Taiwan tries to solve problems of history

Press, 8 November 1986, Page 38

Taiwan tries to solve problems of history

By

Andrew Browne

of Reuters (through NZPA) Taipei A smiling portrait of Chiang Kai-shek gazes down from the presidential office in Taipei. The figure of Taiwan’s former leader still looms over this island of 19 million people, his face appearing on souvenir neckties, in taxis, on petrol pumps and in boardrooms. But as Taiwan celebrates the centenary of his birth, the Government is still grappling to solve the problems of history Chiang left behind. In 1949, Chiang led his Nationalist Government to Taiwan after defeat in civil war by the Communists in China. His dream was to return to power in China, but that dream is fading. Chiang’s political successors, led by his son, Chiang Ching-kuo, are left with the reality of ruling Taiwan, and must face a

population that has not fully accepted mainland Chinese masters. Native Taiwanese form 85 per cent of Taiwan’s population and are the backbone of the political opposition. In a bid to gain more popular support and satisfy the political aspirations of native Taiwanese, the ruling Kuomintang (Nationalist) party has embarked on a programme of democratic reform.

The Kuomintang Party announced in October that it would drop martial law, which has been in force since 1949, and lift a ban on new political parties. It also promised to open more seats in central Government to election.

“If the Kuomintang does not share power, it could lead to revolution on Taiwan,” said Hu Fu, Professor of Politics at National Taiwan University.

Political analysts said the dilemma facing the

party was how to preserve the myth that it rules China while developing democratic Government on Taiwan.

Taiwan’s legislative and executive bodies are still dominated by ageing members elected 40 years ago on the Chinese mainland who claim to represent constituencies there. On average, one dies every week. The Kuomintang is agonising over the problem of how to fill the seats.

“It’s a very difficult question,” Ma Soo-lay, the Secretary-General of the Kuomintang told Reuters. “We are still a national government, so there must be some representation from mainland China.” For Taiwan, it is a life-and-death matter: Peking has repeatedly stated that it will not accept independence for the island, which it regards as part of China.

Pressure for political

change has come as Taiwan is rapidly transforming itself into an industrial society with an affluent and well-edu-cated middle-class that is demanding greater political clout. Over the last several months, opposition politicians have pushed the Kuomintang to the limits of its patience by creating a political party and organising a string of illegal demonstrations.

“Values have changed,” said a Western political analyst. “Chiang Kai-shek was seen as a god. Everything he did was perfect and nobody dared question him.”

He said Chiang Chingkuo could not command the same authority as his father, who died in 1975, and the power of his party had declined, although it was still a formidable organisation. Government officials privately admit that Chiang Ching-kuo faces intense opposition.