Chiang Kai-shek statues

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A Chiang Kai-shek statue (蔣公銅像) are statues of the late Republic of China (ROC) President Chiang Kai-shek. They are found almost everywhere in Taiwan, from parks to schools to military bases, and are usually made of an bronze alloy, although it varies from location to location.^[1]

1 History
2 Partial removal
3 Controversy over removal
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

Chiang Kai-shek led the Republic of China and the Kuomintang. Once controlling all of China, he lost Mainland China to the Chinese Communists following the temporary cessation of the Chinese Civil War. He retreated to Taiwan with the ROC government and vowed to one day re-take the Mainland. The statue has become common place, because people were eager to set up statues of President Chiang Kai-shek to honor his achievements in the economy and military as well as his staunch anti-Communist stance.^[2]

[edit] Partial removal

In February 2007, the Republic of China government, under the Taiwan independence minded DPP Chen Shui-bian administration, decided to remove these statues from military premises. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) stated that they represented Chiang Kai-shek's authoritarian rule and is not in-line with a representative democracy. Opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), on the other hand, opposed the removal of the statues, claiming that the DPP is attempting to cut off Taiwan's Chinese heritage, a distortion of history, and that the removal serves to appease President Chen Shui-bian.^[3] On 2007-03-10, the KMT expelled Defense Minister Lee Jye from the party for removing the statues as ordered by the government. The party cited that Lee's actions damaged the party's image. Lee has said that he regretted the party's decision for expulsion, but that he had no plans to join the DPP.^[4]^[5] The removal of the second biggest seated bronze statue from the city of Kaohsiung's Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center prompted clashes between protestors who are against the removal, and the police, who were sent to secure the site while the city workers dismantled the statue.^[6]^[7]

The Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center statue was later transported to Cihu, Dasi in Taoyuan County. Former President Chiang Ching-kuo, Chiang Kai-shek's son, personally signed his name on the statue. Originally, the statue was supposed to be split into 8 parts, but the Dashi government received 200 dismantled parts. It is yet to be seen if the statue can be put back together. The local Dasi government has gladly accepted all Chiang Kai-shek statues in recent years. A special park, located at 24.8415° N 121.2940° E, being their final resting place.

On 2007-03-15, the mayor of Dasi, Su Wen-sheng, left for Xikou, Zhejiang, in the People's Republic of China, to ask the mayor of Xikou if he would accept the statue. As of 2007-03-15, the deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of Zhejiang Province, Shao Jiangwei, had stated that the offer is being considered.^[8]

Although there is much news about the removal of Chiang statues, the actual number has been only limited to a handful, considering the amount erected. A few high profile statues have been removed, such as the the one located at the Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center. However, there are still many Chiang statues remaining in Taiwan, where they continue to watch over public squares, schools, and parks.

[edit] Controversy over removal

Recently, the Democratic Progressive Party led government has been trying to de-sinicize Taiwan. This has amounted to the renaming of several state run companies such as the Chinese Petroleum Corporation and the China Shipbuilding Corporation. The Chunghwa Post has also been renamed and ROC stamps no longer have Republic of China. Rather, it only has the words "Taiwan Stamp". The Chiang Kai-shek statues have been seen as an unwanted connection to China. Chiang Kai-shek always championed reunification and a return to the Mainland, which is against the DPP ideology. The Kuomintang has denounced all instances of what it called election gimmicks. A rally to support Chiang Kai-shek and the Republic of China was scheduled to be held at the Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall in Taipei at the end of March 2007. The rally was planned by John Chiang, a grandson of Chiang Kai-shek.