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Newsmakers: Hsu sees his life as a waterwheel

Hsu Shui-teh: ``the kind of of waterwheel that always makes sure that there is water to pedal.'' TAIPEI TIMES FILE PHOTO

A working waterwheel is the analogy outgoing Examination Yuan President Hsu Shui-teh (許水德) likes to make when he discusses his philosophy of life.

A waterwheel uses the weight of water to drive paddleboards from a lower to higher level with half of its body suspended in the air and the other half submerged under water.

"If the whole waterwheel is suspended in the air, no water would be raised and if the whole waterwheel is under water, peddling will be in vain and no water would be raised," said Hsu last Tuesday at an event held to publicize the release of his autobiography: The Waterwheel that Propels the Advance of Life (轉動生命的水車).

"Likewise," said Hsu, "life, like a working waterwheel, must hold the dream and the reality at the same time."

Many feel that a working waterwheel is a good metaphor for Hsu's life as a politician.

"Hsu is a staid person who likes to play it safe," Lin Chin-ching (林金莖), a former envoy to Japan and a former chairman of the Association of East Asian Relations (AEAR, 亞東關係協會), told the Taipei Times.

"Life, like a working waterwheel, must hold the dream and the reality at the same time."

Hsu Shui-teh, president of the Examination Yuan

"If we were to take his waterwheel philosophy as an example, he is the kind of waterwheel that always makes sure that there is water to pedal," Lin said.

After six years of serving as the head of the Examination Yuan, the government branch in charge of all civil service-related matters such as examinations, recruitment, promotions and retirement, Hsu will give up his post to Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) on Sept. 1.

In The Waterwheel that Propels the Advance of Life, Hsu says he is proud of what he achieved as head of the Examination Yuan. "The acts and proposals passed during my term are much more than any other previous Examination Yuan president ever managed."

Though only about a month is left before his term ends, Hsu said he intends to work until his last moment in office on Aug. 31.

Tapped by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) for his expertise, Hsu is slated to fill the position of chairman of the AEAR, which has been without a leader since its former chief, Chuang Ming-yao (莊銘耀), passed away on Jan. 6.

AEAR is a quasi-official organization that acts as a channel to facilitate non-official ties between Taipei and Tokyo.

Hsu, aged 71, served as de facto ambassador to Japan between 1991 and 1993 and was then assigned by former president and KMT chairman Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) to be the KMT's secretary-general from 1993 to 1996.

Prior to his 1991 posting to Japan, Hsu was minister of the interior from 1988 to 1991, mayor of Taipei from 1985 to 1988 and mayor of Kaohsiung from 1982 to 1985.

"Hsu was the only one in the party who could communicate with former KMT chairman Lee Teng-hui in fluent Japanese," a government source was quoted as saying. "And Lee's endorsement of Hsu is an important reason for President Chen's trust in him."

Hsu has been described as someone who is gentle and obedient to his superiors and who never complains about his job.

Having been a decades-long public servant, Hsu says he only knows how to be dutiful, to put aside personal concerns and to think about issues that are in the best interest of the nation.

Matsumura, chief of the Interchange Association (Japan), Taipei Office, told the Taipei Times that he has known Hsu since his Japan posting and that he holds him in highest regard.

"I welcome him as chairman of the AEAR," said Matsumara. "I think that he possesses a broad knowledge concerning Japanese affairs as well as rich contacts both here [in Taiwan] and in Japan."

"Which," added Matsumara, "I think will work to his advantage in his posting as head of the AEAR to strengthen the interactions between Taiwan and Japan."

Hsu's personality traits will help him perform well in his AEAR post, said Lin, who was chairman of the AEAR from 1996 to last year.

"On top of his expertise in Japanese affairs," Lin said, "Hsu is patient and works with extreme care and thoughtfulness."

"I wish him good luck [in his new post]," said Lin.
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