Kuan Chung, chairman of the Taipei City Committee of the Nationalist Party (KMT), the Republic of China's ruling party, is a leader in reform and improvement of the party's service to the people of the Republic of China. Kuan introduced management techniques from the business world to streamline the party's internal administration, and is a constant champion of reform. He learns from critics, and strives to win respect for the party from more and more people by continued improvements.

Kuan believes, "Patriotism is the highest morality, the finest expression of human character, and the greatest happiness." He was born in Feng-ch'eng, in northeast mainland China. He adopted his view of patriotism as a youth when he experienced the War of Resistance against Japan.

Kuan Chung attended university in Taiwan, and after his military service began working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He then won an undreamed-of opportunity, a Sun Yat-sen scholarship for study abroad. He studied at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States, and thoroughly enjoyed "hitting the books." Initially, he disagreed with the school's view of his homeland, but he took full advantage of the school's resources to conduct advanced research on mainland China affairs. He wrote a number of papers dealing with that topic, earning two master's degrees in the process.

After he returned to the Republic of China he became active in KMT work. He rose steadily in the party hierarchy, and today his education and experience inform his viewpoint on a variety of subjects.

One of his views is that "reform should be reasonable; there isn't any totally perfect government in the world. Of course our government also has faults, but there are no errors in its major policy emphases." He also asserts, "Throughout the world and throughout history, every form of political thought has ostensibly sought to improve the lives of the people. And over thirty years we have done just that. Any gambling with the welfare, safety, or even the lives of Taiwan's eighteen million people just can't be permitted."

"'The Nationalist Party will always be with the people' should not be just a slogan, but a program to carry out. Due to social progress here, people's expectations of the ruling party are rising higher and higher; thus the KMT must innovate all the time to meet society's needs and to spur social progress."

The Nationalist Party founded the Republic of China, and organized the Northern Expedition which unified warlord-torn China in the 1920s, and fought in the War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945). Kuan points out that the people who lived through that chaotic and war-filled age understand the importance and the role of the KMT, but those who have grown up in the past three decades amid Taiwan's atmosphere of peace and security are not so clear on the meaning of the party. Kuan believes he should contribute his ability to concretely demonstrate that the KMT is an open and aboveboard, positive and progressive political party, in the hope all party members will regard their membership as a personal asset.

Discussing the upcoming legislative elections in the Republic of China, Kuan stresses two points:

First, in an election the process is more important than the results.

"I'm not saying the results aren't important, but that I fear the idea of letting the ends justify the means. From the standpoint of democratic government, the process is always more important than the results, since the results are unpredictable.

"In the long run, it's much more important for the KMT to set an example in maintaining fair, democratic elections than to get more party members elected by whatever means. I believe that if the process is good, the results will be too. And if the results aren't good, it must be a problem in the process, that requires self-examination and correction."

Second, being nominated by the party is not the same as being elected. In the past, some people in the ruling party felt a loss of face when its candidates weren't elected. This view resulted in such faults as prospective nominees relying on party connections to fight for the nomination, and only doing superficial campaign work. Therefore, they were not prepared to effectively serve their constituents if elected. Since Kuan entered his post of leadership, he has incessantly exhorted KMT members to change the idea that being nominated is tantamount to being elected. Kuan says, "Those in the party who want to get elected should go out and seek votes, and do grassroots work to earn people's support. If the candidates aren't able to attract their own votes, the party can't do a thing to help them."

While Kuan pursues reform and improvement, he sometimes encounters obstacles, a difficulty he explains with the words of the Italian Renaissance political thinker, Niccolo Machiavelli: "In the world's affairs, nothing is harder to achieve than reform and innovation--the chance of success is less, and the execution is more dangerous. The reformer will always encounter the fervent opposition of those benefitted by the old order, while he only gets the lukewarm support of those who would benefit from the new order. The timidity of the latter is partly because they fear the reprisals of the powerful, and partly because all mankind is skeptical about things that have not yet been personally experienced."

Kuan perceives in his party's deliberations about candidate selection a twofold task: finding qualified persons who enjoy popular support. If faced with a choice of one or the other, what does he do? Kuan says, "Since elections are basic to democracy, the most important thing is to respect the will of the people. Democracy must work from below to above, otherwise the system will turn into an oligarchy run by a small elite, and not be able to represent the will of the people. Of course it's best if the nominee doesn't just have popular support, but also technical knowledge to contribute. But if we can't have both, we should follow the will of the people. If perhaps some party candidates aren't qualified enough, that's a necessary stage to go through. We are trying to find candidates of various backgrounds, to represent different interest groups. And we try to see they don't defeat one another in the election." (Each electoral district can elect several legislators, and the KMT enters more than one candidate per district.)

Regarding future development of the party, Kuan thinks that education is an important area. He feels the party must make sure young people are aware of the party's history, and of its many accomplishments. The party is large, he notes, and must continually examine itself to see whether any problem may have cropped up unseen. He hopes all members of the KMT will join together in diligently carrying out the work of improving the party as it enters the future.

[Picture Caption]

Left. After the chairman of the Taipei City Committee of the Nationalist Party (KMT), Kuan Chung, entered office, he promoted numerous reform measures, and received considerable notice. Right. Kuan Chung's family.

Above. Kuan attended the Nan Kang District party cadre conference, and encouraged everyone to do good grass-roots service work. Below. Kuan and his wife attended the Taipei City Women's Group Leaders' conference.

Above. Kuan strongly emphasizes grass-roots activity, and often meets the people. Below. Kuan sends a cash gift to console a family that encountered an accident and suffered financial difficulties.

Right. Kuan Chung's family.

Above. Kuan attended the Nan Kang District party cadre conference, and encouraged everyone to do good grass-roots service work.

Below. Kuan and his wife attended the Taipei City Women's Group Leaders' conference.

Above. Kuan strongly emphasizes grass-roots activity, and often meets the people.

Below. Kuan sends a cash gift to console a family that encountered an accident and suffered financial difficulties.