At stake is much more than the Republic of China's legitimate seat in the United Nations. As far as free China is concerned, the seat itself has no great and overwhelming value. The ROC has always paid its dues and has abided by both the letter and the spirit of the Charter. In return, it has often been abused by the Communists and some of the neutralist members.
But the government is aware that Peiping is trying to shoot its way into the international organization with the purpose of destroying it. That could be a tragedy. Whatever the faults of the United Nations, it often has served the world and the cause of peace.
The 47-to-47 count did not, of course, accurately reflect world sentiment. It was a political ballot, taken after the General Assembly had decided 56-to-49 with 11 abstentions, that China representation is an important question and that a majority of two-thirds would be required to effect any change.
This gave some of those who voted for Peiping, and most of those who abstained, the opportunity to vote selfishly - for trade interest, or to please their blocs, or for some similar reason.
Now there is discussion of a possible U.S. decision to abandon its stand in favor of the two-thirds requirement. The Republic of China does not expect this to happen—yet is mending fences and preparing to face a simple majority test, if it ever comes.
At least some of the U.N. votes against the ROC are really directed at the United States. A number of countries seize every opportunity to twist Uncle Sam's coat tails, and a vote against free China is an easy way of doing so.
As soon as the count was completed, the Communists set about their new strategy. Essentially this is a propaganda campaign to convince U.N. members that Communist triumph is inevitable in this year's voting. Some African votes were swayed by such an argument in 1965.
In truth, the Republic of China's United Nations cause is far from hopeless. Many observers believe that the 1965 vote will turn out to be the high-water mark of the Communist campaign, and that the ROC will do better this year.
These are some of the reasons, country by-country:
Sierra Leone voted for Peiping on the 47-to-47 ballot, although its leaders had promised to support the ROC, which has an embassy in Freetown. Presumably the Peiping vote was the decision of the Sierra Leone representative at the U.N. and does not reflect the country's real intention. A reversal is to be expected this year, and the ROC will help by stepping up technical assistance.
Five African countries that abstained—Cameroon, Chad, Rwanda, Leopoldville Congo, and Libya—are receiving Chinese technical aid. Their reasons for not lining up against Peiping are varied, but all can be persuaded to change their minds.
Burundi, which had recognized the Peiping regime only to be confronted by extensive Chinese Communist subversion, also abstained. Now there is hope that Burundi has seen the light, and will cut the tie with Peiping and return to a friendly relationship with the Republic of China.
Chile's abstention was something of a shock. Aside from Cuba, this was the first time that a Latin American country had failed to back the Republic of China all the way. Presumably the motive was hope for trade with Peiping. As a response, the ROC already is increasing its commerce with that part of the world.
Other votes that can be changed from abstention to anti-Peiping are those of Iran and Cyprus. Diplomatic representations and other gestures of friendship should win back these two states.
Some voting developments were encouraging. Although Israel recognize Peiping, it backed the Republic of China. Laos voted for Peiping in 1963 but abstained this time. The Laotians have been learning the truth about the Chinese Communists since they entered into diplomatic relations with them. Tunisia's abstention was welcome. So were the favorable votes of such new nations as Malta, Malawi, and Gambia.
China received nine more votes on the decision to require a two-thirds majority than on the resolution to seat Peiping. However, only one of these votes—that of the British—changed into support for the Chinese Communists. The Leopoldville Congo was absent and Laos did not participate in the 47-to-47 rollcall. Abstaining were Iceland, Lebanon, Libya, the Netherlands, Trinidad-Tabago, and Chile. If more votes had been required to bar the Chinese Communists from the U.N. halls, they would have been forthcoming.
Without question, Africa is the key to the outcome of future votes on the China question. The Republic of China has actually done very well, considering the French recognition of Peiping and the persistent efforts of Charles de Gaulle to lead the former countries of French Africa down the same mistaken path.
Assiduous cultivation of China's African friends should bear dividends in 1966. African governments and peoples are learning that free China's help may be smaller than Peiping's promises—but that it is given without strings and furthermore, that it is actually delivered.
Freedom seekers continued their exodus from the Communist-occupied mainland. Some reached Taipei; others escaped to Macao and Hongkong. There were reports of a new buildup of refugees waiting an opportunity to get through barriers and past guards into the Hongkong crown colony.
One new saga of escape came close to matching that of the three airmen who flew a Russian-built jet bomber to freedom early in November. It involved eight young people and months of careful planning in preparation for an attempted voyage to Taiwan in a small fishing junk.
All of the eight had reason to hate Communism. They had been persecuted as petty bourgeoisie, or they had been sent to the countryside as forced laborers. The one girl, only 18, was about to be forced into a loveless marriage with a Communist official.
The enterprise of the eight was remarkable, especially in raising the money to buy the boat. Then they put to sea, only to miss death narrowly in a storm and barely to slip past Communist gunboats. With their boat almost foundering, they were picked up by a Dutch freighter and dropped off at Bangkok, whence the Free China Relief Association brought them to Taiwan.
Whether freedom seekers come by boat or plane—or swim to Macao, as they do frequently, and to Kinmen, as they do occasionally—their stories are similar. They hate the oppressions and persecutions of the Communists. They want a better life, a life with at least enough to eat and something besides ragged clothes to wear.
Usually they are of the opinion that most of the mainland people are opposed to Communism and will rise against it at the first opportunity. Often they urge that the counterattack of free Chinese forces be speeded up to overthrow Communism before the Peiping regime comes into possession of nuclear weapons and a delivery system.
Some other warmly welcomed arrivals on Taiwan were not Chinese. They were American servicemen from Vietnam, flown to Taipei for five-day periods of rest and relaxation. Scheduled to start soon is an R&R program that will bring GI freedom fighters here by boat.
Americans and Chinese cooperated to make the visitors' stay a memorable one. Comments were favorable on both sides. Some of the Americans were not too happy about coming to Taiwan. They would have preferred Hongkong, where R&R visitations have been cut back because of Communist protests to the British government. But at the conclusion of their R&R stays, most of these unenthusiastic arrivals had changed their minds. Taiwan, they concluded, has something for everybody.
As for the Chinese, they were pleased by the model behavior of the young soldiers, marines, and airmen. No incidents of an unpleasant nature were reported, despite the obvious intention of some of those from the fighting zones to paint the town brightly. Many of the visitors found that Taiwan's scenic attractions and Chinese flavor were more interesting than its bistros.
Newspapers and magazines commented editorially that the Chinese should go out of their way to serve those who are fighting the battles of free mankind.
Also from Vietnam—and likewise most welcome—was a new ambassador, General Tran Thien Khiem, who formerly was his country's chief of staff and defense minister.
Relations between the Republics of China and Vietnam have become increasingly close as the Vietnamese war has mounted in fury. The new envoy said his government would welcome the dispatch of additional troops to Vietnam. A psychological warfare team from the Chinese armed forces is already there.
China is also supplying many essential commodities to Vietnam. Procurements in 1966 may rise to a level in excess of US$100 million. The goal is to make Taiwan a principal supplier for the Vietnamese war as Japan was for the Korean war.
Besides military specialists, many technicians have gone from free China to Vietnam. The largest number is in agriculture. Thanks to their assistance, many new crops are being raised in Vietnam, the people are eating better, the standard of living has been improved, and the Viet Cong find the countryside a less fertile field of recruitment.
Chinese technical aid has been extended in sugar cultivation and processing, in textiles, and in power generation. Vietnamese technicians have been trained on Taiwan.
Finally and of the most fundamental importance is the awareness of Vietnam—and the United States—that the Republic of China stands ready to undertake military moves against the Chinese Communists the moment these are judged essential. China is no fair-weather friend. It is pledged to fight Communist aggression anywhere and at any time.
Final figures are not yet available, but as the year ended it was certain that Taiwan province had another successful year economically. The trade balance may have been slightly unfavorable, but this was inevitable considering the sharp loss of sugar revenue resulting from slumping international prices. In fact, the deficit was surprisingly small.
The year just closed was the first of the fourth Four-Year Economic Development Plan. Based on the progress already made, Minister of Economic Affairs K. T. Li predicted these gains when the four-year period ends in 1968:
—Gross national product of NT$132.3 billion, up from the NT$100.9 billion of 1964.
—National income of NT$107 billion.
—Per capita income of NT$7,659 as compared with NT$6,623 in 1964.
—Gross capital formation growth at a rate of 10.7 per cent annually to NT$28,985 million for 1968.
—Employment growth at a rate of 3.3 per cent annually-with nearly 5 million people working in 1968 compared with 4,340,000 in 1964.
—Growth of industry at a faster rate than agriculture. The gross industrial product was NT$30,336 million in 1964 and will be NT$46,100 million in 1968. The agricultural product for 1968 will total NT$29,218 million.
Governor Huang Chieh also had some good news. The food supply is going to continue to keep ahead of the skyrocketing population for a long time to come.
For 1965, the rice harvest totaled 2,331,183 metric tons for an all-time record and 11,830 metric tons in excess of the goal. The gain over 1964 was 85,544 metric tons.
Yet the acreage was less than for 1964. Rice paddy area was down by 62,082 hectares. The loss was made up by record production of 3,016 kilograms per hectare.
Land not used for rice becomes available for other crops, many of which are earning substantial amounts of foreign exchange. Experts have recommended Taiwan for a huge canned and frozen food industry that will end heavy dependence on sugar and rice.
As for people versus food, Chairman T. H. Shen of the Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction attested that in the last four years agricultural output has increased 6.28 per cent while the population was growing by only 3.17 per cent.
Taiwan is eating well, too. Its 12 1/ 2 million people average 2,400 calories a day, the highest in Asia, although protein consumption is somewhat lower than in Japan. Even that gap is being narrowed by the increased supply of meat, fish, and dairy products.
Important trade developments of the month were related to the national effort to isolate the Chinese Communists.
A 12-member Malaysian trade mission visited Taiwan and pledged that it will make every effort to reduce Kuala Lampur's US$200-million-a-year commercial intercourse with Peiping.
Malaysians and free Chinese will cooperate to see that purchases are made here instead of from mainland China. Taiwan has many of the goods that Malaysia requires.
The KL-Peiping trade began to build up in volume more than a decade ago, before Malaya gained full independence.
Dato T. H. Tan, a member of the Malaysian Parliament and leader of the mission, said: "We want to trade with our elder brothers-the people of the Republic of China." At present KL-Taipei trade is averaging only US$6 million a year.
Dato and Tan and his group may also be able to influence fellow-businessmen in Singapore, which looks to the Chinese Communists as important trade partners.
Another development was the resolution of some 70 representatives of overseas Chinese communities in more than 20 countries to engage in a boycott of all goods from the Communist-held mainland.
They are members of the Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations and come from every part of the world. They also agreed to urge that goods from the Republic of China be substituted for those previously purchased from the Communists. Loss of the overseas Chinese market is bound to be a serious economic blow to Peiping, which has been undertaking a vast campaign—especially in Southeast Asia— to raise foreign exchange with cheap exports to Chinese communities.
December brought a health triumph of which China could well be proud. The World Health Organization cited Taiwan as the first Asian area in which malaria has been wiped out.
In Japanese occupation times and just afterward, malaria was a scourge. Millions of people were afflicted.
Thirteen years ago the Republic of China began an eradication campaign that was to cost nearly US$4 million and involve 18,000 anti-malaria workers. Mosquito control and medical treatment of cases worked the miracle.
Now the campaign will be continued, but in a preventive phase. What with the transportation systems of the world today, both people and mosquitoes move around the world rapidly and with considerable ease. Health authorities are now on guard to see malaria does not sneak back through harbors or airports.
Cholera also had been eradicated a few years back. Then it crept back, apparently from the Philippines, and there were cases and deaths during one summer. Compulsory inoculation has again conquered the killing disease and precautions against carriers have been tightened.
As the United Nations denounced Chinese Communist oppression and persecution in Tibet, the Republic of China reiterated that the future of the Tibetans will be decided in accordance with the principle of self-deter-mination after the mainland has been liberated.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Patrick Sun said the principle was laid down by President Chiang Kai-shek several years ago.
Historically, Tibet is usually considered as a part of China but with a very special relationship. When the Republic of China's authority prevailed on the mainland, Tibet had a high degree of autonomy and complete freedom to pursue its ancient ways of life and to worship as it pleased.
Under the Communists, genocide has been practiced, and unceasing attempts made to stamp out freedom of religion.
In fact the Republic of China's absolute guarantee of the right to worship without interference was made manifest in the person of one of the dignitaries attending the closing meeting of the Ecumenical Council in Rome.
He is Chang Chun, the secretary-general of the Chinese presidential office and one of the most respected men in all Asia. He went to the Holy See as the representative of President Chiang Kai-shek and was received by Pope Paul VI. Afterward he went to Spain, to Austria, to Greece, and to other countries as an emissary of free Chinese goodwill and friendship.
In Taiwan, diverse religions exist peacefully, side by side. They include not only the various Christian denominations and Buddhism, the dominant faith of the island, but also Islam, Taoism, local faiths, and even the freedom to be an agnostic or atheistic.
Free China carries on in the timeless Chinese tradition that a man's religion is his own business, entirely between himself and his conscience.