The Republic of China is busy with preparations for the celebration of its 70th founding anniversary. Among the various activities, perhaps the most significant is the holding of a national congress by the ruling party.

The 12th National Congress of the Kuomintang of China was opened in Taipei on March 29, a day marking the sacrifice of 70 outstanding martyrs. In his opening address, President Chiang Ching-kuo, Chairman of the party, urged party members to emulate the spirit of the great revolutionaries. He said: "Our country can remain as strong as a rock and stand as firm as a mountain only because our comrades shed their blood, laid down their lives and moved courageously forward. Never under any circumstances has our party abandoned its principles. Nor has it bent under any pressure. All of us are proud of our martyrs as we gather here to pay tribute to their great deeds."

The meeting took place against a promising backdrop. The Reagan Administration has assumed a tougher attitude toward Communism. The Chinese Communist regime is tottering on the brink of bankruptcy. The people on the Chinese mainland have lost confidence in the future of Communism, and are aspiring for the prosperity as experienced in Taiwan, which is about to join the ranks of developed nations.

The President admonished party comrades that "We should never wait for the Chinese Communist regime to die a natural death." One of the aims of the Kuomintang National Congress was to chart a new course for action in unifying China under Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People.

There were 861 representatives attending the congress, including 571 elected in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, 220 from abroad, and 70 invited from the Chinese mainland.

The meeting adopted six central resolutions: 1) The amendment of the party constitution, pledging that the Kuomintang will enlarge its foundation and unite with the people. 2) The platform of the Kuomintang of China, setting forth the approaches for carrying out the great task of national recovery and reconstruction. 3) Unification of China under the Three Principles of the People, establishing the general line for national recovery and a model to solve the China issue once and for all. 4) Renaissance of Chinese culture and implementation of democracy, affirming the party's determination to carry out democracy. 5) The furtherance of economic development based on Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Principle of Social Welfare, serving as a guideline for economic development and social progress. 6) Strengthening of the party's organization, action, sacrificial spirit and determination to serve the people, intended to create a new image for the party through dedication to the interests of the people.

At the end of the eight-day meeting, the party caucus issued a manifesto, in which it advised the free world not to substitute negotiation for confrontation in dealing with the Communists. The manifesto said:

"The bitter experience of our party in the struggle against the Communists for the last more than 50 years has taught us that the evil force of Communism is the root cause of all world trouble and turmoil. We are aware that the anti-Communist struggle is one between two totally different systems of thought, social institutions and ways of life. There is not the slightest possibility of compromise. Although the democratic countries can tolerate the existence of Communist influence, Communist influence can never tolerate the existence of the free and democratic system.

"In recent years, some democratic countries have attempted to substitute negotiation for confrontation and to gain temporary peace with concessions. As a result, Communist influence has expanded unprecedentedly in Southeast Asia, the Near and Middle East, Africa and Latin America. This critical expansion threatens to destroy the balance of military power that has provided the free world with its breathing spell.

"The free world is now permeated with the illusion that association with the Chinese Communist regime can checkmate Soviet Russia. In actuality, the antagonism between Peiping and Moscow is a struggle for hegemony in the Communist bloc. Whatever the contradictions or conflicts, these two have similar ideologies, systems and world goals. The enemy of an enemy is not necessarily a friend. The only way open to the democratic nations requires them to strengthen their unity, summon their formidable power and take determined action. They cannot afford to rely on internal contradictions and conflicts within the Communist bloc for their survival.

"Furthermore, the road to alignment with the Chinese Communists against Russia is fraught with danger and pitfalls. The relationship between Peiping and Moscow is continuously changing. Today the Chinese Communists array themselves against Russia, but who can guarantee that tomorrow they will not line up with Russia against the United States? Democratic nations should distinguish the real friend from the real foe, recognize their long-term interests and immediately abandon the mistaken strategic idea of associating with the Chinese Communists.

"We have total understanding that the China problem is the centerpiece of the Asia problem and also the core of the world problem. So long as the Chinese mainland is controlled by the Communists, it poses a critical danger to the peace of Asia and the free world. The only way to solve the China problem is to eradicate Communist influence on the mainland. This is consistent with the aspirations of the Chinese people and the long-range interests of the free world. The Republic of China will do everything in its power to solve the China problem, contributing its strength from beginning to end. We hope the free world will give us full moral support to assure the early advent of a democratic, free and unified China."

"We are glad to note that the U.S. government, on which other democratic countries pin their hopes, has moved from confusion to sobriety in handling the world crisis. The long depressed people of the world have been encouraged by vigorous U.S. efforts to build up its arsenal for defending freedom and democracy. The Republic of China, which is in a key position in the Asian-Pacific region, has steadfastly held out on the frontline of anti-Communism. We shall continue to demonstrate our moral courage and uphold our anti-Communist responsibility to the end."

[Picture Caption]

Left: The 12th National Congress of the Kuomintang was held at Chungshan Building on Yangmingshan, Taipei. Right: President Chiang Ching-kuo addressing the meeting in his capacity as chairman of the party.

The 12th National Congress adopted a resolution to "Unify China under the Three Principles of the People." Right: After the congress, the Central Committee became the party's highest authority. Members of the committee were elected by delegates to the congress through secret ballots, which were tallied by computer.

President Chiang Ching-kuo addressing the meeting in his capacity as chairman of the party.

The 12th National Congress adopted a resolution to "Unify China under the Three Principles of the People.".

After the congress, the Central Committee became the party's highest authority. Members of the committee were elected by delegates to the congress through secret ballots, which were tallied by computer.