Academia Historica has published archives related to former president Yen Chia-kan (嚴家淦), revealing a blueprint of missile development in Taiwan in the 1970s.
Born in 1905, Yen succeeded Chiang Kai-shek (蔣中正) as president of the Republic of China (ROC) on April 6, 1975. His term ended, as stipulated by the Constitution, in May 1978. Yen died in 1993.
The publication of Yen’s archives, which covered from 1945 to 1993, is part of the government’s efforts to declassify official documents that had been classified as national secrets and foster greater transparency.
Published at the end of last month by Academia Historica, the archives show that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government of that period had a missile development project codenamed Chang An Plan, with the aim of designing, manufacturing and testing missiles for defensive purposes.
They show that the nation’s diplomatic isolation made it difficult to acquire missile production technology, making it necessary for the government to purchase non-military grade components that it would upgrade for military use.
According to the plan, the government had carefully developed an effective missile system to defend the nation from Chinese fighter jets and battleships, providing comprehensive protection for Taiwan, Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu.
Taiwan was eager to recruit “patriotic” Taiwanese academics from overseas who would work with local researchers to attain the ability to self-produce missiles.
The plan had previously been classified as a “top national secret” and was declassified by the Ministry of National Defense on July 28 last year.
Yen’s archives also include substantial historical data, such as a book written by former Control Yuan member Lei Chen (雷震), which offered suggestions on how to save the nation.
Lei wrote that Chiang should set up a “Chinese Taiwan Republic” (中華台灣民主國) as soon as possible to placate Taiwanese opposed to the KMT regime, adding that the KMT should abandon one-party rule and implement rule of law to protect people’s rights.
Opposed to Chiang serving a third consecutive term as ROC president, Lei was arrested in 1960 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for “covering up for spies and instigating revolt.” Lei died in 1979.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
The New Taipei City Government would assist relatives of those killed or injured in last month’s car-ramming incident in Sansia District (三峽) to secure compensation, Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said yesterday, two days after the driver died in a hospital. “The city government will do its best to help the relatives of the car crash incident seek compensation,” Hou said. The mayor also said that the city’s Legal Affairs, Education and Social Welfare departments have established a joint mechanism to “provide coordinated assistance” to victims and their families. Three people were killed and 12 injured when a car plowed into schoolchildren and their
RSS