Taiwan Today

President Chiang Ching-kuo said administrative measures of the government are inescapably guided by the basic principles of adherence to the law, respect for human relations and acceptance of reason. The President addressed 1,200 National Assemblymen at their Constitution Day Rally in Taipei. Former President C.K. Yen, Vice President Shieh Tung-min, Premier Sun Yun-suan and the presidents of the Legislative Yuan, Judicial Yuan, Examination Yuan and Control Yuan joined in marking the 32nd anniversary of government's adoption of the Constitution. "Our progress toward democracy should be evolutionary and not imprudent; democracy must be adapted to our own national environment so it can strike root in our own soil," the President said. President Chiang Ching-kuo urged administrative personnel to contribute to a prosperous and peaceful life for the 17 million people in the Republic of China's bastion of national recovery. On another occasion, President Chiang said: "We must have determination to eliminate violent elements if we want to bring peace and prosperity to the citizenry. The violent elements are few, but if we don't eliminate them, we cannot bring prosperity and peace to the millions of people." He was addressing a Taipei symposium of chiefs of local administrations, including village chiefs, town masters, city mayors and district directors. "In the past year, we encountered many changes and troublesome incidents. But because of Premier Sun's strong, responsive and calm leadership and the joint efforts of administrative personnel and our compatriots, we have broken through all difficulties and crises," the President said. "From now on, we'll keep striving. We are confident that our struggle will succeed because justice is on our side. "We are striving for justice, and justice will never be defeated by evil." The Republic of China will buy more products from the United States this year to further narrow the trade gap between this country and its leading trading partner, Premier Y.S. Sun told a 14-member delegation of the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress. He asked the lawmakers to urge American exporters to pay more attention to the growing market in Taiwan and East Asia. American businessmen should promote the sale of their products at a more competitive level, he added. Senator Bentsen led the group in paying a call on the Premier to exchange views on trade, economic cooperation and investment. Senator Bentsen said East Asia is one of the most promising markets for the U.S. The economic situation is attractive, he added. The group also met with Economic Minister Chang Kwang-shih. It was briefed by the American Chamber of Commerce and the American Institute in Taiwan on how U.S. laws and policy affect U.S. business in this area. Improved facilities for financing American exports, incentives and obstacles created by U.S. tax policies, results of working through trade companies and centers and U.S. government regulations as impediments to export expansion were discussed at the meeting with Am-Cham members. "We suggested that the mission urge the U.S. government to re-examine the tax and anti-trust laws for overseas investment so as to increase the competitiveness of U.S. business abroad," said Robert Parker, Am-Cham president. Parker said American investors in Taiwan are under increasing pressure from West German and Japanese investors. Premier Sun told members of the National Assembly meeting on Constitution Day that the government has taken two measures that have won sympathy and respect. One is the extension of territorial waters to 12 miles and declaration of a 200-nautical-mile economic zone on September 6 to protect the interests of fishermen and reserve rights to the continental shelf. The other is acceptance of more refugees from the Indochina Peninsula and the provision of food, supplies and money. He conceded that the government is not entirely satisfied with the Taiwan Relations Act. But under the circumstances, he said, "we should strive to give fuller implementation to this act." Efforts to raise the level of substantive relations between the two countries, including wider contact between parliamentarians and civic leaders, are continuing, he added. The Premier said that contacts with European countries have been increasing in trade, culture science and technology. A number of West European countries have opened trade offices in Taiwan. Latin American states had several changes of government in 1979, but thanks to the timely measures of the government, none resulted in a loss of diplomatic relations. More than 100,000 people rallied at the Presidential Plaza New Year's morning for a flag-raising ceremony to pledge their support to the government. The largely spontaneous gathering marked the dawn of the "Year of Self-Reliance" in the Republic of China. Hours before, the 25-year-old ROC-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty ceased to exist, leaving Free China to defend itself against the Chinese Communists. Most people arrived long before the ceremony began. A senior citizen said he arrived shortly after 11 p.m. Some 300 schoolchildren from suburban Panchiao jogged to Taipei to participate. Citizens from coastal Chiaohsi in Ilan county arrived aboard chartered buses. Over 300 cadets of service schools in Taipei for the holidays arrived in twos and threes. Some just off the train had their duffle bags with them. Many families came in family cars, others by buses and taxis. A large number walked. Taxi drivers headed for the plaza gave free rides. Among government dignitaries present were Premier Y.S. Sun and Interior Minister Chiu Chuang-huan. Commentator Ting Chung-chiang, hailed for his patriotic commentaries in the wake of the Kaohsiung incident, was on hand, surrounded by admirers seeking his autograph and asking him to pose for pictures. The crowd sang patriotic songs and many had tears in their eyes. There was no speechmaking. Everyone shared the same thoughts of national self-reliance. Ninety-nine per cent of the people regarded the December 10 incident at Kaohsiung a premeditated act and 97 per cent thought the ringleaders should be prosecuted under martial law. The views were expressed in a poll conducted by the Public Opinion Survey Association from December 12 to 20. A cross-section of 510 citizens in Taipei was interviewed. Ninety-eight said the Formosa magazine should be closed for good. Sixty-two per cent advocated severe penalties for the ringleaders but without the injection of political considerations. Most respondents criticized the government for not allowing security personnel to take self-defense measures when attacked by the rioters. Some were of the view that Miss Linda Arrigo, the American wife of Shih Ming-teh, one of the ringleaders, should have been prosecuted instead of being deported. There were suggestions that religious publications and workers engaged in subversive activities should be dealt with in accordance with the law. The diehards of the ''Taidu'' (Taiwan independence) movement will put up last-ditch struggles in the months ahead before expiring, predicted a Ph. D. candidate in political science who knows the movement well. "'Taidu' will be up a dead alley in the end," said Barry Chen of George Washington University. "It's not only because of the inability of its leaders, but because the international situation is becoming more and more unfavorable." Chen cautioned that "Taidu" elements, who harassed several Republic of China offices in the United States last December, are likely to cause more trouble. "But their effects will be limited. So long as the people in Taiwan are united and remain strong, 'Taidu' elements cannot do anything," said Chen, 29, a native of Taiwan who was graduated from Fu Jen Catholic University and then earned a master's degree at the College of Chinese Culture. Visiting Taiwan, Chen said Taiwan independence is out of the question because: 1. U.S. policy opposes such a movement. 2. Russia may not support an independent Taiwan. 3. People on the mainland would support the Peiping regime in attacking Taiwan. "The U.S. has regarded Taiwan as a part of Chinese territory since World War II," Chen said. "I can recall that (former) Ambassador (to the ROC) Leonard Unger gave 'Taidu' elements a disappointing time at a reception. He said Taiwan independence would be very dangerous for the people." As for the "Russian connection," said "an independent Taiwan would have to seek the support of a superpower. In the case of Russia, the Chinese Communists might compromise on certain issues to keep the Soviets out of the Taiwan Straits." Chen said he had talked to students from the Chinese mainland studying in the U.S. and they all acknowledged the superiority of Taiwan in many respects. "They hope to learn from the experiences here. If Taiwan declares independence, people on the mainland will support the Peiping regime in attacking Taiwan." Chen identified "Taidu" organizations in the U.S. There are four main factions with the Taiwan Independence Movement headquartered in New York as the oldest, largest and most radical. Its leader, Chang Tsan-hung, advocates violence after the patterns of Iran or Nicaragua. The New York-based Majority Rule is headed by Huang Chang-hui, former head of the Presbyterian Church in southern Taiwan. The Democratic Alliance in Washington, D.C., is led by former Provincial Assemblyman Kuo Yu-hsin and is the newest. The Socialist Taiwan Independence Movement is headed by Hung Che-sheng and headquartered in New York. How many members do they have? "I estimate that among the nearly 300,000 persons from Taiwan in the United States less than one-fifth are of the four factions, and I may overestimate their strength," Chen said. He described the leadership of the factions as "good at making propaganda but bad in capability and greedy for power." The leaders do not work but have cars and houses and live well. "Where did they get the money?" Chen asked. Financial support comes from residual funds and money they raise, including contributions from Peiping and foreigners. Registered with U.S. authorities as "revolutionary groups," the four factions have lost their popularity despite increased activities after establishment of Peiping-Washington relations, Chen said. Their attempt to organize a united front policy after the Kaohsiung incident was a failure, he maintained. When they organized a demonstration in New York, estimated attendance was cut from 10,000 to 500. Then only 300 showed up. Free China is augmenting its defensive capability, including development of a medium-range ground-to-ground missile, according to Taipei newspaper reports. Informed sources said the missile will have a range of 960 kilometers and could reach Canton, Foochow, Shanghai or Nanking. The missile program was first unveiled with showing of the Hsiung Feng during the National Day military parade last October. A Control Yuan report mentioned short-range missiles designated as the Ching Feng and Kun Wu. The press reports said missiles are equipped with sophisticated electronic monitors capable of detecting Red Chinese aircraft movements as far away as Sinkiang. Other defense breakthroughs include development of a combat jet for close ground support, an infantry combat vehicle and a fast attack boat. For the development of these and other armaments, the government appropriated a special fund of NT$5.2 billion. The Ministry of National Defense lined up civilian industries to support ordnance plants in making spare parts. Premier Y.S. Sun said the goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in three years. Military experts said development of missiles is important because the government has ruled out nuclear weapons. Experts said the Chinese Communists have a formidable nuclear arsenal and missiles targeted on Taiwan. The ROC missiles may provide deterrence. Military men were disappointed by Washington's rejection of requests to buy advanced weapons for self-defense. "The first batch of weapons and equipment which the U.S. government has decided to sell us after the one-year moratorium on arms sales does not entirely meet our defense needs," said a military source. Conspicuously absent from the list of U.S. weapons are advanced types of fighter planes. The Republic of China has requested F4s, F16s or F18s. Washington withheld sale of these aircraft for fear of offending the Chinese Communists. Free China does not have aircraft with sufficient range to attack staging areas on the mainland in the case of an invasion attempt. Additionally, Chinese Communist air forces are at least 10 times larger than those of the Republic of China. A decisive qualitative superiority is essential. Approved by the Executive Yuan was the proposed election and recall law. These are highlights: —Application to general and local elections. —Establishment of a permanent nonpartisan election office. —No upper age limit on candidates. Candidates for mayor and magistrate must be at least 30, village chiefs 25, legislators 23 and Control Yuan members 35. There is no restriction on candidates from labor unions and farmers' and fishermen's associations. —Candidates may hold campaign meetings of their own. There is no restriction on the number of meetings a candidate may hold but there is a time limit of two hours. The government will sponsor meetings for candidates to air their views en masse. Campaign workers may not support two candidates. Police and students may not engage in campaigning. Obstruction of law and incitement to violence are prohibited. —Disputes will be settled in the courts and results may be appealed. Adjudication must be within three months. —Contributions by foreigners and foreign organizations are proscribed. Candidates must make public their campaign expenses. The Legislative Yuan is expected to pass the bill. Partial general elections scheduled for December 23, 1978, then postponed following U.S. announcement of derecognition as of January 1, 1979, will be held at an appropriate time with more seats made available. President Chiang Ching-kuo and other government officials have said the elections will be held when conditions warrant. Officials have begun studying the possibility of sending more new members to the Legislative Yuan, the National Assembly and the Control Yuan. On December 23, 1978, 53 seats in the Legislative Yuan were to be filled: 38 from the Taiwan-Penghu area and the two offshore island groups of Kinmen and Matsu and 15 from overseas Chinese communities. The initial proposal is to raise the number to 90 or 100. The Control Yuan was to get 15 new members by vote of the Taipei City Council, the Taiwan Provincial Assembly and overseas Chinese. Three were to be elected by the Taipei City Council, 7 by the Provincial Assembly and 5 by overseas Chinese communities. Proposals call for an increase. For one thing, Kaohsiung City, which, was elevated to the status of special municipality July 1, 1979, is entitled to elect at least three members to the Control Yuan. The National Assembly increase would be from the 56 seats at stake in the postponed election. Opening of the North Link Railroad between Suao and Hualien to traffic February 1 marked completion of the 10 Major Construction Projects. Under construction since December 25, 1973, the 81.3-kilometer railroad with its 15 tunnels and 22 bridges cost NT$7.3 billion. There are 14 stations along the route and time for the journey is 2¹/₂hours, 1¹/₂ hours less than by road. Engineers and workmen encountered many problems in tunneling through the mountains. Twenty died in landslides and other accidents. The Ministry of Communications will tackle 10 more transportation projects in fiscal 1981 beginning next July. This is the breakdown: —Kaohsiung-Taitung railway: Construction is expected to start in July and be completed in June of 1986. The first stage will cost NT$744 million. —Purchase of equipment and repair and maintenance of existing railway facilities: NT$916 million. —Laying of double track in Ilan County at a cost of NT$1.8 billion. —Underground railway in Taipei to be completed in 1985. The first stage is budgeted at NT$200 million. —Purchase of 225 buses for Taipei. Maintenance shops will be renovated. Total cost is NT$1.47 billion. —Construction of a vehicle registration and inspection office in Taipei for NT$67 million. —Construction of a traffic control system in Taipei at a cost of NT$300 million for the first stage. —Portside tunnel in Kaohsiung. Construction will begin in August and be completed in February, 1983. The first stage will cost NT$568 million. —Construction or expansion of airports at Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Hengchun and Taitung. —Mass transit projects to be undertaken by the Ministry of Communications and the Provincial Department of Communications at a cost of NT$40 million. Agents of the Republic of China were especially active on the mainland last year thanks to popular support and growing chaos there. Pai Wang-hsiang, director of the Kuomintang Central Committee's Department of Mainland Operations, promised to make deeper penetrations of the enemy's heartland to pave the way for mainland recovery. Speaking on "Mainland Development and Mainland Operations" at a Sun Yat-sen memorial service, Pai said 1979 was the busiest period for government agents in the last three years. "The valuable information obtained has enabled us to understand the enemy better," he said. Pai said the government operatives also suffered their heaviest casualties last year. He did not disclose the figures. He said the information obtained indicates the commune system now exists in name only. Pai listed these findings: —Ideological wavering accompanied by unofficial demaoification and doubts about the workability of the Communist system. —Continued power struggle within the party structure from top to bottom. —Political retreat as reflected in abolition of the "new-born things" of the "cultural revolution" era. —Economic relaxation which has further eroded Communist ideology and impaired prestige of the Communist system. —Growing social disturbance reflected in rising crime rates and the demand for democracy and freedom. —Stepped-up peace moves against the Republic of China and the wooing of the democratic camp, creating ideological confusion among the rank and file of the party. —Longing for the better life of Taiwan as reflected in many wall posters. Fishery output will reach 1,500,000 tons annually after a five-year fishing port construction program is completed. Governor Lin Yang-kang said the program calls for construction or expansion of 48 fishing ports and 36 coves. In the last three years, the government has built or repaired 15 fishing ports and 12 coves. A parallel move calls for expansion of the fishing fleet, the governor said. At the end of 1979, the number of fishing vessels reached 13,200 with displacement of 43,000 tons. In view of the extension of territorial seas and proclamation of maritime economic zones, the Republic of China has signed fishing agreements with the United States and the Republic of South Africa. Additionally, the government has helped private fishing companies to sign cooperative agreements with Morocco, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand. Reporting to the Commission for the Recovery of the Chinese Mainland, Governor Lin said the income gap between farmers and nonagricultural workers has been steadily widening. To remedy the situation, the government has boosted its investment in agricultural facilities and promote mechanization. The provincial administration also has taken steps to stabilize the price of farm produce and protect the interests of agricultural workers, Governor Lin said. His report also said: —In the government's anti-corruption drive, 360 civil servants were penalized for grafting in 1979. —School attendance has increased to 99.66 per cent at the primary school level and 94.98 per cent at the junior middle school level. —Crime is rising but is a fraction of that in developed countries. —Social welfare will receive top attention with emphasis on the care of the young and the aged. Major agricultural products have maintained steady growth in the last year to meet strong demand in the domestic market, the Council for Agricultural Planning and Development said. Agricultural growth was estimated at 2.1 per cent in 1979, over the projected target of 1.9 per cent. The production of major products was as follows: —Rice: 2,430,000 metric tons, down from 1978 but 80,000 tons more than the target. —Hogs: 6,500,000 head, 500,000 over the target. —Non-rice grains: Down slightly from 1978. —Vegetables: On the target of 2,700,000 tons. —Cash crops: Bananas, pineapples and sugar cane up, asparagus on target and mushrooms down slightly. —Fishery products: Increase in deep sea, coastal and culture fishery, decline in the coastal catch. Output exceeded the target of 920,000 tons. Every village and li (the smallest administrative district in cities) will have telephones by June of this year, according to the Taiwan Telecommunications Administration of the Ministry of Communications. Telephones had been installed in 7,167 villages and li by the end of 1979. Only 72 villages and li need phones. Installations have begun but will not be completed until June because some are in inaccessible mountain areas. The cost is high. About 80 per cent of the cost is shouldered by the Central Government, 16 per cent by the Taiwan Provincial Government and 4 per cent by local government. More than 120 food experts from the United States, Japan, Canada, India and the Philippines together with 600 local technicians attended a symposium in Taipei. Premier Y.S. Sun said the Republic of China is formulating plans for scientific and technological development and orchestrating the efforts of academic research institutions. Economic Minister Chang Kwang-shih said the Republic of China is establishing a modern food processing industry. He said: "First, as our people become more affluent, the demand for better and more nutritious food becomes stronger. Second, the new eating habits of most people require food in convenient form. Third, it is of utmost importance economically to upgrade and improve agricultural products for better utilization as food or feed. "To ensure the export of farm produce, we have to offer products of the highest quality. You may be interested to know that the Republic of China imports more than 5 million tons of grains annually for food and feed." Robert Lee, chairman of the Council for Agricultural Planning and Development, briefed the participants on the food processing industry. It consists of: —Rice grinding, sugar refining and flour milling. In 1978, flour production totaled 480,000 M.T. and sugar and its products amounted to 1,060,000 M.T. Sugar earned US$74 million in foreign exchange. —Livestock and products. Statistics of the 1978 Business and Industry Survey showed livestock slaughtered was valued at US$117 million, dairy products at US$42 million and feed at US$680 million. Most of the products are for the domestic market. —Canned and frozen foods and tea. With the largest labor force, these industries have a vital bearing upon agricultural development and farm income. —Edible oils, condiments and biscuits. Massive grain imports and modernization of equipment have led to rapid growth. —Fruit juices, beverages and cigarettes. Demand has surged as a consequence of rising national income. Taipei City unveiled the principal features of the long-heralded "Hsinyi Project," a city within the city. Lin Chiang-tsai, director of the Department of Urban Planning, said the project had been referred to the Ministry of Interior for approval. Located in the Sungshan District, the 153-hectare area is bordered by Chunghsiao East Road in the north, Keelung Road in the west, and Thumb Mountain in the south and west. Lin said the project will be completed by 1991. Major buildings will include those of the Taipei City Government, Taipei City Council and Taiwan World Trade Center. Commercial districts totaling 34 hectares will be scattered along a 30-meter belt on Keelung Road. The residential district covers an area of 57 hectares. High rise apartments will be able to accommodate 55,000 residents. Parks and green belts will occupy 13 hectares. There will be three public squares with a combined area of over six hectares. Parking lots and filling stations will be built under these. Other public facilities will include a big hospital, two primary schools, two junior middle schools and a highway bus terminal. About 65 per cent of the land belongs to the government. Land consolidation will be applied to the private plots to ensure utilization. The public land is occupied by an ordnance factory, a military auto repair shop and a military auto plant. These facilities will be moved out in the next few years.