It was what everyone had been waiting for.
At 9:30 in the morning on July 7, 1988, Lee Teng-hui. Acting Chairman of the Kuomintang of China, entered the Chiang Kai-shek Stadium. In an instant, the hall filled with thunderous applause, representing the welcome and support of the more than 10,000 delegates.
Lee personally greeted the delegates, then moved to the chairman's stage, and announced that the Thirteenth Kuomintang Party Congress had begun.
In his keynote address, Lee stressed that the meeting carried special significance because its timing had been decided by the late party Chairman Chiang Ching-kuo. He said that the meeting showed the unity of the party and its courage to move forward.
In assessing the world situation, Lee blamed communism for the world's turbulence. He noted, on the other hand, that the R.O.C. is happy to share the fruits of the "Taiwan experience" with all peace-loving nations, and stressed that, under conditions of mutual benefit, "We will participate in international society, and accept our share of international responsibilities. . . . "
Lee especially emphasized that the KMT is a party of all the people. In order to stay close to the masses, party organization must match the demands of policy and changes in the environment, and continuously rejuvenate itself; policy must adapt to the times and reflect the hopes of the masses; action must be grounded in facts and a deep understanding of the base level; informational activity must be lively and clear, understand the heart-felt needs of the people, and serve as the communications channel between party and people; and service must be active and sincere in order for the Kuomintang to truly be a party supported by all the people.
Premier Yu Kuo-hwa followed with the political report. Reviewing the last seven years, Yu said that the party's work has followed the guidelines of the Twelfth Party Congress "to guarantee national security, social order, and the people's well being; to implement constitutional government and the democratic rule of law; and to strive to use the Three Principles of the People to reunify China."
Yu emphasized that the series of reforms undertaken in the last year, including the lifting of martial law, the establishment of the national security law, the liberalization of newspaper registration, and other measures, show the governing party's firm determination to promote political reform and social liberalization. He expressed hope that all people, regardless of party or occupation, could work within the constitution for the future of the nation and benefit of the masses.
KMT Secretary-General Lee Huan followed with his report on party affairs. After noting the main tasks of the congress and the five main topics, Lee discussed shortcomings in party work. Owing to an environment of social stability and the KMT's long-term ruling party status, it was unavoidable that the trend toward institutionalization would cause some members' attitudes to slip, and to not speak their minds within the party. He encouraged party members to be frank with each other, to discuss and resolve problems, and to build mutual trust and recognition; but most of all there must be mutual respect.
The conference agenda was taken up the second day as meetings moved to the Chungshan Building on Yangmingshan. Almost at once an important debate broke out over whether to elect the chairman by vote or by standing in support.
After the death of Chairman Chiang Ching-kuo, the Central Committee met to elect Lee Teng-hui as his acting successor. Formally electing a chairman was on the first day's agenda of the congress. It was decided by the Chairmanship Group to elect the chairman by means of standing in support of the nominee. But legislator Jaw Shau-kong believed a formal vote would be more democratic and proposed election by secret ballot. Since in Jaw's view everyone supported Lee anyway, there would be no harm in making the process more meaningful. This would enhance the significance of support for Lee.
This proposal was eventually abandoned by Jaw, though it was decided to refer the matter to the Central Committee for future consideration. After the proposal's withdrawal, Congress Chair Nieh Wen-ya asked the delegates to stand in support of Lee's nomination.
Although Jaw's proposal did not succeed, nevertheless his voice will help the process of democratization.
Another voice was that of Chiang Lien-ru, chairman of the Cheng Chung Publishing Co., who has participated in seven congresses. He proposed that the cabinet selection process should not become a sensitive political question, suggesting instead that it is a question of "political management" and that cabinet changes are a normal state of affairs in advanced democratic countries.
From July ninth to the twelfth, committees met to discuss proposals on thought and ideology, the party platform and policies, reform of party affairs, and mainland policy, which concerned the future of party and national politics. The sound of "quicken reform" was heard in every committee.
The action moved on the twelfth to the election of the Central Committee.
Never in the KMT's history from the First Party Congress in 1924 had there been such an open nomination process. In the past the chairman would nominate a slate of candidates which was then passed without objection. This congress combined the chairman's nominations with nominations made by petition from the delegates themselves.
Nomination by no means guaranteed election this time, and those not nominated by the chairman still had a chance. For the first time the delegates themselves were elected by lower levels so CC hopefuls had to stay active, creating an unprecedented competitive atmosphere.
The voting took place amidst stimulating unpredictability, beginning at two on the afternoon of the twelfth. Each delegate could include up to 180 names; remembering the names and numbers of one's choices was a test in itself. Some
At 7:20 the computer produced the results. Among the 180 members, Lee Huan received the highest number of votes with 1,055, while Tu Te-chi filled the last spot with 339.
Chen Yi-hsin, an assistant professor of American Studies at Tamkang University, praised the process as reflecting democratization within the party in that some candidates of the party center finished low or even did not make the CC at all.
The selection of the Central Standing Committee (CSC) at the first plenum of the Central Committee (held immediately after the congress) was also outstanding. The new generation made its presence felt. The entrance of a dozen men in their fifties holding master's or doctorate degrees dropped the CSC average age from 71 to 63.
While the election of the Central Committee was not the only task of the congress, it attracted the greatest interest. The obvious features of the new Central Committee are greater youth, specialization, and diversification.
On the thirteenth a final communique was issued, reaffirming the goal of reunifying China and the determination to implement a democratic constitutional government. At 5:10 in the evening, Chairman Lee delivered closing remarks, emphasizing that the goals for which all strive are, through maintaining an anti-communist stance and actions, to gain the reunification of China and the freedom and prosperity of all Chinese. To achieve this goal it is necessary to keep all of China in one's heart, and to oppose narrow regionalism or any separatist ideology.
On the fourteenth, the newly elected Central Advisory Committee and Central Committee (with alternates) met again in plenary session with the task of electing the Central Standing Committee. After everyone agreed to use the method of voting by acclamation on the nominees of the chairman, a thirty-one-member new Central Standing Committee was produced.
Because the CSC is the center of power in the party, its membership is the subject of close public scrutiny. In terms of the rankings, Premier Yu Kuo-hwa placed third, indicating that the highest levels affirm his accomplishments and hope to rely on his strength to lend stability to the current economic and political situation.
Indeed, the entry of so many new faces in the CSC has given Yu even more chips to play. The cabinet list drawn up together by Lee and Yu is already before the public, and future reform steps can be expected.
[Picture Caption]
On July 7, the Kuomintang held the opening ceremonies of the Thirteenth Party Congress at the Chiang Kai-shek Stadium in the Taipei suburb of Linkou.
Representatives of sixty-one friendly parties worldwide attended the opening ceremonies.
On the eighth, 1,176 delegates stood in support of the nomination of Lee Teng-hui as party chairman.
Hsieh Tung-min delivers the official results of the election of Lee Teng-hui as Party Chairman to the latter.
The Five Major Proposals
The five major proposals discussed at the Thirteenth Party Congress were on Ideology and Thought, Amendment of Party Rules, Party Reform, Political Platform, and Mainland Policy. Here we highlight the most important contents.
[Picture]
Representatives of sixty-one friendly parties worldwide attended the opening ceremonies.
On the eighth, 1,176 delegates stood in support of the nomination of Lee Teng-hui as party chairman.
Hsieh Tung-min delivers the official results of the election of Lee Teng-hui as Party Chairman to the latter.
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