
Taiwan downgrades Chiang Kai-shek's mausoleum to ‘camp area' as it grapples with legacy
erase the legacy of the former
Kuomintang (KMT) leader.
Advertisement
The mausoleum of Chiang's son and successor, Chiang Ching-kuo, located just 2.2km (1.4 miles) from his father's tomb, was also reclassified, according to a notice issued by the island's defence ministry on April 22.
The two sites, which house the preserved remains of the two former leaders, will no longer be referred to as 'mausoleums' or 'spirit-worship facilities', according to the announcement.
It said the elder Chiang's resting place, previously known as the Cihu Mausoleum, would be renamed the 'Cihu Camp Area', while his son's Daxi Mausoleum would be designated as the 'Daxi Camp Area'.
01:40
Tens of thousands rally in Taiwan against William Lai as recall turmoil engulfs legislature
Tens of thousands rally in Taiwan against William Lai as recall turmoil engulfs legislature
In the announcement, the military said the revised guidelines reflected updated administrative needs and the 2014 reclassification of Taoyuan as a metropolitan area.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan caught in WWII revisionist dilemma as Lai reshapes wartime legacy
As Taiwan prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, controversy is hanging over the administration of Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te as it faces criticism over its handling of the Republic of China's (ROC) wartime legacy. The Lai government has used commemorations under the theme 'Resist Aggression, Protect the Homeland' to warn retired ranking officers – many affiliated with the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) – not to attend Beijing's September 3 military parade , which will celebrate the same occasion. The move has reignited long-standing tensions over Taiwan's identity, the ownership of ROC history, and the reluctance of Lai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to fully embrace the ROC's historical roots in mainland China. Critics accused the administration of honouring the ROC's wartime triumph without acknowledging its mainland roots before 1949. Founded in 1912 after the fall of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the ROC fought Japan as a key Allied power under Chiang Kai-shek. After World War II, a civil war erupted between Chiang's KMT forces and communist troops, ending with the KMT's retreat to Taiwan in 1949. The KMT set up an interim government that continued to use the ROC as its official title. However, Lai has maintained the DPP's emphasis on Taiwan's separate identity while downplaying the ROC's legacy on the mainland.


South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Trump's Taiwan tightrope: Beijing seeks clarity for possible China summit, expert says
US President Donald Trump 's stance on Taiwan will be pivotal to the success of a long-awaited potential next visit to Beijing, according to a prominent Chinese scholar. Advertisement When he is in China, Trump 'should say very clearly that the US does not support Taiwan independence', said Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, who added it would not be new for a US president to say that. Wu said that the national security teams from both Washington and Beijing should meet face-to-face as soon as possible to pave the way for a summit. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons. Still, the US State Department in February removed a phrase on its official website that the country does not support Taiwan independence, describing the change as a 'routine' update. Advertisement 'Trump has to clarify the US position on this very important issue when he comes to China. Without that, I don't think his visit will be successful,' Wu said on Friday during Tsinghua University's World Peace Forum in Beijing, jointly organised with the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.


South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Rio mounts major security operation for Brics summit
Rio de Janeiro is rolling out one of its largest peacetime security operations in recent memory as leaders and senior officials from the Global South's major emerging economies convene in the coastal city for this week's Brics summit. Officials say about 20,000 military personnel will be deployed to guard leaders from 28 countries and seven international organizations, including the UN and the World Bank. Airspace over the summit venue, Rio's Museum of Modern Art, will be strictly controlled. Armed fighter jets will patrol the skies to intercept unauthorised aircraft. In extreme cases, Brazil's air force has authority to shoot down planes that pose a threat and refuse to comply with orders. For security reasons, Santos Dumont Airport, the main airport for domestic flights in Rio, just minutes from the summit venue, will close during the meetings. Flights will be rerouted through Galeão International Airport, the city's international terminal. Only planes carrying government officials and security teams will be able to use Santos Dumont Airport. Brazil last used armed fighter jets to secure a major event during the 2016 Olympics. Officials have not disclosed how many aircraft will be in the air, but at least two F-5EM jets, capable of speeds near 2,000km/h and armed with Brazilian-made Piranha missiles and US-built Sidewinders, will be on standby to enforce the no-fly zone. This special security arrangement was not used at other large-scale events, such as the World Cup or during the G20 summit last year.