78-07-A5
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Hong Kong
TranscriptWe flew to Taiwan from Tokyo in a China Airlines plane and that in itself was an advertisement of what was to come. Taipei is a modern, prosperous city complete with luxury hotels, smart shops and congested rush hour traffic. Industries flourish and exports are counted in the billions of dollars. In fact, like Japan, Taiwan has a surplus in its balance of trade with us and recently sent a trade mission to the U.S. to buy more than $250 million worth of American products to reduce the imbalance. Another such mission is planned soon, and for the same reason--to be helpful to us. There were meetings with the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Economic affairs and a dinner given by the President of the Republic. Always there was an undercurrent of concern about what U.S. foreign policy really is. But also there was a feeling of pride and confidence in their own capability. They reminded this American of a quality we once had and which I hope we haven't completely lost. I renewed acquaintance with President Chian Ching-kuo, son of the late Generalissimo Chian Kai Chek. He is a remarkable leader, dedicated to the welfare of his people. Others told me of how this quiet, unassuming man journeyed to the countryside visiting farmers and workers in their homes without warning or publicity. He is utterly realistic about the impossibility of mixing freedom and communism. We visited a modern steel mill adjacent to a new shipyard fully automated and capable of building the largest super tankers. The average age of the workers was 27 in the shipyard and 29 in the steel mill. They were recruited from local high schools, given two years training by the companies and provided with new housing and recreational facilities. Incidentally, all students in Taiwan start learning English in seventh grade. Those Americans who visit the mainland of China and return with glowing reports of how much better off the people are under their Communist rulers should also visit Taiwan. They justify their enthusiasm about Communist China, explaining away rationing and scarcity by saying "but the people are so much better off than they were". Are they? The Communist regime started in 1949 and that year the nationalist Chinese retreated to Taiwan. Taiwan had been a Japanese military staging area and as such as heavily bombed by our B-29's. Power plants and railroads had been destroyed. As the Foreign Minister put it, they had five things--a little brown sugar, some rice, a panniken of tea, an earthquake and a typhoon. Today the mainland is totally regimented. There is no personal freedom and it can't feed its people without importing foods. The other part of China--Taiwan--has a prosperous, free economy. It has one of the highest per capita income in Asia. Private farms supply the people's needs and contribute the nation's exports. Roads are jammed with cars and motorcycles, the people watch TV on three networks, listen to about 100 radio stations and work in dozens of modern industries. Their military is superb and has very high morale. They have half a million men in uniform and can mobilize two and a half million on short notice, realizing they may one day have to fight to keep their freedom. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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