Lien pays respects at Chiang Ching-kuo's mausoleum

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) visited the mausoleum of former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) in Taoyuan County yesterday to pay his respects to Chiang on the 15th anniversary of his death.

Chiang died of heart failure on Jan. 13, 1988.

In his annual ritual to pay tribute to the former leader, Lien characterized Chiang's style of rule as diligent and thrifty.

Lien also said that Chiang had excelled at taking care of people.

Noting that Chiang had expressed several times while he was alive that he considered himself a "Taiwanese" since he lived in Taiwan and led the people he cherished, Lien said the current political leadership should emulate Chiang's spirit of seeking social harmony.

Lien later met and talked with former first lady Faina Chiang Fang-liang (蔣方良).

Earlier in the day, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), a KMT vice chairman, paid his respects to Chiang by kneeling in front of Chiang's picture to pray.

Ma, who served as Chiang's English secretary soon after he obtained his doctoral degree from Harvard University 23 years ago, said he prayed for Chiang's blessing to Taiwan.

Ma said that Taiwan had undergone so many changes since Chiang's death that if the former leader were alive today, he would probably not believe what he saw.

Ma noted that Chiang's famous trips around the island were for the purpose of identifying with the people and finding solutions for their problems, rather than an attempt to gain popular support.

He expressed the hope that the current politicians would emulate the example laid down by Chiang of serving the people, rather than just seeking support ahead of elections.

Also visiting Touliao to pay tribute to Chiang was KMT Legislator John Chang (章孝嚴), the late president's son, and Chang's wife.

Chiang Ching-kuo was rated in an opinion poll conducted in recent years as Taiwan's most meritorious political leader in the history of the Republic of China on Taiwan.