The dictator is losing his place in the sun, at least on military bases.
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has promised to remove all statues of dictator Chiang Kai-shek (
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hsueh Ling (薛凌) told a press conference yesterday that the ministry had promised to store all of the statues in indoor facilities in response to a proposal from the party last weekend.
PHOTO: CNA
Hsueh was accompanied by DPP legislators Chai Trong-rong (
"This [proposal] conforms to the basic principle of democracy," Hsueh said. "Names of places such as the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport have also been changed [to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]. This is a world trend, because we are in a democratic era now, not an authoritarian one."
Hsueh said removing Chiang's statutes was a way to help the military get rid of the symbolic influence of the dictator, who controlled the military with an iron grip.
Chai said in a press release that since an investigative report published by the 228 Incident Memorial Foundation last year concluded that Chiang should be held responsible for the incident, which took place in 1947, his statutes located in every part of the nation should be removed.
In the 228 Incident, conflict between anti-contraband officers and local people led to clashes.
Thereafter military forces were called in from China, escalating into an islandwide crackdown during which tens of thousands of people were arrested and killed.
DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (
Gao said that the Provisions Governing the Organization of the CKS Memorial Hall Administration Office (
After relocation, the current site could be used to honor the nation's democratic development, he said.
Meanwhile, ministry spokesman Rear-Admiral Wu Chi-fang (
"Because the military has been proceeding with a downsizing of the army ... the ministry last year began implementing the proposal of removing statues of Chiang Kai-shek along with the reshuffling of military bases, and is arranging that the statues are moved to proper places, such as existing monuments relating to Chiang Kai-shek nationwide," Wu said.
He said the statues standing outside military bases were being eroded and stained by their exposure to the elements.
"The military honors the late president's contribution to the country and the military, and we honor history, but times have changed and it is now a democratic age," Wu said.
He said that the proposal would not change the training of soldiers.
"We educate the military to love our country, but we have never educated the military to love Chiang Kai-shek," he said.
Wu said that the removal of the statues was nearing completion.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday called a press conference at which they accused the government and DPP lawmakers of thinking only of pleasing pan-green supporters.
"Blaming Chiang for the 228 Incident is a distortion of history. His statues should be kept in public places," KMT Legislator Hsu Shao-ping (
Meanwhile, KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) said that changing the names of state-owned firms would be a waste of money.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs recently said that the state-run Chinese Petroleum Corp (CPC) and China Shipbuilding Corp would soon be renamed to include "Taiwan" in their company titles.
"I think that CPC and China Shipbuilding would need at least NT$3 billion [US$91 million] to change their names, an amount that could be used to subsidize 35,000 low-income families," Lai said.
The KMT lawmakers threatened to cut the budget of state-owned enterprises in the next legislative session if the Ministry of Economic Affairs refused to suspend the name change.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS