The billion or more Chinese people, whether they live on the mainland, Taiwan or in Hong Kong, are experiencing changes affecting their national destiny.
Among these changes are the economic reforms on the mainland, initiated by Deng Xiaoping, and the pressures that have built up in Hong Kong society as 1997, the date of the British colony's return to China, approaches.
Last year the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for the first time allowed the establishment of political parties in opposition to the ruling National Party (Kuomintang). In December the Government lifted the prohibition of Chinese in Taiwan - provided they were not in the armed forces or government officials - from visiting relatives on the mainland. Within two weeks 8,000 had taken advantage of this.
At the end of 1987 Chinese from a number of Asian and Pacific countries, committed to Moral Re-Armament, met in Taipei. They considered the many developments in the Chinese world, yet the purpose of the gathering reached beyond their own people.
Several speakers made the point that the Chinese have a responsibility to help heal the divisions in the world. In the final session delegates backed this up with practical decisions affecting their time, travel and money.
For instance Liu Ren-Jou, conference convenor, said, 'Many people in the past have come to serve and to care for the Chinese. My wife and I now believe it is our calling to go and serve other countries and their people.' Straight after the conference they left with their two young children for the Philippines, Australia and other countries, supported by often sacrificial financial contributions from many Chinese.
