Nationalist Government Policies, 1949-1951

• Published date: 01 September 1951
• DOI: 10.1177/000271625127700122
• Date: 01 September 1951
• Subject Matter: Articles

Nationalist Government Policies, 1949-1951
By GUNG-HSING WANG
T HE political pattern of Nationalist gration of the KMT, a part of its mem-
China in contemporary Taiwan
bers who remained on the mainland
(Formosa) is set by a series of events
went over to the Communists. Another
which took place between January 21,
part, for the time being at least, faded
1949 and March 1, 1950. The first was
away for various reasons. The KMT
as
the date on which President Chiang
presently established in Taiwan may be
Kai-shek &dquo;stepped down&dquo; from office to
described as composed of those who fol-
clear the way for a negotiated peace
low President Chiang’s leadership and
with the Communists. Advocated by
are personally loyal to him.
the peace party and the moderates
In principle, any political party sub-
within the Kuomintang (KMT) and
scribing to the provisions of the Con-
backed by popular support, the attempt
stitution 2 may legally contest for politi-
failed in the face of mounting Commu-
cal power. Located in Taiwan today
nist military successes. During the in-
are the national headquarters of the
terval, Acting President Li Tsung-jen
Kuomintang, the Young China Party,
steered the ship of state against over-
and the Democratic Socialist Party.3
whelming odds of financial, military, and
Of these, the KMT assumes an over-all
political difficulties. His administration
political leadership. An analysis of the
was inconclusive when in November
National Government policies may well
1949 he left for the United States for
begin with the recent changes in the
reasons of health.
KMT.
Succumbing to the circumstances, a
KUOMINTANG &dquo;PREFORMATION&dquo;
dual process, characterized by the trans-
fer of top-ranking Nationalist personnel,
Normally, the highest organ of the
armed forces, and financial assets to Tai-
Kuomintang is the National Congress,
wan and a partial disintegration of the
comprised of delegates elected by party
KMT, dominated the Nationalist politi-
members in their respective districts.
cal sky. Of the former, the transfer be-
This Congress, meeting once every two
gan with the appointment of General
years, elects the Central Executive Com-
Chen Cheng as Governor of Taiwan on
mittee (CEC) and the Central Super-
January 5, 1949. It reached a climax on
visory Committee (CSC) which manage
December 7, 1949, when the seat of the
the party affairs.4
4
In a move to reform
National Government was established in
the party, the functions of CEC and
Taiwan. The process was completed on
CSC were terminated following a reso-
March 1, 1950 when President Chiang
lution introduced by Chiang Kai-shek
Kai-shek announced his resumption of
2 For the text of the Constitution, see
office.’ With reference to the disinte-
China Handbook 1950 (New York, 1950), pp.
No~r~: Citations and references marked with
144-55.
3

an asterisk
(*) refer to Chinese-language
Brief accounts of these parties can be
sources.
found in China Handbook 1950, pp. 236-51,
1
For constitutional provisions regarding
255-57, and 257-58 respectively.
presidential term of office,
4
see The Constitu-
See General Regulations of the Kuomin-
tion of The Republic of China, 1947, Arts. 47,
tang as amended, May 1945*. Also China
49.
Handbook 1950, pp. 240-43.
213

---

214
and adopted by the Standing Commit-
men-whose average age (1951) is 48-
tee of the CEC on July 22, 1950.5 Sub-
administers the Reform Plan,6 while the
sequently, a Central Reform Committee
Advisory Committee, composed of the
of sixteen members and an Advisory
elder &dquo;party-statesmen&dquo;-whose average
Committee of twenty-five members were
age is 66-supervises the administration.
appointed. Having held government or
The Reform Plan seeks to tighten the
party offices for varying lengths of time,
party organization by eliminating cor-
these committee members are well
rupt elements, opportunists, and bu-
known in Kuomintang circles. A differ-
reaucratic politicians. It proposes to
ence in the age composition of the com-
strengthen the party cadre by recruiting
mittee members is evident. The Reform
patriotic elements from among the
Committee, comprising the &dquo;younger&dquo;
6 See resolutions cited note 5 supra; also
5
As distributed by The Government Spokes-
Reform* (Taipeh), Vol. I, No. 1 (Sept. 1950),
man’s Office, Taipeh.
pp. 5-17.

---

215
youth, intellectuals, and agricultural and
and those which are delegated to it by
industrial workers.
It commands the
the central government. Such matters
party members to go to the masses and
as local self-government, division of ad-
work for their well-being.7
ministrative areas, forestry, industry,
A new political program was an-
mining and commerce, educational sys-
nounced on September 1, 1950 .8 Its
tem, banking, commodity control, navi-
general objectives are to restore national
gation, public enterprises, land registra-
sovereignty and to put democracy into
tion, and police system are legislated by
practice. Specifically, it proposes: (1)
the central government and may be dele-
to encourage private enterprise to the
gated to the provincial authorities for
extent of avoiding monopolistic combi-
execution. Matters pertaining to agri-
nations and to transfer government-op-
culture, commerce, industry, education,
erated light industries to private own-
finance, taxation, and enterprises and co-
ership ; (2) to establish a democratic
operatives which are provincial in nature
industrial system in which workers’ wel-
may be legislated by the provincial gov-
fare is safeguarded by allowing them a
ernment.l°
In actual practice, impor-
share and a voice in the ownership and
tant legislation concerning Taiwan is en-
management of private enterprises; (3)
acted by the National Government and
to welcome foreign investment and tech-
administered by the provincial author-
nical co-operation; (4) to promote the
ities.
interests of tenant farmers and farmers
The Taiwan Provisional Assembly,
through land reform, water conservancy,
functioning as constituted May 1946; ex-
and land reclamation; (5) to carry out
ercises a limited range of legislative
local self-government and to protect
powers.
It considers &dquo;administration
civil rights; and (6) following restora-
policies and activities and the provincial
tion of mainland China, to punish Com-
budget.&dquo; Pending its development into
munist leaders, to extend amnesty to
a constitutional representative body, its
those who follow them under duress, and
decisions are subject to the veto of the
to allow farmers to continue tilling the
National Government
land they have been tilling.
The Governor of Taiwan is appointed
by the Nationalist Government. Under
RELATIONS BETWEEN NATIONAL AND
him are various departments, bureaus,
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
agencies, and province-operated enter-
The practical effects of the program
prises. To draw an over-all picture of
may be reflected in varying degrees by
specific Nationalist policies pertinent to
what has been taking place in Taiwan.9
political, economic, social, and military
Organically speaking, the National Gov-
activities on the island, the following
erment looks after foreign affairs, na-
analysis, necessarily brief, may be help-
tional defense, the administration and
ful.
adjudication of national laws, national
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
revenues, and foreign trade policies.
The powers of the provincial govern-
The political organization of Taiwan
ment consist of those which are inherent
follows a pattern of centralization, using
7
Ibid.
8 The Present Political Platform of the Kuo-
10
For the division of powers, see Constitu-
mintang, Taipeh: Government Spokesman’s
tion of the Republic of China, Arts. 107-109.
Office, Sept. 1950.
11 For details regarding the Assembly, see
9 Taiwan:
population, 7,026,883 (1949) ;
Chinese Constitution, Arts. 112-120; also Han
area, 35,961 sq....