Thu, Jul 27, 2000 page8

• Editorial: Setting a new standard

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  Eastern drama -- be it Peking opera, Japanese Noh or Taiwanese opera -- puts considerable emphasis on posture (身段), an abstract body language through which the performer interacts with the audience and wins their applause. Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫), who has good knowledge of theatrical art, said famously: "The pinnacle of theatrical expression is when the backdrop speaks, even as you leave the stage."

  This is a rather philosophical line that reminds us of Vice Premier Yu Shyi-kun, who voluntarily handed in his resignation on Tuesday to take responsibility for the Pachang Creek tragedy. Hidden in the backdrop of his exit were a subtle political language and a political art. Westerners may find it hard to understand, but this kind of modest withdrawal wins a lot of respect and applause in Confucian societies. It is the spirit contained in the old saying, "Sacrifice the small self and accomplish the great Self" (犧牲小我成全大我).

  The media and opposition parties, however, have criticized Yu's resignation as equivalent to "sacrificing the rook to save the king" (棄車保帥).

  At a press conference on Tuesday, Yu explained why he should take political responsibility for the incident. As the chairman of the Council of Disaster Prevention, established on July 19, he was technically in charge of the rescue services which performed so miserably. The buck stopped with him and he took it upon himself to go.

  Nobody can seriously believe that Yu was, through negligence, in any way responsible for the tragic events of last Saturday, especially given the the body that he had headed had been in existence for a mere three days. In this light it is tempting to think that Yu's stepping down appeared to be an overreaction, perhaps panic that the government might be in trouble, or a personal sense of Confucian virtue overriding public responsibilities. Tempting, but wrong.

  By stepping down when he did, the way he did, with the explanation he gave, Yu performed an immense service for Taiwan. And we are worried that, amid the usual backbiting and scandal-mongering of Taiwan's political life, and now the welter of speculation about who is to succeed him, the real significance of what Yu did might be lost.

  The significance of Yu's resignation has to be seen against the absolute shamelessness of the behavior of ministers in past KMT administrations. Previously, no matter how incompetent a minister was seen to be, no matter what disasters happened on his or her watch, the minister had virtual impunity. Readers might remember that so outrageous had the Cabinet's refusal to take responsibility become under Lien Chan (連戰) that in May 1997 Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), at the time a minister without portfolio, quit in disgust, calling it "shameless," as in fact it was.

  Yu's action has set a precedent to bring this kind of shamelessness to an end -- an end that is, to ministerial impunity and hopefully the beginning of an era of ministerial responsibility. We do not ascribe blame, or even responsibility to Yu for the Pachang Creek tragedy. We also believe his loss from the Cabinet leaves a gap that will be difficult to fill. Nevertheless we applaud Yu's action unreservedly because it sets an example of behavior in public service that Taiwan has long needed.

  For too long we have seen aparatchiks, their incompetence shown up by events, clinging to office through the shameless use of evasion and scapegoats. Yu's action will not have put an instant end to that. But he has shown a standard of behavior to which others in future may be held.
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