Taiwan Today

Free China's Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) opened its Tenth National Congress at the Chungshan Building On Yangmingshan March 29, which is Youth and Martyrs' Day. President Chiang Kai-shek, who is the Party's Tsungtsai, (Director-General), spoke to the more than 1,200 delegates and observers from Taiwan, the Chinese mainland and overseas communities throughout the world. The portrait behind the rostrum is of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, founder of both the Party and the Republic of China. The Tsungtsai provided guidance during the 12 days of historic discussion and debate. The KMT made final plans for the decisive last stage of the struggle to destroy Maoist Communism, liberate the 700 million people of the Chinese mainland and assure peace for Asia and the world. Accent was on youth and technology as the Director-General nominated and the Congress elected a Standing Committee of 21 members. Six of the faces are new and four of these are in their 50s and one is in his 40s. The Congress adopted a Declaration, a platform and a number of resolutions that will be submitted to the Executive Yuan (cabinet) for the guidance of the government. Measures to further the progress of Taiwan were considered along with strategy for the defeat of Communism on the Chinese mainland

 

Top: Offering a silent prayer for the 72 martyrs who died in the revolutionary cause at Huang Hua Kang, Canton, in 1911 are (from left) Madame Chiang Kai-shek, Presidential Secretary-General Chang Chun, Examination Yuan President Sun Fo and Presidential Adviser Li Yu-ying. Right: Chen Hsin-tien, a group leader of a farm demonstration team working in the Ivory Coast, tells of the effectiveness of the aid program for Africa.

 

Top: Vice President and Prime Minister C. K. Yen (paper in hand) calls for the re-election of Chiang Kai-shek as leader of the Party; bottom, the unanimous re-election of the Tsung-tsai by acclamation of the KMT Congress.

Delegates elected 99 members and 51 alternates of the Central Committee by secret ballot. Casting their votes (top, left to right) are Defense Minister Chiang Ching-kuo, Governor Huang Chieh and Vice President C. K. Yen. The two voters above are both named Chang Tsung-liang. Both are high government officials. The youngest voter (bottom right) was Miss Wang Chia-chih, 18, a high school student

 

Tabulation of the Central Committee votes is shown below. Delegates voted for 99 members and 51 alternates from a slate of 344 nominees and the counting took time. At top right, hands are raised in approval of a new Party Charter. The office of the Deputy Director-General, last held by the late Vice President Chen Cheng, was abolished. The constitution was shortened and simplified, and new emphasis placed on grass-roots activities of the 75-year-old Party. The KMT was established as a revolutionary group and has always been free China's ruling party

 

The Chungshan Building on sometimes fog-shrouded Grass Mountain was built as a memorial to Dr. Sun Yat-sen and is used for government as well as Kuomintang meetings. The architecture combines Chinese palace style with modern infiuences. The comfortable auditorium was filled to capacity for the opening session, at which Director-General Chiang Kai-shek set the keynote of a working meeting with an unparalleled record of accomplishment. Behind the President are Dr. Sun's portait and the flag.

 

More than 30 foreign correspondents covered the Tenth National Congress. Additionally, there weresome 30 specially invited foreign guests. Sessions were open to the press and the meeting was widely reported in both the Chinese and English-language papers. The Yangmingshan grounds provided a good place for contemplation during Congress intermissions. Pavilion (top right) is part of Chungshan scene

 

Vice President C. K. Yen expressed the appreciation of the Kuomintang to women officers and cadets of the Political Staff College, who served as staff members of the Congress. The noon meal was served Chinese family style in the Chungshan dining room (bottom). The cooks came from the Combined Service Forces of the Ministry of National Defense. Overseas Chinese welcomed the opportunity to eat many provincial specialties