"Advance and advance again, break through and break through again." This was the expectation offered by President Lee Teng-hui in his capacity as chairman of the Kuomintang at the closing ceremonies of last July's Thirteenth Party Congress. Looking back over the tumultuous last year, the reform steps of the ruling party have quickened.

In politics, the Legislative Yuan completed work on the Civic Organizations Law, the revised Law of Election and Recall of Public Officials, and the Law on Voluntary Retirement of Senior Parliamentarians. In foreign policy, there was the establishment of relations with the Bahamas, the exchange of visits by the leaders of the ROC and Singapore, and the upgrading of substantive relations with many countries. In mainland policy, Minister of Finance Shirley Kuo, in her capacity as a Director of the Asian Development Bank, led a delegation to Peking to participate in the ADB's annual meeting. In addition, several important laws were passed, including principles for import of agricultural products form the mainland, regulations for applications for mainland compatriots to come to Taiwan to attend funerals or visit ill relatives, provisions for outstanding persons or overseas students from the mainland to come to Taiwan, and the broadening of the rules for people from Taiwan to visit relatives in the mainland (including allowing reporters and teachers and education administrators to go). In terms of promotional strategy, the activities of leading Kuomintang figures visiting localities and the "keep the nation's flag in our hearts" campaign have changed the past relatively serious, dispassionate image of the KMT.

The second plenum of the Thirteenth Party Congress officially opened at 9:00 A.M. on June 3. Chairman Lee Teng-hui sternly pointed out that there is only one China and it must be reunified. The ultimate goal of the foreign policy of the ROC is to maintain the integrity of the nation's sovereignty. Nevertheless, the ROC must have the courage to face the current situation that it has no means for the time being to exercise effective authority on the mainland.

The three-day conference included reports from the five Yuan, reports on party affairs work and mainland work, three topics for discussion, and a new election of the Central Standing Committee (CSC).

The new Premier Lee Huan, and the General Secretary of the KMT, James Soong, delivered the reports on the work of the Executive Yuan and on party affairs work, respectively. Besides looking over the accomplishments of the past year, they also laid out the future direction of policy. Therefore, their reports received considerable attention.

In the area of mainland affairs, because the relations between the two sides are increasingly intertwined, and because of the rising democracy movement since mid-April, it was an important topic to all those in attendance.

Premier Lee Huan, in his report on the Executive Yuan, first reviewed the work of former Premier Yu Kuo-hwa, and then outlined four main directions for future administration:

(1) To move a step further in the realization of freedom and democracy;

(2) To expand the scope of service to the public;

(3) To strengthen the promotion of national construction;

(4) To promote the process of recovery of the mainland.

Premier Lee at the same time emphasized: towards mainland compatriots, citizens must embrace them with enthusiasm; towards the communist regime, no illusions can be harbored. Further, "the three no's policy is necessary to maintain the national interest, and cannot be abandoned at the current stage."

Party Secretary General James Soong, in his report on party affairs work, stated that the ruling party will play the role of a political competitor. It will respect and accept the opinions of other legal parties. Based on the principles of democratic politics, the KMT will stand at the same starting line with other political parties and compete fairly. As for the year-end elections, aside from having victory as a goal, its fundamental attitude and stand is fairness and responsibility, to thoroughly realize democracy. Although to win one more seat is important, to win social stability and democratic development is even more important. He stressed that not only does the ruling party wish to win votes; it also wants to win respect.

On June 4, even before 9:00 A.M., the CC delegates had gathered to discuss the military suppression of the students in Tienanmen Square. High-ranking leaders had learned from 2:00 A.M. that the Chinese Communists had resorted to force to suppress the students. They convened an emergency meeting at the Chungshan Building, and after the meeting developed countermeasures.

Shaw Yu-ming, director-general of the Government Information Office, in his capacity as government spokesman, publicly condemned the Chinese Communists' violent actions. Secretary General James Soong convened organizers to change the agenda. Foreign Minister Lien Chan hastily contacted the representatives of each country in the ROC, expressing hope that each country would support the movement for freedom and democracy on the mainland.

President Lee took the opportunity to make a five-point government statement:

First, a meeting would be immediately convened among the heads of agencies in charge of mainland affairs and the overseas compatriots attending the second plenum, to draw up as quickly as possible a statement condemning the suppression by the Chinese Communists;

Second, Chairman Lee, in his capacity as ROC President, ordered the government to immediately make a statement indicating attention and concern towards the mainland situation;

Third, the Foreign Ministry was to immediately express to friendly countries the concern of the ROC government vis-a-vis developments in the mainland, and to call on all countries in the world to act to express their dissatisfaction with the Chinese Communist authorities;

Fourth the ROC chapter of the Red Cross was enjoined to make contact with the International Red Cross to discuss how to lend support as quickly as possible to those killed or injured in the crackdown;

Fifth, President Lee ordered the three branches of the military to strengthen preparedness.

At 5:00 P.M. on June 5, the 175 CC members, using a show of hands voting method, decided how to select the next CSC. Following approval by more than half, this was done by the party chairman nominating a CSC list, which was passed by the entire body by a show of hands. The second plenum of the Thirteenth Party Congress thus came to an end.

Not only did the 31 members of the CSC remain, there was no change in the ordering of the names. This was because these 31 CSC members were only elected last July, and their terms have not even reached one year. Further, in terms of age and provincial origin, distribution has already been adjusted, so there was no need for any changes.

Throughout the three-day meeting, there was continually "a white sun on a blue sky" on Yangmingshan. The CC members actively spoke out to establish the direction of policy for the current stage. However, everyone's mood was darkened by the events in Tienanmen. Nevertheless, the decisions and actions of the people of the mainland to pursue democracy even at the cost of their lives has made the ruling party understand even further the necessity and imperativeness of moving onward toward democracy.

With the meeting over, new responsibilities began. With the desire to make the ROC the "hope" of all the Chinese people, actions have become the most convincing of slogans. At the next party plenum, the people will look back with the ruling party at what has been accomplished.

[Picture Caption]

President Lee Teng-hui pointed out resolutely at the opening ceremonies: There is only one China, and it must be reunified.

The Second Plenum opened at the Chungshan Building on Yangmingshan.

Premier Lee Huan reviewed the past and laid out plans for the future in his report on the work of the administration.

Leading party and government figures collected on Yangmingshan to map out the nation's program in the current stage.

When news of the repression of the democracy movement in mainland China came in, the entire body rose in a moment of silence to commemorate the compatriots killed and injured in Tienanmen. (photo by Lee Pei-hui)

The 175 Central Committee members in attendance passed the Central Stand ing Committee nominations made by the President in a show of hands, thus bringing the plenum to a close. (phot o by Lee Pei-hui)

The Second Plenum opened at the Chungshan Building on Yangmingshan.

Premier Lee Huan reviewed the past and laid out plans for the future in his report on the work of the administration.

Leading party and government figures collected on Yangmingshan to map out the nation's program in the current stage.

When news of the repression of the democracy movement in mainland China came in, the entire body rose in a moment of silence to commemorate the compatriots killed and injured in Tienanmen. （photo by Lee Pei-hui）

The 175 Central Committee members in attendance passed the Central Stand ing Committee nominations made by the President in a show of hands, thus bringing the plenum to a close. （phot o by Lee Pei-hui）