the 15-page table of contents. One shortcoming is the endless march of 9-point type. Books of this nature could well present highlights and summaries in bold-face type or under subheads.
Self-Government reports on Taiwan progress generally, but with nearly half of the volume devoted to the subject of the title. This is appropriate, because it is in Taiwan that self-government has been fully implemented for the first time in Chinese history. The chronology is primarily concerned with governmental events.
Ten-point type is used in Self-Government. A page contains about 1,200 characters compared with 1,500 or more characters in Twenty Years. Easier reading is thereby assured. Wordage is about 1.2 million. Summaries are provided.
Interspersed throughout the book are 221 photos of Taiwan—including 63 in a color section—863 portraits of government officials and councilmen, 429 tables and charts, and 15 maps. Some of the color photos could be of better quality.
For general information, Twenty Years has more to offer. It devotes three pages to the population distribution of Taiwan's mountain tribesmen, for example, whereas the volume on government merely says the tribesmen "number roughly 200,000".
A few typographical errors are inevitable in books of this size. The errata section at the end of Self-Government lists 37 mistakes. Other errors of a more serious nature include: "3,596.2125 square kilometers" instead of "35,961.2125" as the total land area of Taiwan province (p.95) and "1,106.436 square kilometers" instead of "4,106.436" as the area of Nantou hsien in central Taiwan (p.1064).
Different sources of information in some cases have resulted in one book differing from the other. Chungyangchien Shan (literally "Central Sharp Peak") is 3,775 meters above sea level according to Twenty Years, but is listed as 3,252 meters in the other volume. (Incidentally, the English-language China Yearbook says it is 3,703 meters high.)
Self-Government gives the total length of railroads in Taiwan as 3,694 kilometers. Twenty Years does not give a total. But by adding the 14 figures set forth, the reader will come up with 3,627.038 kilometers, which is 67 kilometers short of the Self-Government figure.
Similarly, the length of Taiwan's highways is 14,711.286 kilometers in Twenty Years (the figure is supported by a number of tables that show breakdowns and yearly progress) but is said to be 16,311.6 kilometers according to the other book, which does not cite any source.
These discrepancies suggest the necessity of more careful checking of figures—or that government agencies should move toward greater accuracy and consistency.
But whatever the faults of these volumes, the editors of Twenty Years Since Taiwan Retrocession and Local Self-Government In Taiwan must be congratulated on their remarkable efforts. The information contained in these books can be obtained elsewhere, but the reader would have to wade through hundreds of volumes to find it.