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Taiwan officials yesterday presented their analysis of the just-concluded sessions of the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, noting the increased mention of democratic elections and political reform.

Chen Ming-tung, a vice-chairman of the cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), presented a special report on the NPC and CPPCC meetings to a full meeting of the council yesterday.

Although Taipei usually offers analyses of political trends on the mainland, Mr Chen's report has attracted special attention, as it was the first opportunity for Taiwan to analyse Beijing's political trends since 55 years of Kuomintang rule was ended by last year's presidential election.

Mr Chen, formerly a university professor, has strong links with Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian and his Democratic Progressive Party.

In his appraisal, Mr Chen analysed remarks contained in Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's work report presented to the NPC.

'Zhu Rongji's report for the first time clearly mentioned 'implementing democratic elections' and reiterated past calls for political reform,' Mr Chen said.

'The leaders of communist China have gradually been coming to understand that delays in political reforms will eventually preclude breakthroughs in achieving economic reforms, as well as ignite a chain reaction of social upheaval,' he said.

But Mr Chen also noted that China was still dismissing the idea of eventually embracing Western-style democratic reforms, choosing instead to maintain a one-party authoritarian system.

However, Mr Chen said signs emerged during the parliamentary sessions that indicated growing discontent and boldness among the thousands of deputies who attended.

Both bodies reviewed a record number of legislative items and resolutions, and the number of government officials summoned to appear before NPC and CPPCC deputies - believed to top 120 ministers and vice-ministers - also broke a record.

Taiwan noticed that a growing number of deputies to both bodies were willing to express disapproval with the government's performance.

A report on the central Government's efforts to fight corruption, presented by Supreme People's Court president Xiao Yang, received the approval of only 70 per cent of the delegates, who, in past years acted as a rubber stamp for Communist Party decisions, he said.



Taipei says mainland debates show sign of reform