Some 680 representatives of overseas Chinese communities from 57 countries and areas, and some 100 government officials and representatives of agencies concerned, attended the United World Overseas Chinese Anti-Communist Convention which opened February 26 at the Chungshan Building in Yangmingshan near Taipei. The three-day meeting is regarded as especially significant, for since the establishment of the Republic of China, history has attested to the identification of the "overseas Chinese" with Chinese "patriotism."
On behalf of the government, Vice President Shieh Tung-min expressed appreciation at the opening ceremony for the patriotism of these overseas Chinese leaders and representatives who came from afar to attend the "unity and anti-Communist" meeting. Presiding over the opening ceremony, Chu Yung-yip, a representative of overseas Chinese in the U.S., said that only in a democratic and free society can the overseas Chinese develop their careers and have their human rights protected. In the first session of the convention, Mo Sung-nien, Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, also expressed appreciation for the patriotic activties of the overseas Chinese in the past months, which have won so much support for free China among American Congressmen.
To bring the rally to a climax, President Chiang Ching-kuo hosted a tea party Feb. 27 at the Chungshan Building. He told guests: "When we mention the 'overseas Chinese' we naturally think of their patriotic conduct. . . This great tradition is seen in the annual increase in the number of overseas Chinese visitors, their augmented investment in productive enterprises here, their insistent and courageous resistance to Chinese Communist united front temptations, and especially in their active moral and physical support of the government in their motherland during the last two months." The Carter administration's recognition of the Peiping regime "has made our great undertaking of national recovery and reconstruction more difficult," the President said. However, he pointed out, "so long as we can stand up under this grinding trial, harden our fortitude and augment our strength through self-reliance, we shall be able to overcome any difficulty and reach our goal."
During the meeting, the overseas Chinese worked out guidelines for their future anti-Communist actions, and other measures to promote trade and cultural relations between the overseas Chinese and their mother country as well as to counter Communist China's united front tactics so as to maintain social order in the overseas Chinese societies. Overseas Chinese leaders from all walks of life, including business, education, culture, academia, and journalism, and labor, women's and youth groups, donated US$180,000 to the rapidly growing national defense fund.
President Chiang Ching-kuo hosting a tea party for participants in the overseas Chinese rally