The illegitimate grandson of former leader, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (蔣中正) may fulfill his long-time dream and pay respects to his ancestors in China next month, the China Times reported yesterday.
John Chang (章孝嚴), the illegitimate son of the late president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), himself the son of Taiwan's late generalissimo, would be accompanied by his wife Huang Mei-lun (黃美倫) and three children on the homecoming trip which he has been waiting for all his life, the paper said.
The widow of Chang's twin brother, Chang Hsiao-tzu (章孝慈), and their two children would also join them in visiting the elder Chiang's birthplace in Fenghua (奉化), Zhejiang Province, the daily said.
They hope to pay their respects to the twins' mother Chang Ya-no (
Chang Ya-no died shortly after giving birth to the twin boys in 1941. The youngsters fled to Taiwan with their maternal uncle and grandmother who raised them after the Communist Party takeover of China. Chiang said that he would like to tell his mother personally about the good news that he has finally been embraced by the Chiang family in front of her grave.
Chang, former Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as former secretary general of the Presidential Office, hopes to be given the green light from Taiwanese authorities for the trip.
Under current rules, travel to China by former high-ranking officials within three years after leaving their posts requires prior governmental approval.
According to Chiang -- since he is no longer a governmental employee having resigned after being caught having an adulterous affair last year -- he would like to fulfill his dream of going back to China and to pay his respects to his mother and ancestors as soon as possible. If he cannot make it next month, he will probably try again by the end of this year.
Although he needs prior approval from the government in order to go to China, Chiang said, the government should consider his case on compassionate grounds. It would be a very simple family trip involving no political issues, Chiang stressed.
In 1994, Chang, then Minister of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, was allowed to fly to Beijing after his twin died of a stroke there.
Chang now sits on the KMT's Central Standing Committee.
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