At this favorable moment for the anti-Communist revolution, a momentous meeting convenes to decide the destiny of China
The Kuomintang of China is opening its 12th National Congress at the Chungshan Building on Yangmingshan in Taipei March 29. This is a time when the Republic of China has entered its 70th year and the great endeavors of anti-Communism and national recovery have entered a new era. Looking out across the world, we can see that the Communist bloc has been plunged into confusion. Communism is reaching the end of its road and thoughts of freedom and democracy are surging high. The democratic countries are reaching out for solidarity in their struggle against the Communists. On the Chinese mainland, the Communist regime is falling apart. Power struggle has pushed it to the very brink of collapse.
This is a favorable moment for the anti-Communist revolution. The historic meeting of the Kuomintang should therefore be decisive for the destiny of the country and the well-being of the people. Our deliberations will catch the eyes of the world and instill hope and confidence in the Chinese people at home and abroad.
The Kuomintang of China is a revolutionary democratic party possessed of a great cause, lofty ideals, a tight organization and a glorious history. As a consequence of its revolutionary attributes, the party will never cease to carry out endeavors to serve the country and the people. Its democratic attributes have forged the strength of the people into a formidable wall of power. For more than 80 years — since the establishment of the Hsing Chung Hui society — the party has always held a leading position in the nation; its ups and downs have paralleled those of the country. The modern history of the Chinese Revolution is also the history of the Kuomintang and its struggle for national independence, freedom and survival. Whenever the country faces a crisis, the leader of the Kuomintang never fails to rally the party members and unite the people in taking up the heavy burden of national survival and revival. Countless numbers of our comrades have laid down their lives for the country and the people. They have written page after page of glorious history with their blood. Again and again, their courageous sacrifices have rolled back adverse tides and breathed new life into the nation. As March 29 is a day of great revolutionary glory (commemorating the 1911 uprising at Canton), the convening of the party on this occasion is replete with solemn meaning and marks a dedication to the sacrificial spirit of the past.
All previous national congresses of the party have served as watersheds of political meaning and have recorded great and unparalleled achievements. The first and second national congresses at Canton nurtured the revolutionary spirit and laid the foundation for national unification. The third, fourth and fifth national congresses at Nanking made plans for national development and summoned resistance against Japanese aggression. A provisional congress was held at Wuhan to demonstrate solidarity against the Japanese aggressors under the able leadership of the party's Director General. The sixth congress at Chungking established the framework for democratic government. The seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh congresses in Taiwan provided a new starting point for the Revolution, vigorously pointed the way to democratic and constitutional rule, and provided for the political, economic, cultural and social development necessary to open up a new vista and assure the victory of national recovery. All of the national congresses were motivated by the revolutionary advances necessary to pool the intelligence and strength of party members and people to overcome the crisis of the time and assure the progress of revolutionary undertakings.
The twelfth national congress is a vital link in the chain of this party tradition. Based on the spirit of democracy, freedom and patriotism, it summons people at home and abroad to unite in furthering the political, economic and cultural potential of the nation and supporting the total uprising of the people on the mainland. It also calls upon the people to repudiate Communism and unify China under the Three Principles of the People. All of this is essential to the final and complete success of national recovery.
The eleventh national congress opened on November 12, 1976. In the more than four years since, the Republic of China has been heavily buffeted by U.S. derecognition and the united front conspiracies of the Chinese Communists. Fortunately, the people of the whole country have united in their self-reliance and have supported the government in strengthening political, economic and military construction, in enlarging various external relationships and in countering the united front conspiracies of the Chinese Communists. With the people's support, the nation has overcome all adversities and assured a continuing and firm national march forward. Consequently, the undertakings of national recovery have passed a new milestone. In this new revolutionary situation, the twelfth congress will pursue the following goals:
The Chungshan Building high atop Yangmingshan in suburban Taipei is the site of the Kuomintang's Congress. (File photo)
First, to extend the great undertakings of national recovery to a new horizon. The internal and external forces of the revolution are changing. Although the country has been repeatedly buffeted, the political situation has been improved, economic development has been furthered military strength has been augmented and society has become more harmonious. This is attributable to the party chairman's able leadership, the government's quest of improvement and the people's hard work. Since completion of the Ten Major Construction Projects, the Twelve New Construction Projects have been vigorously carried out. Grass roots undertakings in Taiwan Province and the cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung have made great progress and assured prosperity in the basic echelons of society. The new national congress will base its work on these successes and formulate further plans to expand the political, cultural and military effects of past projects on a basis of the Three Principles of the People. The objectives are improvement of the quality of the people's intellectual and material life and the promotion of their well-being, augmenting of our strength for national recovery and grasping of the increasing opportunity to catapult ourselves into the great undertaking of national recovery on a new level.
Second, to project the party's new image of revolution, democracy and open-mindedness. The Kuomintang is a revolutionary party based on the widespread participation of the people and dedicated to the goal of the people's well-being. For the last 87 years, our party has adhered to the Three Principles of the People, held firm to its objectives, and utilized party members as the framework to unite people in all walks of life and from all ethnic groups in striving for national progress and creating a vital new life for everyone. Although the country has experienced many calamities along the way, the party has never departed from its basic position and dedication to unity with the people. This time-honored and self-less spirit and the party's efforts to serve the country and the people have won the trust and support of Chinese at home and abroad. No matter how the world changes or what difficulties arise, the party can never shirk its responsibility for the people's well-being. Nor will it content itself with achievements already made. To the contrary, our party will seek continuous improvement, demonstrate its revolutionary spirit and assume an attitude of openmindedness in keeping with Chairman Chiang Ching-kuo's counsel to "open the door, walk tall along the broad highway, take up the heaviest responsibility and carry out the greatest undertaking." Our members are determined to make the party stronger and more progressive, and to forge the wisdom and strength of the people more solidly than ever behind the great undertaking of national recovery.
Third, to unify China under the Three Principles of the People. The world's gravitational pole lies in Asia and that of Asia lies in China. Everyone concerned with the so-called "China problem" is aware that it exists only on the Chinese mainland. Today the Chinese Communist regime is at death's door and cannot revive itself. The people on the mainland have repudiated Communism and the Chinese Communist party has repudiated itself. The Kuomintang constitutes the vanguard of anti-Communism. For scores of years, our party has consistently adhered to the Three Principles of the People for the National Revolution and national development. At this time we are placing our reliance on the Three Principles to perpetuate the existence of our people, ensure the survival of man kind and maintain world peace. Only by assuring democracy, freedom and Chinese culture for the people of the mainland under the Three Principles of the People can we deliver our compatriots from Communist tyranny and revive the Chinese people. This is the most favorable time to solve the "China problem" with the Three Principles of the People. To attain our goal, we must formulate guiding principles for our anti-Communist and national salvation undertakings in Taiwan, overseas and on the Chinese mainland. Relying on these principles, we can take effective measures, press forward with surging anti-Communist activities and unite China under the Three Principles of the People in the near future. This is the major task of the new national congress of the party.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen giving one of his famed lectures on the Three Principles of the People at a Canton college.
The Central Standing Committee formulated the following activities for the national congress in the light of the current situation and the needs of national and party development:
1. Amendment of the constitution. Amendment of the constitution is a major function of the party congress. In making amendments, this congress will study current developments in party affairs and the expected orientation of future developments and activities in order to cultivate a democratic and revolutionary political party. It will also canvass the views of party organizations at all levels as well as those of all party members.
2. Formulation of the platform. In accordance with its function, the party congress will evaluate the current situations at home and abroad and internal and external revolutionary factors so as to attain the goals of struggling for national recovery and construction based on the established policy of "realizing the Three Principles of the People, recovering the mainland, reviving democracy and culture, and remaining in the camp of democracy." This is a requirement for forging the strength of party and people and jointly opening up a new vista.
3. Review of party and government measures. The congress will hear work reports from responsible party officials and party comrades holding major posts in the government. These reports will cover party and executive, legislative, judicial, examination and control activities by the responsible yuans as well as diplomatic, military and mainland undertakings. Sweeping analyses will be con ducted to assure improvements as a result of the pooled intelligence of delegates to the congress.
4. Discussion of major topics. Besides amending the party constitution and formulating a platform for the current stage of activities, the congress will deliberate the following four basic topics: (1) Plan to strengthen the party organization and party operations with a view to assuring that party members will make more sacrifices and demonstrate the higher spirit of service required to unite with the hearts and strength of the people. (2) Plan to unify China under the banner of the Three Principles of the People. (3) Plan to revive Chinese culture, implement democracy and the rule of law, and promote political development. (4) Plan to complete the economic development of the Taiwan bastion of national revival under the Principle of the People's Livelihood.
These plans will integrate theory and action, design with execution, implementation with evaluation and study with completion. All are connected in spirit. The goal is to strengthen the party organization and activities and to consolidate the party leadership, thereby assuring thorough going cultural, political, economic and social development in our bastion of national revival, augmentation of spiritual and material combat capability for national recovery, and the uniting of all Chinese at home and abroad for action against the enemy and for attainment of the supreme objective of national unification under the Three Principles of the People.
The congress held at this crucial moment of the National Revolution is a definitive event. To ensure its complete success, both substantive and spiritual aspects will be emphasized in the adoption of the following measures:
1. To carry out the Director General's instructions faithfully. Although the Director General has departed from us, he is always with us in spirit. His words constitute a lodestar to guide us in formulating our policy for the Revolution and national recovery. To honor his memory at this congress, films of him will be shown and his recorded instructions will be heard. His instructions regarding the congress will be read and studied day by day in the hope that we can integrate his guidance with our various resolutions and thus assure that his will is carried out.
2. To enlarge participation in order to demonstrate our joint wisdom. The number of delegates participating in this congress is being increased in proportion to the increase in party members. Delegates are coming from behind the enemy lines and from overseas as well as from this bastion of national revival. They are meeting under one roof, and all of us will therefore benefit from their combined wisdom. Additionally, we have canvassed opinions and solicited proposals through discussion meetings and correspondence, thus assuring that the party can profit from the wisdom and experience of all its members. These views and proposals will be considered in formulating our various plans. We are confident of meeting our requirements and making public affairs decisions based on public opinion.
3. To demonstrate the attributes of a democratic political party. The increased number of delegates at this congress reflects the growth in party membership since the eleventh national congress. To ensure the operation of democracy, the central committee prepared a code of electoral regulations and called on party organizations at all levels to implement them faithfully. The objective is the fulfillment of obligations and the enjoyment of rights by all party members. To make the congress more representative, we have increased the number of seats reserved for farmers, fishermen, workers, women, aborigines, students, noncommissioned officers and soldiers, educators, scientists and technicians. This congress truly represents all walks of life. Delegates will have opportunity to contribute their wisdom to the formulation of major policies by party and government.
4. To emphasize efficiency and employ the scientific method in conduct of meetings. The Congress will place particular emphasis on efficiency. Submission of written reports is required whenever possible. Oral reports must be succinct and sufficient time must be allowed so that discussion participants may speak out fully and frankly. By canvassing all views, we shall see to it that the discussions of every topic reach successful conclusions. All of the routine work of the congress will be carried out in keeping with the requirements of austerity and efficiency. Work controls will be enforced to see that the expected results are forth-coming.
Opening of the 12th national congress indicates the harmony and vigor to be found in this bastion of national recovery and provides a sharp contrast to the capricious struggle and self-negation to be observed in the mainland activities of the Chinese Communist regime. This contrast clearly shows which side is supported by the people and which side is destined for victory. We regard this congress as the decisive meeting held on the eve of the success of national recovery. We shall be optimistic with dignity and contribute a full measure of our intelligence to assure the great success of the congress. We are determined to act courageously in carrying out all of the party's resolutions. We are supremely confident that the congress will add a new page to the history of national recovery and reconstruction.