For more than one year, President Chiang Ching-kuo has steered the ship of state of the Republic of China successfully through treacherous seas. The wisdom and perseverance of the great leader has firmly directed the nation toward the goal of victory in a spirit of vigor and confidence. In fact, the changes in the world situation which have adversely affected the Republic of China have only served to emphasize the outstanding leadership of the President and his guidelines for life－never fear suffering, never fear hardship, and never fear danger. Vice President Shieh Tung-min once said that the quality in the President he admires most is that he never panics under any circumstances. This temperament has been cultivated through dozens of years of strict self-disciplines.

President Chiang Ching-kuo was born on March 18, 1910, at Fenghua in Chekiang province. He is the elder son of the late President Chiang Kai-shek, and has been nurtured and instructed by his father all his life. At the age of 12, the late President Chiang urged him to study Shui Wen Chieh Tzu (a classical etymological dictionary) which he said would be of great help in increasing his son's ability to express himself. The following year, he advised Chiang Ching-kuo to study Erh Ya, an ancient book containing commentaries on classics and names, the Four Books, especially Mencius, and the collection of Wang Yang-ming's works, as well as to extend his practice of Chinese calligraphy.

In October 1925, when the President was 15 years old, his father sent him to Moscow, where he studied at the Sun Yat-sen University. Fearful his son would neglect Chinese traditional ethical philosophy and the national founding spirit, the late President encouraged him to study Dr. Sun Yat-sen's teachings as well as Ching (the classics), Shih (history), Tzu (philosophy) and Chi (literary works). At the same time, to inculcate the idea of serving the nation and society in his son's mind, the late President advised him not only to study the Book of Changes and the writings of Tseng Wen-tseng and Hu Lin-yi, but also to learn English and gain an understanding of mathematics. The late President was very careful in choosing his son's friends and teachers and in improving his living environment, placing special emphasis on "filial piety," a virtue which brings harmony to the family, and which in turn is the basis of the unity of a nation. "Sincerity," another virtue treasured by the late President, was also adopted by his son as the basic principle in dealing with people and shaping events.

Under his father's tutelage, President Chiang Ching-kuo not only absorbed the essence of Chinese traditional ethics, politics, culture and philosophy, but also came to accept completely his father's philosophy of the universe and life. He is determined to sacrifice everything for the wellbeing and progress of the people and the independence and freedom of the nation.

Not until April of 1936 did the Russian Communists allow President Chiang to return to China. During his 12-year stay in Russia, he suffered all kinds of trials and tribulations. When he was banished by Stalin to the cold wastes of Siberia, he developed fortitude in the face of adversity and acquired his diligent approach to life. His perception of the inhumanity of Communism fortified his anti-Communist thinking, determination and faith.

When the late President Chiang gave orders to purge the Communists from China in 1928, and decided to suspend diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, Chiang Ching-kuo was kept in Moscow as a hostage by Stalin. In the interests of the nation, the late President was even prepared to sacrifice his own son.

President Chiang's political career began in 1939 during the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japan, when he was named administrative commissioner for southern Kiangsi province. Working at the basic levels, he came to understand the sufferings of the people and exhausted himself in his efforts to help overcome their difficulties. As well as being a planner President Chiang is also a man of action. During the Chinese Communist attempt to seize Kinmen in October 1949 and during the Battle of the Taiwan Straits that opened with the saturation shelling of Kinmen on August 23, 1958, he traveled to the offshore island despite the danger from heavy artillery fire. He visited pillboxes to convey the concern of the highest authorities to soldiers on the frontlines.

When he was named Premier of the Republic of China, he encouraged Cabinet members with these words: "Be ordinary, common and plain." He urged government employees to adopt the concept of "living for work, not working to live" as their principle in serving the people. President Chiang assumed the premiership at the most critical moment in the history of the Republic of China. The country has just lost its seat at the United Nations; the tides of appeasement were surging high. Subsequently, the country was plunged into grief by the passing of President Chiang Kai-shek. The people of the whole nation were looking for a strong and powerful leader to help them overcome difficulties and open up a new horizon. Premier Chiang was the obvious choice for this role; he was the man on whom the people could rest their hopes.

During his tenure as Premier, Chiang Ching-kuo kept close watch on global political and economic developments, and courageously undertook the 10 Major Construction Projects. In view of world turmoil and economic decline and the limits of domestic financial ability, this was an audacious move. Most experts and scholars believed that the 10 Projects could not be successfully carried out. As a result of Chiang Ching-kuo's determined and intelligent leadership, all of the projects were launched, one after another. During the 1973-74 period of worldwide inflation and economic stagnation, the 10 Projects stimulated other undertakings, provided large numbers of jobs, and reduced the severity of the recession. Anew program of Twelve Projects will carry on some of the Ten projects and add new ones for construction in the 1980s. President Chiang's aim is to achieve developed status for the Republic of China within the coming decade.

With the full support of the people, Chiang Ching-kuo was inaugurated as the President of the Republic of China May 20 1978. As well as visiting soldiers on the frontlines, he still seeks out the people and communicates with them frequently on farms and in factories, shops, schools, camps, government organizations and in the streets. Wherever he goes, the people stretch out their hands, vying for a handshake with Chiang Ching-kuo or a chance to chat with him. He invariably wears a wide smile. The President is always deeply attentive to public opinion. He relies on the people to identify their problems, and discovers the solutions through the ideas of the people.

The people's support for his administrative policy was fully reflected by the islandwide donation campaign launched after the suspension of diplomatic relations by the United States. Using some NT$3.2 billion (US$90 million) of funds donated by patriotic citizens, 18 F5E fighters have been purchased and organized into a self-reliance air force squadron to guard the nation. All citizens are confident that under the leadership of President Chiang Ching-kuo, the Three Principles of the People will be realized, the Chinese mainland will be recovered, national culture revived and a democratic political system assured.

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President Chiang Ching-kuo always feels at home with the younger generation.

Clockwise from above: President Chiang shakes hands warmly with overseas Chinese tourists at Hualien on the scenic east coast of Taiwan. President Chiang often mingles with members of the armed forces and usually attends service academy graduation ceremonies. One unfailing destination for the President each summer is Cheng Kung Ling, or the Hill of Success.

President Chiang meets many young people in the course of his travels. Picture above shows the President posing for a picture with students on a vacation at the Hsitou forest recreation center.

President Chiang visits fruit farms to show his concern for the harvest and living conditions of the farmers.

Above: President Chiang during a tour of a fishing boat at Suao harbor on the northeast coast of Taiwan.

Left: President Chiang learns how to fill and fold a Chinese dumpling, one of the tastiest snacks in any cook's repertoire. Below: The sick are not forgotten in the course of President Chiang's travels among the people. He stops frequently at small rural hospitals and is especially solicitous over patients who have served in the armed forces.

Clockwise from far left: The president learned to love the mountains from his father and often retreats into them to seek rest and solace; looking at the work of Chang Dai-chien, famed for his paintings; planting a tree to observe Arbor Day; and like any other fisherman, the President waits hopefully for a nibble.

Clockwise from above: President Chiang shakes hands warmly with overseas Chinese tourists at Hualien on the scenic east coast of Taiwan. President Chiang often mingles with members of the armed forces and usually attends service academy graduation ceremonies. One unfailing destination for the President each summer is Cheng Kung Ling, or the Hill of Success.

President Chiang often mingles with members of the armed forces and usually attends service academy graduation ceremonies. One unfailing destination for the President each summer is Cheng Kung Ling, or the Hill of Success.

President Chiang often mingles with members of the armed forces and usually attends service academy graduation ceremonies. One unfailing destination for the President each summer is Cheng Kung Ling, or the Hill of Success.

President Chiang often mingles with members of the armed forces and usually attends service academy graduation ceremonies. One unfailing destination for the President each summer is Cheng Kung Ling, or the Hill of Success.

President Chiang meets many young people in the course of his travels. Picture above shows the President posing for a picture with students on a vacation at the Hsitou forest recreation center.

President Chiang visits fruit farms to show his concern for the harvest and living conditions of the farmers.

President Chiang visits fruit farms to show his concern for the harvest and living conditions of the farmers.

Above: President Chiang during a tour of a fishing boat at Suao harbor on the northeast coast of Taiwan.

Left: President Chiang learns how to fill and fold a Chinese dumpling, one of the tastiest snacks in any cook's repertoire. Below: The sick are not forgotten in the course of President Chiang's travels among the people. He stops frequently at small rural hospitals and is especially solicitous over patients who have served in the armed forces.

Left: President Chiang learns how to fill and fold a Chinese dumpling, one of the tastiest snacks in any cook's repertoire. Below: The sick are not forgotten in the course of President Chiang's travels among the people. He stops frequently at small rural hospitals and is especially solicitous over patients who have served in the armed forces.

Clockwise from far left: The president learned to love the mountains from his father and often retreats into them to seek rest and solace; looking at the work of Chang Dai-chien, famed for his paintings; planting a tree to observe Arbor Day; and like any other fisherman, the President waits hopefully for a nibble.

Clockwise from far left: The president learned to love the mountains from his father and often retreats into them to seek rest and solace; looking at the work of Chang Dai-chien, famed for his paintings; planting a tree to observe Arbor Day; and like any other fisherman, the President waits hopefully for a nibble.

Clockwise from far left: The president learned to love the mountains from his father and often retreats into them to seek rest and solace; looking at the work of Chang Dai-chien, famed for his paintings; planting a tree to observe Arbor Day; and like any other fisherman, the President waits hopefully for a nibble.

Clockwise from far left: The president learned to love the mountains from his father and often retreats into them to seek rest and solace; looking at the work of Chang Dai-chien, famed for his paintings; planting a tree to observe Arbor Day; and like any other fisherman, the President waits hopefully for a nibble.