The meeting of some 1,500 persons, including 861 delegates from party organizations and representatives from mainland China and overseas Chinese communities, heard from its Chairman, President Chiang Ching-kuo, Premier Sun Yun-suan and other leaders; elected its new Central Committee; revised the constitution; passed resolutions and adopted a Manifesto summing up proceedings and goals.
The text of Chiang Ching-kuo's concluding address follows (for other details of the 12th Congress, see the article on page 9 and the Documents section of this issue):
After eight days of meetings, the 12th National Congress of our party comes to a successful conclusion today. Comrades of the party will pass a new milestone in the continuation of their revolutionary endeavors.
Throughout the Congress, each and every one of you has dedicated his mind and his energies to deliberation of every proposal and the discussion of every problem. You have kept the people, party and nation constantly in mind. This spirit is appreciated and respected.
During our meetings, I have seen elderly senior comrades taking the pains to counsel younger and junior members. The latter accepted and benefited from the advice in a modest and polite manner. Participants from the mainland and abroad, from the various districts of our bastion of national recovery and from various professions and organizations have unexceptionally enjoyed the harmony and camaraderie of these sessions from dawn to dusk. This new look of sincerity and solidarity displays the spirit and potential of our comrades in their struggle for self-reliance.
This Congress has heard Premier Sun Yun-suan's administrative report and other work reports by responsible comrades serving in the government. We are deeply aware that all our comrades working in the government have single-mindedly carried out the party's platform and policy and that they have regarded the people's aspiration as their aspiration and the people's interest as their interest in accelerating all-out political, economic, cultural, educational, social and national defense development. They have recorded remarkable successes and augmented the strength and reinforced the foundation of our bastion for national recovery and revival. We have listened to Secretary General Tsiang Yien-si's report on party affairs and to a report on the mainland situation. We have come to understand the progress made since the 11th National Congress in vigorous and successful expansion of party work on the mainland, abroad, in this bastion of national revival and from the central level down to the provincial level. We also know how much we have improved our services to the people. I greatly appreciate the painstaking efforts and contributions of our comrades working in the government and party.
Based on the new requirements of the times, the Congress has discussed six major topics:
—Amending the Constitution of the Kuomintang of China. This provides greater flexibility and makes party work more effective.
—Adopting the Platform of the Kuomintang of China. It establishes operational guidelines for further implementation of the party's cause and policy.
—Unifying China under the Three Principles of the People. Our achievements and experiences in national development based on the Three Principles of the People confirm that we must follow the way of the Three Principles so China can be saved and unified.
—Reviving Chinese culture, implementing democracy and the rule of law, and promoting political development. In the course of national development, we shall combine the best of Chinese and Western cultures, cultivate the force of social stability and gear our political moves to the interests of the people.
—Assuring thoroughgoing economic development based on the Principle of the People's Livelihood in our bastion of national revival. The intention is to complement economic development with social development to raise the living standard and contribute to the welfare of the people.
—Strengthening party machinery and action, encouraging party comrades to heighten their spirit of sacrifice and performing services to assure the people's support. The intention is to develop in our comrades the spirit of solidarity, responsibility, service and sacrifice, and create a truly people-oriented political party that is devoted to the interests of the people and shares the aspirations of the people.
These six themes were studied and discussed on the foundation of the following basic principles:
First, the party will never desist from revolutionary endeavor until it has attained its goal.
Second, the party will always base itself on the people, go all out to accomplish what is good for the people and eliminate anything that is harmful to the people.
Third, the party will strive ceaselessly to benefit from the common wisdom, will and power of the people at home and abroad so as to solve the China problem. The solution of the China problem calls for the destruction of the Chinese Communist regime and the implementation of the Three Principles of the People in the whole of China.
The Congress has adopted resolutions on all these topics and has announced them to all our comrades, to all the people of the country and to the free world.
Most important now is the thorough carrying out of these resolutions. That calls for a down-to-earth approach in party work.
We have made continuous improvements in party work. But social patterns have changed and new internal and external factors have developed rapidly. If we cannot continue renovation of party work at the same pace, we shall not be able to adapt to the changes of the times. We must plan and expedite the renovation and advancement of party work incessantly and with total dedication. We must assure that party work stays steadfastly ahead of social developments.
This means that we must move forward on the following fronts:
—On the mainland, we must be constantly prepared to shape sudden changes in the situation to our advantage. We must take the initiative and commit ourselves to vigorous action to accelerate our "30 percent military and 70 percent political" strategy.
—Abroad, we must unite with all anti-Communist and patriotic overseas Chinese and make them a pillar of reliance for the great undertaking of national recovery and reconstruction.
—In this bastion of national revival, the basic orientation of the party's work must be to keep the people and cause close to our hearts. In other words, we must set our sights on the long-range interests of the nation and the maximum happiness of the people. All our party work—that involving organization, propaganda, social activity, youths, women and the basic echelon—must be moved forward in this direction.
Gentlemen and comrades, an old saying has it that "a wise man must have a farsighted attitude and an aspiring warrior must apply himself painstakingly." The world of today is caught up in violent turbulences that will buffet us with mounting intensity day after day. In particular, the turmoil on the Chinese mainland has reached a stage which compels us to accelerate our pace in carrying out the great undertaking of national unification. In the face of the world changes, mainland turmoil and national crisis, the responsibility of the party is increasing with each passing day. Each of us is expected to take up this heavy responsibility like a wise man and carry out the great revolutionary undertaking like an aspiring warrior. The farsighted attitude involves taking the long and determined view, seeing one layer deeper and going a step farther in all things, and setting our sights on the problems of the whole country and all the people, and on the 11 million square kilometers of the vast Chinese territory. This requires all comrades and cadres of the party to maximize their capacity for tolerance and their expectations. They must be persevering and indomitable in calmly overcoming every difficulty. This is the application of the painstaking effort demanded of us.
Only when we have a farsighted attitude can we make long-range plans and ensure the long-range interest of our country and people. Only when we work painstakingly can we forget ourselves in pursuit of the people's interest. I am confident that if our ruling party dedicates itself to this painstaking approach, all of its decisions and actions will be accepted and supported by the people.
I recall the instructions of the Tsungli (Dr. Sun Yat-sen, President of the Kuomintang) at the First National Congress. He said: "The primary basis of a political party is the spiritual alliance of its members." Today, we must keep in mind this instruction on "spiritual alliance." I also remember a passage of the instructions of the Tsungtsai (President Chiang Kai-shek, Director General of the Kuomintang) at the third plenary session of the 10th Central Committee, the last meeting over which he presided. He said he expected our comrades "to overcome the crisis with revolutionary sentiments and cultivate integrity with revolutionary morality." These words also express the essence of "spiritual alliance."
I think that today's crucial challenge is to expand this "spiritual alliance" among our comrades and then among our fellow countrymen. If "spiritual alliance" is assured among our party comrades and fellow countrymen, we can be certain of our solidarity and exert ourselves for self-reliance. The future of our party then will be intimately related to that of the people of the nation. The heroic deed of national unification will be carried out by our comrades and fellow countrymen.
Finally; I should like to speak for the Congress in expressing its great concern for our comrades and fellow countrymen on the Chinese mainland, in extending heartfelt greetings to our comrades and fellow countrymen at home and abroad, and in expressing our appreciation to the comrades who have served the Congress.
I extend my best wishes for the health and happiness of all of you, for the bright future of our party and for the prosperity of the Republic of China.
In his administrative report, Premier Sun Yun-suan said the government will work out policies to meet the changing international situation and create positive conditions to achieve the nation's medium and long-term goals.
He reported on the medium-term goals as follows:
—In political reconstruction:
The government will accomplish the democratic construction system, cement the foundation of the rule of law, supervise the sponsoring of elections, develop manpower resources, sponsor vocational training, promote moral principles in politics, realize basic reconstruction projects, and serve the people.
—In foreign affairs:
The government will safeguard the democratic camp, advance friendship and cooperation with friendly nations, improve relations with the United States and European countries, unite the strength of Chinese at home and abroad, carry out a positive foreign policy, destroy the schemes of the enemy, and develop a brand-new diplomatic status for that nation.
—In national defense:
The government will ensure the security of this bastion for mainland recovery, reinforce political warfare against the enemy, advance the national defense industry, accelerate the development of sophisticated weaponry, renovate the equipment of the armed forces, strengthen military training, assure the war-readiness of the armed forces and develop a self-sufficient defense system.
—In economic affairs:
The government will emphasize the development of science and technology, promote energy conservation, ease inflationary pressures, elevate productivity, improve the nation's investment climate, upgrade the industrial structure, carry out the second-phase land reform program, implement rural reconstruction projects, augment the income of the rural population, diversify export markets, expand foreign trade, communication and telecommunication facilities, and modernize facilities in the service industries.
—In culture and education:
The government will help improve the quality of faculties and facilities at all levels of schools, cultivate personnel to meet the requirements of national reconstruction projects, promote cultural and recreational programs, improve the quality of moral life of the people, and promote the knowledge of nationalism, democracy, social harmony through education.
The Premier pointed out that the society of freedom, abundance and progress in Taiwan affords a sharp contrast to that of slavery, poverty and backwardness on the Chinese mainland.
Delegates to the Kuomintang Congress and government leaders gathered at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei to pay tribute to President Chiang Kai-shek on the sixth anniversary of his April 5 passing. This day is also Tombsweeping Day, observed by Chinese everywhere as an occasion to remember the dead and decorate their graves.
President Chiang Ching-kuo presided over the ceremonies. Former President Yen Chia-kan was the principal speaker.
"It is time we seize the initiative and embark on the road to victory," Yen Chia-kan told the 2,800 persons crowded into the Memorial Hall. The way to unification, he said, lies through implementation of the teachings bequeathed by the late President Chiang Kai-shek.
Nation-building is complex, the former President said, but can be carried out by heeding the counsel of the long-time chief-of-state. He recalled Chiang Kai-shek's insistence on thrift and cooperation.
President Yen, who served the late leader as Vice President, recalled the greatness of his former mentor and his simple ways of life and dress. Chiang Kai-shek lived and served as a soldier, said Yen Chia-kan.
At the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, some 50,000 persons gathered to hear mass choruses sing songs dedicated to the late President and the nation. They also heard from Nieh Wen-ya, president of the Legislative Yuan, and Taipei Mayor Lee Teng-hui. A subsequent ceremony was held at the Taipei City Auditorium with Mayor Lee presiding.
Other remembrances were held throughout Taiwan, the Penghus and offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu, and in overseas Chinese communities throughout the world.
During the day and on the following Monday, also observed as a holiday, the nation's leaders and overseas representatives visited President Chiang Kai-shek's sarcophagus at Tzuhu. Memorial services were conducted by the Chinese Armed Forces in all territories under the Central Government's control.
Republics of China and Korea should step up their cooperation and fight against the threat of international Communism to maintain international justice and achieve everlasting peace, Premier Sun Yun-suan told Korean friends on the occasion of President Chun Doo Hwan's inauguration. The Premier went to Seoul as the special envoy of President Chiang Ching-kuo.
Premier Sun said the relations between the two countries will grow closer.
Premier Sun told President Chun "the harmonious relations between our two countries will not be altered under any circumstances."
Premier Nam Duck Woo of Korea also reaffirmed the necessity for closer Sino-Korean cooperation. Premier Sun invited his Korean counterpart to visit the Republic of China.
Premier Sun and his party found that South Korea is surging forward in confidence and unity. He met with overseas Chinese leaders and expressed gratitude for their strong support of the government.
On another front, Premier Sun said the raising of farm income and achieving self-sufficiency in food will be basic goals of the government's agricultural policy in this decade.
The government will not neglect the agricultural sector, even though industrial development will provide the underpinning for the national economy, the Premier told legislators.
Premier Sun pointed out that the government has budgeted NT$13.3 billion for agricultural investment in the current fiscal year compared with NT$18.6 billion for state enterprises.
He said the government's agricultural policy is aimed at achieving these objectives:
—Enabling farmers to keep pace with non-agricultural workers in terms of income.
—Ensuring that there will be self-sufficiency in the food supply.
—Improving welfare measures for the rural population.
Sun Yun-suan said the government will take these steps to attain its agricultural goals:
—Maintain a reasonable price structure for agricultural products.
—Strengthen agricultural research and development with a view to increasing productivity.
—Expedite farm mechanization.
—Step up rural reconstruction, provide better medical care and introduce an insurance program.
—Encourage investors to set up industrial plants in rural districts.
—Improve transportation and marketing.
Martial law will not be lifted so long as the Chinese Communists persist in their attempts to destroy Free China, Premier Sun said in reply to a legislator's inquiry.
Martial law, which was proclaimed after the Communists usurped the mainland in 1949, has thwarted Red China's efforts to penetrate and subvert Free China, the Premier said.
Consequently, he continued, the Republic of China has been able to achieve across-the-board progress and raise the living standard of the people in an environment of stability.
"In order to protect the fruits of our work, we shall never talk lightly about lifting martial law," Premier Sun declared.
Martial law has not interfered with the normal functioning of society and the people's everyday life, he added, because the implementation is primarily aimed at countering subversive activities and has not stood in the way of democracy.
"The fact that relatives of those convicted for involvement in the Formosa group's sedition are able to speak freely on the legislative floor proves my point," he said. His questioner was Mrs. Chang Chun-hung. Her husband is a former member of the Taiwan Provincial Assembly and a leading figure in the 1979 Kaohsiung riot. She was elected to the Legislative Yuan last December.
Governor Lin Yang-kang of Taiwan, visiting Japan, explained the Republic of China's national policy and urged Japanese to recognize the threat of the Communists.
Addressing a luncheon meeting of the Naigai News, Governor Lin said neither the United States nor Japan could become a true friend of Red China and that any aid given Peiping would increase the threat to the free countries.
Governor Lin told some 200 Japanese leaders that the Republic of China's policy is (1) to carry out democratic and constitutional rule and always side with the democratic camp, (2) never to negotiate or enter into contacts with the Chinese Communists, (3) never to join hands with the Soviet Union, (4) to augment defenses and enhance the security of the Taiwan Straits and (5) to reunify China on the basis of freedom and democracy.
The Governor said the progress of Taiwan, based on the Three Principles of the People, is envied by the mainland Chinese. Failures of the Communists, he said, will lead to collapse of their regime.
Taiwan effectively controls the Bashi Straits and Taiwan Straits and therefore is vital to Japan, a nation heavily dependent on sealanes for trade and supplies of fuel and raw materials, Governor Lin concluded.
Dr. Tsai Wei-ping has been named representative of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs in Washington.
Tsai, 69, replaces Konsin Shah, who will receive a new post. Tsai had been chairman of CCNAA since its inception in 1979.
Raymond Hoo, director of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Department, replaces Tsai as chairman.
Tsai has been director of the Institute of International Relations (1975-1981), vice foreign minister (1968-1975), ambassador to New Zealand (1966-1968) and consul general in Honolulu (1958-1961).
The Rt. Rev. Paul Giglio, charge d'affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature, called on Vice Foreign Minister Fredrick F. Chien to assure him of the Holy See's continued formal relationship with the Republic of China.
The Vatican envoy met Chien in the wake of reports that the Holy See might review its relations with the Republic of China as a step toward establishing links with Chinese Catholics on the mainland.
The Rev. Paul Giglio had gone to Hongkong to meet with Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, the Vatican secretary of state, who was quoted as saying that the Holy See was interested in resuming ties with the mainland Catholics.
Cardinal Casaroli said the Catholic Association set up in Red China is not a church.
"In Red China there is only one Catholic church, the patriotic association being an association of Catholics, including priests and bishops, but not a church," he said.
Members of the Control Yuan elected their incumbent president, Yu Chun-hsien, to another six-year term. The new vice president is Huang Tsun-chiu, a member of the watchdog organ since 1975.
Both Yu and Huang were nominated by the Kuomintang.
Yu received 58 of the 69 ballots cast and Huang got 59 of 69.
The Control Yuan has 74 members.
Yu, 78, is a native of Pingyuan, Kwangtung. He has been president of Control Yuan since March 15, 1973.
Huang, 58, is a native of Nantou, Taiwan. A policeman by training, he became a jurist before he was elected to the Control Yuan in 1973.
The Control Yuan is part of the Republic of China's five powers parliamentary system also including the Legislative Yuan, National Assembly, Examination Yuan and Executive Yuan.
Ninety-four new legislators were sworn in for three-year terms.
President of the Legislative Yuan Nieh Wen-ya presided. More than 200 senior lawmakers and families of the new legislators attended.
Pok Shau-fu, 72, led the new legislators in reading of the oath: "I swear, with the greatest sincerity, to observe the Constitution of the Republic of China, to be loyal to the country and to exercise duties as representatives of the people. I will never play favorites or take bribes. If my actions are not in accordance with the law, I am willing to accept serious punishment according to the law."
President of the Legislative Yuan Nieh Wen-ya and Vice President Liu Kuo-tsai gave a reception in honor of the newcomers. Nieh encouraged them to act as a bridge between the government and the people.
Ninety-seven were elected to the Legislative Yuan in the 1980 Supplementary Parliamentarians Election last December 6. Three were absent.
Free China's political offensive against the Peiping regime has started paying off, the Central News Agency reported from Hongkong.
Quoting a transportation worker from the mainland, CNA said copies of San Min Chu I (Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People) smuggled in from Taiwan are widely circulated in Chekiang and Fukien. Even Communist cadres are passing the booklets from hand to hand, the report said.
The same source reported subversive activities are rampant in over half of Fukien Province opposite the Taiwan Straits and that anti-Teng Hsiao-ping handbills are widely circulated in many areas.
Preparations have been made for large-scale mailings and airdrops to saturate the mainland with publications telling the people of the success of the San Min Chu I formula in Taiwan and reminding them of the bankruptcy of Communism on the Chinese mainland.
A group of scholars in Taipei expressed the view that reunification of China under the banner of San Min Chu I is inevitable in the light of the dismal failure of Communism on the mainland.
Professor Sun Chen, vice chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, told a forum that the Chinese Communist economy is going from bad to worse.
Vice Admiral Keh Teng-ao, a member of the Strategic Advisory Committee, said he is confident the Republic of China can beat back any Chinese Communist invasion attempt.
Professor Chang King-yu, deputy director of the Institute of International Relations, said mainland China has unemployment of 27 million in the cities alone. The figure is almost four times larger in rural areas, he added.
Unemployment has contributed to social unrest and has been further aggravated by natural disasters, Chang said.
More than NT$10 billion will be spent to develop three commercial ports near Kaohsiung, which ranks among the world's 10 leading harbors.
The new ports are Chung Hsing, Ta Jen and Ta Lin. Kaohsiung Harbor has 67 wharves with length of 13,591 meters. Last year 15,507 ships entered and exited the port. Volume of cargo handled exceeded 42.76 million metric tons.
Chung Hsing at Chitsin will be developed as the fourth full container terminal. Eight container wharves with length of 2,240 meters and depth of 12 to 14 meters will be built. Annual cargo handling capacity will be 11.42 million tons. Cost is estimated at NT$5.6 billion.
Ta Jen is located between the third container terminal of Kaohsiung Harbor and China Ship-building Corporation. Two piers with length of 5,500 meters will be built plus 16 berths for handling sundry goods. A fifth container terminal may be built here if demand warrants.
Ta Lin is located near Kaohsiung's second container terminal and the Talin Thermal Power Station. A container terminal will be built with cargo handling capacity exceeding 7 million tons annually.
Thirty passengers were killed and 124 others injured, when an electric express train hit a truck at an unguarded grade crossing north of Hsinchu. It was the worst railroad disaster in Taiwan's history.
The truck, loaded with sand, was trying to race the train, which was traveling at 100 kilometers per hour after a stop in Hsinchu.
Five cars of the 10-ear train went off the tracks. Four fell into a riverbed and the fifth was left hanging in midair.
More than 1,000 persons joined in rescue efforts.
There were 202 passengers in the first five cars.
President Chiang Ching-kuo ordered government personnel and military forces to provide maximum help.
A large distillery could be turning out motor fuel within three months in the event of need, Economic Minister Chang Kwang-shih said.
The minister said the Taiwan Sugar Corporation and Taiwan Machinery Manufacturing Corporation have made necessary preparations.
"Producing alcohol would not be a difficult task for us. We already have experience," Chang said.
The government will not set up the plant now because alcohol costs more than petroleum.
In case of a disruption in oil deliveries, the stockpile would meet demands for three months.
"Before the oil supply was depleted, we would have started the production of alcohol," Chang said, but cautioned that since arable land is limited, crops of sugar cane and potatoes for alcohol could not be expanded indefinitely.
Top priority will be given to raising farm income.
Robert Chung-tao Lee, chairman of the Council for Agricultural Planning and Development, said the average income of farmers was 70 percent of the income of nonagricultural workers in 1966. The ratio had declined to 58 percent in 1968.
In 1973, the government started its program to speed up agricultural development and in 1980 implemented a three-year program aimed to raise farm income. Farm income rose to between 64 and 66 percent of that of non-agricultural workers.
Dr. Lee attributed earlier declines to the fragmentization of farms. Urbanization and modernization have reduced total arable land. Taiwan now produces 84 percent of its food.
CAPD will help farmers restructure agricultural production through use of machinery. The government will accelerate investment in public utilities and increase rural welfare programs.