Taiwan Today

Receiving Americans who participated in the Sino-American Workshop on Industrial Innovation and Product Development, he said, "The petrochemical industry is the most important in the Republic of China. We must lay a sound foundation for it."

Electronics "should move rapidly from the stage of assembly to that of manufacturing," he said. He called for management improvement in the machinery industry.

The Premier expressed hope the Americans would visit Taiwan plants and make suggestions.

Premier Chiang said recommendations made at the workshop will be useful.

In an interview with UPI, Premier Chiang said the Republic of China has the ability to manufacture nuclear weapons but will never do so.

"The reason is very clear," he said. "Either for our own defense or counterattack against the Chinese Communists, the enemy we will encounter are people forced by the Chinese Communists to serve as soldiers. We shall not hurt our own com patriots with nuclear weapons."

The United States should not send American troops to fight in Asia, the Premier said.

"The Southeast Asia debacle is a tragedy be cause so many people have lost their freedom," he said. "However, this strengthens the importance of Northeast Asia. Now the Republic of Korea, Japan and the Republic of China constitute a chain of defense which is important to the United States.

"But we do not need American troops to fight for us. We will only need material and spiritual support from the United States."

Chiang added that since the United States has already stationed troops in South Korea, there is no need to change the situation there.

The Premier foresees the possibility of factional strife among Communist ideologies in Indochina.

"We have now four Communist countries in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, North Vietnam, South Vietnam and Laos) and we also have four Communist parties which are struggling against each other," he said. "The new situation will also increase conflict between the Chinese Communists and the Russians."

Premier Chiang said the Republic of China is confident of meeting any eventuality on its own.

"We have standing troops of half a million, backed up by 2.2 million reservists," he declared. "We have adequate manpower to defend ourselves without asking for troop help from other countries. "

Speaking to the Legislative Yuan informally, Premier Chiang said that under no circum stances would the Republic of China have any dialogue with either the Russians or the Chinese Communists.

"There is absolutely no possibility for us to become friends of the Russians or to start a negotiation with the Peiping regime," he said.

The Premier told the lawmakers that some people in the world had speculated that "we would alter our policy and our position with the departure of our leader" (the late President Chiang).

''We wish to make it crystal clear that in the world turbulence of today, we shall always adhere to our national ideals and move forward toward our goal of national construction."

In his semi-annual oral administrative report to the Legislative Yuan, Premier Chiang stressed that the Republic of China "will always remain a faithful member of the democratic world."

"This is clearly spelled out in the will of the late President, and the nation has pledged to follow his instruction," the Premier said.

He added that whether free China continues its efforts to establish a new nation of San Min Chu I or yields to Communists "is not only a Chinese problem but also one that involves the whole world."

Turning to domestic affairs, the Premier said "the era of rule by men has ended and this is time for rule by law."
He appealed for concerted efforts by all to hasten national recovery and reconstruction, saying "internal unity of heart and mind must be the basis of national survival and progress." He said that dissension within government and among people "played a part in the fall of Cambodia and South Vietnam."

Faced by a formidable enemy and one crisis after another, the Premier said, "they (Cambodia and South Vietnam) failed to settle their differences and unite, thereby providing the foe with golden opportunities for infiltration, division and subversion. "

Premier Chiang assured the legislators that his administration will continue to strengthen and update the nation's combat capabilities. He said the fighting capability of the Republic of China's armed forces is nearly five times that of the 1950 level.

Assuming the fighting strength of the Chinese armed forces was 100 in 1950, he said, the index rose to 468 last year. He listed the progress as 451.5 for the Navy. He did not mention the index for the Air Force.

He disclosed that free China was ready to manufacture nuclear weapons last year, but that the late President Chiang vetoed the plan.

Noting that the nation started research on nuclear weapons 17 years ago, the Premier said "we have both the facilities and the capability to make nuclear weapons and did actually consider construction of a nuclear plant last year; but when I broached the idea to the late President, he rejected it flatly on the ground that we cannot use nuclear weapons to hurt our own countrymen."

Premier Chiang announced that the administration is ready to draft a six-year development plan to replace the sixth four-year plan, now in its third year.

The original plan is no longer feasible because of the enormous changes that have occurred internally and externally during the last two years, he explained.

The new economic blueprint, to span the 1976-81 period, "will seek to establish the foundation for a modern economic structure compatible with the Principle of the People's Livelihood and to perfect patterns for agricultural, industrial and business modernization."

Madame Chiang Kai-shek went to the United States for medical treatment.

She was seen off at Taipei's Sungshan Military Airport by friends and immediate family members, including Premier Chiang Ching-kuo, elder son of the late President Chiang, and the Premier's wife.

In a statement, Madame Chiang said she be came ill two years ago.

"But I was unable to attend to my own illness as the President was not well then.

"So much depended on the President's health the security of the nation, the implementation of the San Min Chu I and the future of the country that I had to take care of him day and night, praying for his recovery. And each year in which he was strong and healthy meant another year for the nation to strengthen its foundation.

"Unfortunately, he finally left me after his illness lasted nearly three years. And I suddenly discovered that my prolonged struggle and excessive grief had left me physically and mentally exhausted. I realized that treatment of my own illness could no longer be delayed."

Diplomatic setbacks in recent years notwithstanding, the Republic of China is far less isolated today than before, a retired American diplomat said.

"Taiwan's 'real' relations with other countries are much stronger now than 17 years ago," said Everett F. Drumright, former American ambassador to the Republic of China.

"Although you have lost former relations with many countries, you have established substantial private, trade and other relations with most countries of the world."

He was particularly impressed by the extent of the cultural and trade relations Taiwan maintains with many countries which recognized the Peiping regime.

The former ambassador expressed belief the ROC is more secure than Red China. "I think the Peiping regime will collapse before Taiwan. The system on the mainland is very weak and we can see there is already much trouble there."

Drumright, who served as ambassador to Taipei from 1958 to 1962, visited Taiwan with his wife to attend the annual board meeting of the China Foundation, of which he is vice chairman.

Regarding the possibility of U.S. recognition of Red China, Drumright said such a move "is not inevitable," because "the majority of the American people still support the Republic of China.

"The American people support a policy of discussions aimed at peace," Drumright said. "But they won't support a policy which means the destruction of the values of free China. "How can we give recognition to a government that destroys the culture of China and the freedom of the people?"

Drumright suggested more Americans need to come to Taiwan to see for themselves the kind of life people here have made.

The American press, radio and TV networks are no longer praising the mainland as they were at the time of President Nixon's visit, he said, adding:

"They now have a better understanding of what the Reds really are and also have a greater respect for what is being done in Taiwan."

Walter P. McConaughy, another former American ambassador to the Republic of China, said there will be "no essential changes in the U.S. policy to preserve the full range of our ties with the Republic of China."

Addressing a luncheon meeting sponsored by the Institute of Chinese Culture at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, the retired American diplomat told nearly 600 Chinese and American guests:

"Our commitments to the ROC have been reaffirmed repeatedly and recently.

"The U.S. policy of friendship and close association with the Republic of China is not a partisan matter. In effect, it is a national consensus on which the majority of the American people and their representatives in both Houses of Congress seem agreed without regard to party affiliation.

"A continuation of the full range of close American ties with the Republic of China, with all that it implies, will provide useful undergirding for that country as it strives for yet higher accomplishments as a constructive member of the world community and a pioneer in better ways to economic development."

The theme of the luncheon, one of the largest ever organized in New York by a private Chinese cultural body, was "Business Salutes the Republic of China."

Washington will not sell any military hardware to the Chinese Communists to help them counterbalance the Soviet Union's military superiority, according to Melvin Laird, former U.S. defense secretary and a trusted adviser of President Ford.

Laird described sales of American arms to the Peiping regime as "a very impractical approach at this time." He was concluding four days of talks with Chinese leaders.

Laird also said the United States would not acquiesce to Peiping's terms for normalizing relations.

"The American Congress and executive branch will not accept the three conditions that Peiping outlined last June," he said. He listed the three conditions as termination of U.S. diplomatic ties with the Republic of China, withdrawal of all American military forces from Taiwan and abrogation of the mutual defense treaty between Washington and Taipei.

"The United States would not accept these conditions of the Chinese Communists at any time," he insisted.

Laird said that in recent weeks the Chinese Communists may have changed their position in view of the growing Soviet presence in Asia since the fall of South Vietnam last April.

Discussing Asian security, Laird said "The four bilateral defense treaties the U.S. has reached with countries in Asia are indeed very important. Both President Ford and the Congress have made it quite clear the United States will continue to regard them as important mutual security and defense commitments."

Economic and agricultural cooperation is being stepped up with Costa Rica.

Personnel of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs reached ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

These are conclusions:

- The Republic of China will send a mission to help Costa Rica train fishermen and seafood processors.
- Four agricultural experts will go to Costa Rica to demonstrate the cultivation of soybeans. Costa Rica will send a team to Taiwan to learn how to grow mushrooms.
- Assistance will be given in the production of TV sets, radios and bicycles.
- Costa Rica will receive help in building a' shipyard and marble plants.
- Taiwan will import beef, lumber, coffee and vegetables from Costa Rica and export machinery, raw materials and construction materials.

The economic affairs minister of Costa Rica visited Taiwan recently.

John Kincaid, consul-general of the Republic of South Africa in Taipei, predicted a "tremendous" increase in the volume of trade between the two countries. The African diplomat has been in Taiwan for two years.

South Africa has removed its tariff discriminations against exports from the Republic of China.

Taiwan has decided to import more maize, iron ore and other raw materials from South Africa.

Kincaid said a wide range of Taiwan products could find a market in his country. He mentioned household appliances, sewing machines, electronic calculators, travel bags, hand tools and bicycles.

Television components soon will be in strong demand in South Africa, which is just getting into TV. Six manufacturers have been licensed to make receivers.

Prospects for restoring diplomatic relations between the Republic of China and Turkey are "very bright now," a Turkish leader said in Taipei.

Dr. Fethi Tevetoglu, former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Senate, said "several important government and civic leaders have been endeavoring to restore diplomatic relations with the Republic of China.

"Possibilities are greater now that the leftist government has been replaced by a new one led by Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel," he said.

"Demirel is an old friend of mine and he personally favors restoring ties."

Free China's Air Force has begun production of an improved model of the Sidewinder air-to air missile.

The combat capability of the Air Force has been greatly enhanced by the electronic ordnance plant's success.

The CAF effort to improve the U.S. Sidewinder began in October 1973. The improved model has greater velocity and maneuverability.

Sidewinders were first used by the Chinese Air Force during the Battle of Kinmen in 1958. More than 30 Communist jets were shot down with a loss of only one plane.

The plant also has increased the maintenance capability of the Chinese Navy's surface to air missiles.

Other contributions of the ordnance plant include manufacture of the sophisticated communications equipment installed in F5E Freedom Fighters which are being manufactured in Taiwan under a Sino-U.S. cooperative project.

The ordnance plant did repairs and maintenance for the Phantom jets an,\ F5A of the U.S. Air Force and was given the first foreign A2 Certificate by the Bureau of Standards.

Peaceful coexistence between Japan and the Chinese Communists is out of the question, Gen. Ho Ying-chin said.

In a statement marking the 30th anniversary of the surrender of the Japanese forces in the China theater, the wartime commander of China's ground forces said the Chinese Communists have always sought to subvert Japan.

Prince Fumimaro Konoe, former Japanese prime minister, warned Emperor Hirohito of Chinese Communist intentions on the eve of the Japanese surrender to the Allies, Gen. Ho recalled.

"Only a handful of shortsighted Japanese politicians are trying to ignore Prince Konoe's warning and flirt with the Chinese Communist regime," he said.

According to Gen. Ho, Peiping will try to isolate Japan. Then the Maoists will interfere in Japan's internal affairs and try to communize the country.

"The Japanese people should have a clear understanding of the terrible consequences and do all they can to stop their government's playing with fire so as to ensure the happiness and security of their children and children's children," he declared.

The four-star general accepted the instruments of Japanese surrender at Nanking.

Gen. Ho said the Sino-Japanese war of 1937-45 cost the lives of 3,200,000 Chinese troops and some 30 million Chinese civilians and caused property damage of more than US$50 billion.

He said Japanese military casualties were 3,000,000 killed and 2,000,000 wounded.

Free Chinese per capita income is five times that of the Communist-held mainland, according to statistics from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Per capita income in Taiwan rose from US$132 in 1952 to US$697 in 1974. That of the Chinese mainland was US$45.20 in 1952 and US$117 in 1974.

The daily per capita intake of calories in free China was 2,078 in 1952 and 2,730 in 1974; the figures for the mainland were 1,820 in 1952 and 1,800 in 1974. Protein intake in Taiwan rose from 49 grams in 1952 to 74 grams in 1974; on the mainland it went down from 38 grams in 1952 to 36 grams in 1974. The Peiping regime has been unable to increase food production to keep up with population growth.

These were other 1974 comparisons:

- Taiwan, consumption of 5.6 kilograms of cotton per capita annually; mainland, 1.7 kilo grams.
- Electricity, 277 kwh versus 14 kwh.
- Bricks, 123 pieces versus 7 pieces.
- 15.4 private cars and 91.5 motorcycles per 1,000 persons versus 0 cars and 0.5 motorcycles.
- 98.5 per cent of school-age children in school versus 78 per cent.
- 240 radios and 63 privately owned television sets per 1,000 persons versus 0.5 radios and 0 TV sets.

Worldwide shipping doldrums notwithstanding, the China Shipbuilding Corp. has started building a 450,000-ton tanker at its new Kaohsiung shipyard.

CSC plans to deliver the US$70 million tanker to Gatx Oswego Crop., of the United States no later than October 31, 1977. Gatx Oswego is a shareholder of the CSC. Construction of a second tanker will begin next February.

Government agencies and private enterprises will pool USS90 million to build 100,000 tons of shipping next year.

Investors will include the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Communications and a number of shipping companies.

Vessels will include containerships, bulk carriers and other specialized ships.

Hualien's harbor capacity will be expanded to 10 million tons.

A draft plan covering mainly projects in the outer harbor area has. been completed and submitted to the Hualien Harbor Bureau.

Construction of a large fishing port on the northern coast has begun at Patoutze near Keelung.

The NT$780 million (about US$20,200,000) project will be completed in two stages in six and a half years.

After four years, the harbor will accommodate more than 1,200 boats of up to 1,000 tons. This will relieve congestion at Keelung and provide space for expansion of Taiwan Shipbuilding Corp. facilities.

Patoutze is a natural harbor with area of about 300,000 square meters. Construction includes 940 meters of breakwaters and 1,820 meters of wharves.

The fishing port on Peace Island off Keelung, which has been the home port for over 1,100 fishing boats, will be vacated and converted into berthing space for merchant ships.

Sales of fishery products by Peace Island-based vessels amounted to NT$1,600 million (about US$42,100,00) last year. Patoutze sales are expected to reach NT$2,800 million (about US$73,700,000) in five years.

The project will be financed by sale of re claimed land near the new port.

Production of rice, maize, potatoes, fish and vegetables increased during the first half of this year, the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction reported.

Taiwan produced 1,315,488 metric tons of rice in the six-month period, an increase of 1.9 per cent over January-June of 1974.

Potato production totaled 39,918 metric tons, an increase of 51 per cent.

These were other figures:

- Cabbage, 142,076 metric tons, up 8.8 per cent.
- Maize, 100,187 metric tons, up 46.3 per cent.
- Sweet potatoes: 1,782,371 metric tons, down 15.7 per cent.
- Soybeans: 57,831 metric tons, down 5.1 per cent.
- Sugar cane: 7,225,347 metric tons, down 18.8 per cent.
- Tea: 14,970 metric tons, up 3.6 per cent.
- Peanuts: 31,863 metric tons, down 5.4 per cent.
- Mushrooms: 49,752 metric tons, down 19 per cent.
- Asparagus: 59,943 metric tons, down 5.4 per cent.
- Onions: 27,003 metric tons, up 5.2 per cent.
- Bananas: 101, 164 metric tons, down 8.1 per cent.
- Pineapples: 96,246 metric tons, up 4.2 per cent.
- Pork: 191,236 metric tons, down 25 per cent.
- Beef: 1,818 metric tons, down 20.4 per cent.
- Chicken: 21,666,000, up 15.6 per cent.
- Eggs: 456,080,000, up 26.5 per cent.
- Fish: 366,119 metric tons, up 10.2 per cent.

Medical practitioners reiterated the Hippocratic oath as the new Medical Personnel Law went into force.

A six-point declaration of the Association of Medical Practitioners of Taipei and Taiwan Province called on the more than 7,000 doctors of the country to:

- Put the interest of the patient first.
- Reject material rewards beyond those to which they are professionally entitled.
- Avoid competition, give patients a free choice of doctors and keep within the area of their capabilities.
- Respect life and perform their duties conscientiously.
- Dedicate their lives to serving others and the world.

Dr. Wu Chi-fu, chairman of the Taiwan Provincial Association of Medical Practitioners, and Dr. Wu Tso-jen, his counterpart in Taipei, urged all practitioners to live up to the profession's pledge to "Relieve Suffering and Save Lives."

Lo Tsui-ju, Taipei District chief procurator, urged the public to cooperate in cracking down on quacks.

The National Health Administration said there are 344 general hospitals, 43 special clinics, 1,080 dental clinics, 4,262 general clinics, 1,539 herb clinics, 9 government hospitals, 47 laboratories and 371 health centers.

Taiwan has 7,540 licensed doctors. Every 10,000 persons are served by 4.38 doctors, 0.64 dentists and 2.66 nurses.

April 5, the day of President Chiang Kai-shek's passing, was designated a World Christian Anti-Communism Day by the Third World Christian Anti-Communist Convention in South Korea.

In Shik Yoon, chairman of the Convention, wrote President Yen Chia-kan:

"Because of its judgment that Communism destroys peace everywhere in the world by acts of treachery, deception and violence aimed at peace-and freedom-loving peoples, and that Communism is both anti-Christ as well as anti-human, the Convention has resolved that Communism should be eradicated from the earth and that we who have gathered in this Convention should fulfill our duties as guardians of peace and as defenders of freedom.

"I have the honor to inform Your Excellency further that the Convention mourned the death of the late President Chiang Kai-shek and that, in respectful memory of the late great world anti Communist leader who had done so much for the growth of this World Christian Union, the Convention resolved by an unanimous vote that the 5th of April be henceforth know as World Chris tian Anti-Communism Day, to be devoted to fasting and prayer."