Taiwan Today

The 1978 Constitution Day Rally of the Republic of China, the 13th Plenary Session of the Commission for the Study of Constitutional Problems of the National Assembly and the 1978 Convention of Members of the National Assembly are holding their joint opening ceremony today. I respect you for coming here today to look into the work of the National Assembly and for the efforts of the Commission for the Study of Constitutional Prob­lems to promote democratic and constitutional government and to plan the great undertaking of anti-Communism and national re­covery.

Implementation of the Con­stitution has led our country into a new and constitutional era. This Constitution was brought to frui­tion through the struggle, sacrifice, sweat and blood of innumerable numbers of revolutionary martyrs led first by our National Founding Father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and then by our late President Chiang Kai­-shek. As we commemorate this anniversary of the Constitution by recalling the miraculous achieve­ments of our forefathers in overcoming tens of thousands of difficulties, and as we think of the hundreds of millions of our compatriots suffering under Commu­nist persecution on the mainland, we feel our historic sense of responsibility has become greater, especially in the face of present national difficulties. At this criti­cal time, the inescapable need is to forge our hearts into one so that we can maintain our constitu­tional rule intact and ensure na­tional security with the overwhelming power of our fortitude and the courage of our actions. I earnestly hope you will provide our people with extraordinary inspiration and our government with extraordinary support. This is required in order to rally the strength of the whole nation in overcoming the current crisis and carrying out our momentous and difficult tasks in this stage of our history.

We cannot deny that the Carter administration's betrayal in abrogating the U.S. treaty with us has dealt a heavy blow to our great undertaking of national re­covery and has inflicted immeas­urable damage on the free world. To safeguard our country in this developing crisis, the Executive Yuan (cabinet) decided to ask the President to adopt emergency measures by decree and take other necessary steps in accordance with the powers granted him in Article I of the Constitutional Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist Rebellion and thus to assure the protection of our national interests and our people's well-being. I greatly ap­preciate the dedicated support for this governmental action by peo­ple throughout the nation. I have been especially moved by the powerful expressions of the peo­ple's patriotism. I am further convinced that if everything is based on the Constitution and if we can advance the functions of constitutional government, we shall be able to cope with any eventuality.

In the face of the current extraordinary situation, we can expect further and even greater difficulties. We must endure hu­miliation, take up our heavy duties and carry out our long-term struggle with the strongest for­titude and the most enduring patience. We must undertake careful review, think things out soberly and design our counter-measures with special calm and prudence in order to advance and carry out our policy and reach our goal. We have always believed that while the objective factors of success may be decided by others, the subjective factors are always in our own hands. Look­ing back at the 67-year history of the Republic of China, we can see that in every struggle against foreign aggression and against domestic rebellion, we invariably have had to count on ourselves to reverse any adverse situation and to restore order through the overcoming of difficulties. In the end, we have always won out. It is a fact that since the United States declared its intention of establishing diplomatic relations with the Chinese Communists, our compatriots at home and abroad have shown their dignity and spirit of self-reliance and their devotion and solidarity with one heart and one will. This assures our success in creating a favorable objective situation through subjec­tive struggle.

Today I must reiterate that the solemnity of the Republic of China's Constitution, which was written by representatives of the people of the whole nation, can never be diminished. As the gov­ernment of the Republic of China was established in accordance with this Constitution, it follows that the government of the Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the peo­ple of the whole nation. The mainland is the territory of the Republic of China, and the gov­ernment of the Republic of China will never abandon its sovereignty there. The Chinese Communist regime is a rebel entity trying to destroy the Constitution and ravage the country and people. This regime obviously cannot rep­resent China, not to say the Chinese people. In time to come, we shall never enter into negotia­tions with the Chinese Commu­nists. We shall carry out our struggle against the Communists and for national recovery to a successful conclusion.

The government of the Re­ public of China is determined to ensure social peace and stability, promote the people's welfare and continue the advancement of democratic government and na­tional construction 011 the basis of the Constitution, and to strengthen our national authority and assure human rights. In keep­ing with this fundamental national policy and to maintain the securi­ty and interests of the nation and the people, we can never tolerate the existence of any state­ment or action that could imperil our fundamental national policy of anti-Communism and national recovery or that could undermine the foundations of our country. To augment our constitutional accomplishments, we should give priority consideration to national security and the people's interests as we adopt new measures. This is to say that we shall do all that we can in promoting anything helpful to the advancement of constitutional government and the cause of anti-Communism and national recovery, and that we shall do our utmost to eliminate anything that could hinder the advancement of constitutional government and the cause of na­tional recovery.

Our Constitution was written on the mainland and was imple­mented on the mainland. As a result of the Communist rebellion, hundreds of millions of our mainland compatriots are unable to enjoy the benefits of constitu­tional government. To the contrary, they are still suffering from the ravages of Communist tyran­ny. They have no freedom and no human rights. They have lost their human dignity. As we here in Taiwan bask in the glory of constitutionalism, we never cease to think of the mainland and our suffering compatriots there. It is our inescapable duty to destroy the Communists and recover the mainland at the earliest possible moment so as to convey the whole of the Constitution to the mainland and enable our com­ patriots there to join us in enjoying the fruits of constitutionalism.

You honorable members rep­resent the people of the whole country. At this extraordinary moment for the country and at this meeting, I am sure you can set your sights even higher, think things out with care and keep the changes of the situation in mind so as to encourage the government, inspire the masses of the people, forge their hearts into one and combine all their strands of strength into one great chain. This is a requirement of attaining our constitutional goal, carrying out our anti-Communist struggle and successfully completing the unchanging historic task of na­tional restoration and construc­tion. Let us join in ensuring our survival with unity, construction and development.