Latest news with #ChiangKai-shek
Euractiv
6 days ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
Taiwan, inseparable from China under international law
This article is part of our special report 50 Years of EU-China Relations: the future of the strategic partnership . To question Taiwan's status today is to undermine the very foundation of justice and sovereignty secured through decades of struggle against imperialism and aggression. "The only reference to the Taiwan region in the UN is 'Taiwan, Province of China.'" This is a resounding message from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a press conference of this year's annual "two sessions." This statement, grounded in historical and legal clarity, underscores China's unwavering position and reflects the consensus of the international community. Yet, some external actors have recently combined force with separatist rhetoric from Taiwan in an attempt to distort this reality and rewrite history. The status of Taiwan is not open to debate. Post-World War II agreements, United Nations resolutions, and binding bilateral treaties all leave no ambiguity: Taiwan has always been an inseparable part of China. UN Resolution 2758: the defining moment On October 25, 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by a vote of 76-35, expelling the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the United Nations and restoring all rights to the People's Republic of China. The resolution was unequivocal: the People's Republic of China succeeded the Chiang regime as the sole representative of all China. The seat of China in the United Nations has always represented the entirety of China, including Taiwan. During the debate, even Chiang Kai-shek's delegate conceded, "Taiwan is indeed Chinese territory" and "Taiwanese are ethnically, culturally and historically Chinese." China's sovereignty over Taiwan was never in question. Some claim the resolution addressed only "representation," not territory. This ridiculous argument collapses under scrutiny. If Taiwan were a separate entity, the United Nations would have required a distinct process to address its status. But that has never happened. Following the resolution, the UN Secretariat formalized Taiwan's designation as "Taiwan, Province of China" in all official documents. Proposals advocating "two Chinas" or "Taiwan independence" have been consistently rejected by the United Nations and its agencies. Post-WWII foundations Taiwan's rightful return to China after WWII was stipulated in Allied wartime agreements. Japan seized Taiwan in 1895, but was compelled to return it after its WWII defeat. The 1943 Cairo Declaration stated that Japan was to return all territories "stolen from the Chinese," specifically naming Formosa (Taiwan). Two years later, the Potsdam Declaration reaffirmed that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. Japan formally accepted these terms in its 1945 Instrument of Surrender. These documents transformed wartime pledges into binding legal obligations. Bilaterally between China and Japan, the two countries normalized relations in 1972 through a landmark agreement. Tokyo recognizes the People's Republic of China as China's sole legitimate government and "fully understands and respects" that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Crucially, Japan again pledged to uphold the Potsdam terms, which are directly linked to Taiwan's 1945 legal restoration. Some Japanese politicians now dismiss the 1972 Communique as "lacking legal force." This is dangerous revisionism. The commitments in the agreement were codified into law via the 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan, ratified by Diet, the national legislature of Japan. Article 1 of the treaty binds both sides to develop lasting relations of peace and friendship between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Why this legal history matters today The international community overwhelmingly recognizes Taiwan as part of China, with 183 countries, including the United States, endorsing the one-China principle. Across administrations, many U.S. leaders have consistently and openly opposed any move toward Taiwan's "independence." Throughout its long history, China has faced periods of division and internal strife. But each time, the Chinese people have united to restore the nation's territorial integrity. This resilience transcends political tensions and external interference. While political complexities persist, the historical record stands clear: Taiwan's rightful place is within China. Taiwan's status as part of China is upheld through the sacrifices during World War II, enshrined in international law, and reaffirmed by the United Nations. As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World's Anti-Fascist War, it is imperative to remember the hard-won lessons of that warring era. The Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Declaration are not mere diplomatic formalities, but pillars of the postwar international order. To question Taiwan's status today is to undermine the very foundation of justice and sovereignty secured through decades of struggle against imperialism and aggression. Xin Ping is a commentator on international affairs.
Japan Forward
6 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Ishigaki Then and Now: The Battle of Okinawa, Grief and Forgiveness
The Ryukyu Kingdom was formally absorbed into the Empire of Japan in 1872. It was then reorganized as Okinawa Prefecture in 1879. Until the Ishigaki City Council launched an initiative to properly console the souls of the 128 Chinese who died on the island due to diseases such as measles and malaria, malnutrition, or suicide, the Robert Bowne Incident was largely forgotten. Last of two parts Read Part 1: Then and Now: Ishigaki Island and the Story of the Tojin Tombs With the support of local residents, overseas Chinese, and the government of Taiwan, which sent craftsmen for its construction, the Tojinbaka arose in 1971. It even includes calligraphy by Chiang Kai-shek. A pair of shisha guardian lions flank the steps leading up to the monument. The Tojinbaka, or Tojin Tomb, on Ishigaki Island. (©John Carroll) That was the same year that the United States and Japan signed a treaty providing for the return of Okinawa to Japan. The Okinawa reversion took place in May 1972, after 27 years of US administrative control. Then, in September 1972, Japan recognized the People's Republic of China. At the same time, it severed formal relations with Taiwan. Today, as in the past, Ishigaki finds itself caught up in the maelstrom of history, a witness to great power rivalries. Tokyo is 1,950 kilometers away, Shanghai a little over 800 kilometers, and Taiwan a mere 270 kilometers. A few yards from the Tojinbaka stands the Ishigaki American Servicemen's Memorial. This monument consists of three six-foot-tall stone triangles that symbolize spirits rising to heaven. It also has two large plaques in English and Japanese below that tell another sad tale. The Battle of Okinawa was the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War. It was a conflict that the historian John Dower has aptly characterized as a "war without mercy." From the initial landing of the US invasion force on April 1, 1945, to the American declaration of victory on June 22, an estimated 240,000 people were killed or went missing during the combat. That number includes as many as 100,000 civilians. There were also 110,000 Japanese regular troops and Okinawa conscripts. As well, there were more than 12,000 American and allied troops among them. The US Army Air Force had already begun low-altitude nighttime firebombing of Japanese cities in February 1945. And the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were to follow in August. T he American Servicemen's Memorial on Ishigaki Island. (©John Carroll) That was the background to an atrocity that occurred on Ishigaki, which became a tragedy for all concerned. The inscription on the English monument reads: On the morning of April 15, 1945, in the closing days of World War II, a Grumman TBF Avenger, assigned to the carrier USS Makassar Strait, was shot down off the coast of Ishigaki Island by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The three aviators parachuted into the water near Ohama and swam to a coral reef where they were captured by Japanese sailors. After being interrogated and tortured they were executed during the night at the foot of Mount Banna, at the Imperial Navy Headquarters. The torture of prisoners of war was a violation of the Geneva Convention on the rules of war signed by the international community in 1929. Vernon L Tebo and Robert Tuggle Jr. were beheaded. Warren was beaten and stabbed with bayonets by numerous numbers of sailors and soldiers. This incident was a tragedy which took place during war. Lt Vernon LTebo, 28, a Navy pilot of Illinois, Aviation Radioman 1st Class Warren H. Loyd, 24, of Kansas [And] Aviation Ordnance 1st Class Robert Tuggle Jr, 20, of Texas To console the spirits of the three fallen American service members and to honor their deaths, we jointly dedicate this monument in the hope that this memorial stone will contribute to the everlasting peace and friendship between Japan and the United States, and that this monument will serve as a cornerstone to convey to future generations our keen desire for eternal peace in the world and our determination to renounce war. August 15 2001 The Avenger in question was part of an early morning strike mission that targeted anti-aircraft emplacements, structures, and Ishigaki Airfield. It had also destroyed or damaged two dozen Japanese planes. Intense antiaircraft fire ensued, and the aircraft piloted by Lt Tebo crashed a few kilometers south of the airfield. The airmen parachuted from their aircraft and swam to a coral reef where they were taken captive by Japanese sailors. After their executions, the ashes of the POWs were scattered at sea. Japan had signed but never ratified the 1929 Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Nor was the Soviet Union a party to the international accord. And although Germany was a signatory, the Nazis often treated prisoners in line with their theory of racial hierarchy. That meant Jews, Slavs, and others were considered subhuman, fit only for slave labor or extermination. The Ishigaki executions represented only one small incident in the horrific Battle of Okinawa, in which no quarter was given by either side. But the repercussions for those involved were tremendous. The incident only came to light two years after the end of the war. Occupation authorities then arrested and prosecuted the former Japanese Navy captain who had been commander of the Ishigaki Garrison and 45 other former Japanese military members involved in the incident. In 1948, the Yokohama Military Tribunal also sentenced all 46 to death. Later, however, through commutation, that number was reduced to seven. Others received prison sentences of five years to life. Shown left to right: Robert Tuggle Jr, Lt Vernon L Tebo, and Warren H Loyd (Archives/Open Source) Imagine the impact of the incident on the small community of Ishigaki. Although residents could not forget, they were naturally reluctant to talk about it since some of their relatives had taken part in the murders. Not until over half a century later was this monument built. Its construction came at the initiative of the late Takeo Shinohara, a professor at the University of the Ryukyus, who had been deeply moved when he heard about the tragedy. Shinohara worked closely with US Air Force Tech Sergeant Tim Wilson to develop the project. They collected financial donations from Okinawa residents and the American military community. After the memorial was unveiled in 2001, it became a symbol of remembrance, shared grief, and forgiveness. An annual ceremony is held at the memorial on April 15 to remember the three slain airmen and reaffirm the commitment of Japan and the United States to a shared future. Once enemies, now allies, as the wheel of history takes another turn. After visiting the Airmen's Memorial, I crossed the highway to have lunch. The fashionable café I entered featured a bright nautical décor, with white tables and chairs on the outside veranda. I sat outside and gazed at the low hills of Iriomote Island off in the distance. The deep blue sea was calm, and any terrors it might hold remained hidden. I took the young Japanese couple seated at the table next to me to be honeymooners. A couple of tables away sat a family speaking French. Earlier, a local had told me that some wealthy French working in Tokyo or Osaka had started purchasing vacation homes on Ishigaki. Violating Japanese airspace, a Chinese helicopter also takes off from a Chinese Coast Guard vessel near the Senkakus on May 3. (©Japan Coast Guard) I assumed that few, if any, of the diners around me had an inkling of the horrors that occurred nearby in the past. It was hard to believe that this beautiful area had witnessed such awful events in its history. And thinking of the Chinese naval vessels lurking not so very far away, I prayed that this peaceful scene might never be disturbed. Author: John Carroll
Straits Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
What's in a name? Proposal to rename Taiwan's Zhongzheng Roads reignites transitional justice debate
The controversy stems from the complicated legacy of Taiwan's longest-serving head of state, Chiang Kai-shek, who had used Zhongzheng as his adopted name. ST PHOTO: YIP WAI YEE – With more than 300 roads across the island carrying this name, Zhongzheng Road is Taiwan's most common – and most contentious – street name. And they may all disappear, if the government's proposal to rename every Zhongzheng Road goes to plan. When Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior resurfaced the initiative on June 2, it sparked immediate backlash from local officials who condemned it as a waste of money. In New Taipei city alone, officials estimate that it could cost upwards of NT$60 million (S$2.57 million) to rename all 22 Zhongzheng Roads across the city's 18 administrative districts to replace not just the major street signs but also individual home address plaques. The ministry, however, has defended the move as a human rights issue and must be taken seriously. 'The government cannot pretend to look at transitional justice only when there is money to do so, as that attitude does not reflect Taiwan's democracy and rule of law,' Minister of the Interior Ms Liu Shyh-fang told reporters. The controversy stems from the complicated legacy of Taiwan's longest-serving head of state, Chiang Kai-shek, who had used Zhongzheng as his adopted name. As the leader of the then-ruling Kuomintang (KMT) on mainland China, Chiang fought a civil war with the Communist Party of China after World War II and lost, fleeing with his government to Taiwan in 1949 where he ruled as President until his death in 1975. His authoritarian rule under martial law was controversial and while democratic reforms were undertaken by his son Chiang Ching-kuo, the current ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) under its transitional justice policy has been taking measures to right historical injustices of the authoritarian era. Changing the name of the Zhongzheng Roads is one of these moves. The hundreds of Zhongzheng Roads across the island had been named after Chiang following a postwar push by the KMT government to replace any old symbols of Japanese colonialism. Until 1945, Taiwan had been under Japanese rule for 50 years. One of the busiest Zhongzheng Roads in the southern city of Tainan, for example, formerly bore the Japanese name Suehirocho. The name has a Singapore connection. When Chinese philanthropists founded Chung Cheng High School - Zhongzheng Zhongxue in Mandarin - on Kim Yan Road in 1939, they had named it after Chiang, which was an 'indication that the Chinese community in Singapore was actively engaged with affairs in China then', according to the National Heritage Board . China at the time was fighting a war with Japan that began in 1937 and ended in 1945. But while some in Taiwan today see Chiang as a strong leader who fought against the communists and oversaw the island's path to economic prosperity, he is equally despised as a dictator who ruled with an iron fist. 'For some Taiwanese, anything related to Chiang is a reminder of a painful authoritarian past,' said Assistant Professor Ma Chun-wei, a political science analyst from New Taipei's Tamkang University. While some in Taiwan today see Chiang as a strong leader who fought against the communists and oversaw the island's path to economic prosperity, he is equally despised as a dictator who ruled with an iron fist. ST PHOTO: YIP WAI YEE Complicated legacy Taiwan transitioned to a democracy from the late 1980s and ranks among Asia's freest societies today, but it continues to wrestle with its authoritarian past. For its part, the modern KMT has taken steps to atone for its history. While serving as justice minister, former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou helped establish a foundation in 1995 to raise awareness of the White Terror years – a period of martial law covering almost four decades of brutal political purges from 1949 to 1987. But it was only after President Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP took office in 2016 that transitional justice work was made a top priority. In 2018, her administration set up an commission to review and redress injustices committed during the territory's authoritarian rule. Part of that involved exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals and going after assets illegally obtained by the KMT during its authoritarian rule. Among the commission's top recommendations was also the physical removal of all 'authoritarian symbols', including any road signs named after Chiang. In 2022, for instance, a section of Zhongzheng Road in Tainan city's West Central District was renamed Thng Tik-Tsiong Boulevard, in honour of the human rights lawyer who was executed by KMT troops in 1947. Other symbols include the many busts and statues of Chiang scattered across the island – the most prominent of which is the towering statue inside Taipei's National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, where millions of tourists flock every year to take selfies and watch the changing of the guard. Over the years, the government has made sporadic attempts to remove these symbols, albeit with limited success. Taiwan's main airport Taoyuan International Airport, for instance, was formerly known as the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, or Zhongzheng International Airport in Chinese. It was given its current name in 2006. And while hundreds of Chiang's statues have since been removed from Taiwan's schools, parks and other public spaces, there are still some 760 statues dotted around the island as of April 2024. Efforts to dismantle all of the symbols have consistently faced roadblocks, including protests from those who say that the move amounts to erasing history. 'Even among KMT supporters today, Chiang is no longer revered, but they cannot deny his contributions to Taiwan's development,' said Prof Ma. For now, the Ministry of the Interior said that it would engage officials from local governments – which would be in charge of executing the road sign changes – before proceeding further. But it would continue to promote its plan in line with transitional justice efforts, said Minister Liu. 'I understand many people are still sorting through their feelings about the past – and historical representations of it – which is why we will keep our communication on the issue open and clear,' she said on June 4. 'However, our position on the issue has not changed, and we will continue to promote the removal of the vestiges of authoritarianism,' she said, adding that the ministry provides subsidies for the renaming of street names. Several municipal government officials, many of them from the opposition KMT, have voiced objections to the ministry's proposal. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, who is Chiang Kai-shek's great-grandson, accused the ruling party of politicising issues and not doing actual work. Meanwhile, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, also from the KMT, condemned the ministry's proposal as 'meaningless'. 'What people need is help to solve their problems. Does it make sense for the government to spend money on things like this?' he said. Ms Victoria Lin, a resident living on Zhongzheng Road in New Taipei's Zhonghe District, opposes the renaming of her road for a more pragmatic reason. 'Do you know how much trouble it will be to have to change my home address with the banks and all that?' said the 39-year-old, who works in real estate. Yip Wai Yee is The Straits Times' Taiwan correspondent covering political, socio-cultural and economic issues from Taipei. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Economist
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Economist
What does it mean to be Taiwanese?
At the heart of Chiang Kai-shek's vast memorial in Taipei, a giant bronze statue of the leader sits facing China. For the exiled Chinese Nationalist Party and its faithful who fled China's civil war, Taiwan was a temporary home and China was the motherland. Decades later, only 3% of people in Taiwan consider themselves primarily Chinese. But plenty of people don't think of themselves as being fully Taiwanese, either. That ambiguity is being exploited by China's Communist Party, which insists the island is part of China, and has threatened to take it by force. Without a concrete sense of what it means to be Taiwanese, how will people resist?
The Star
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Taiwan downgrades Chiang Kai-shek's mausoleum to ‘camp area' as it grapples with legacy
Chiang Kai-shek's mausoleum has officially been consigned to history, as Taiwan's military reclassified the site in the city of Taoyuan as a 'camp area' – the latest move by the island's independence-leaning authorities to erase the legacy of the former Kuomintang (KMT) leader. 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. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. 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'. In the announcement, the military said the revised guidelines reflected updated administrative needs and the 2014 reclassification of Taoyuan as a metropolitan area. But Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers argued that the move signalled a deeper shift in the island's memory – part of transitional justice reforms aimed at removing what they saw as symbols of dictatorship and authoritarian rule. For decades, the military had referred to the sites using terms traditionally reserved for royalty, such as 'mausoleum' and 'paying respects to the exalted spirit'. Pro-independence voices have long criticised this reverence towards the Chiangs, arguing it glorified a legacy of political repression and martial law. These criticisms intensified in 2000 when the DPP first gained power and have grown louder since 2016. The move is likely to reinforce Beijing's perception that Taipei is trying to erase its common history with the mainland. Chiang, despite fighting the Communists in China's civil war and being seen as an enemy by Beijing his entire life, had sought to bring the mainland and Taiwan under the same rule – that of the Republic of China. In recent years, the Chiang family has been viewed more favourably on the mainland as a historical link between Taiwan and mainland China. Under the revised guidelines, the phrase 'coffin viewing area' is retained only for the specific rooms housing the Chiangs' remains, while the broader sites are classified simply as military camp areas. 'The term 'mausoleum' typically refers to imperial tombs,' said DPP lawmaker Chiu Chih-wei during an April 16 legislative session. 'The military's duty is to defend the country, not to guard the graves of dictators.' Chiu has also demanded the military withdraw its ceremonial honour guards from the sites, arguing they were a misuse of public resources. He noted the current deployment had been based on a 2007 directive issued by then Taoyuan county chief Eric Chu Li-luan – now KMT chairman – as a tourism initiative. 'But how many tourists still go there today?' Chiu said. 'If we continue this, does it mean any local shrine or memorial can request military guards, too?' In response, the defence ministry said it would convene a meeting later this month with the Presidential Office, cabinet, and Taoyuan city officials to evaluate whether continued military presence was warranted. Taiwanese Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung added that relocating the Chiangs' remains to the Wuzhishan Military Cemetery for permanent burial might offer a solution. He noted that Chiang Fang-liang, widow of Chiang Ching-kuo, had written to the ministry in 2004 requesting such a move, and Chen Shui-bian – Taiwan's leader at the time – had endorsed the plan. However, the relocation has yet to take place. Chiang Kai-shek died in 1975 and was placed at the Cihu site in Taoyuan, pending eventual burial in mainland China, from which he fled after losing the Chinese civil war in 1949. His son, Chiang Ching-kuo, died in 1988 and was laid to rest in nearby Daxi. Their plan was to be buried in their ancestral hometown once reunification was achieved through the KMT's recapture of the mainland – a goal now seen as impossible. Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary, has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen was elected the island's leader in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle. Most countries, including the US, 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 arming Taiwan. Since passing a transitional justice law in 2017, the DPP government has accelerated efforts to remove symbols of Chiang Kai-shek's rule, revise historical narratives, and blame the late Chiang for past abuses. Thousands of statues of the elder Chiang have been removed from parks, schools, and military facilities. The campaign aims to break the legacy of martial law and authoritarian rule led by Chiang, which defined much of the history of Taiwan in the 20th century. One major milestone came in July 2024, when ceremonial honour guards inside the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei ended their 44-year vigil. The military's rifle-twirling ritual, long a popular tourist attraction, was moved outside to the public plaza in front of the hall after public consultation. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Chiang Kai-shek's death. In April, civil society groups launched a campaign urging the government to close the main hall in Taipei and get rid of authoritarian symbols – including place names, statues, and currency bearing Chiang's image. 'Taiwan truly doesn't need a dictator's memorial hall,' said Michelle Wang, chairwoman of the Koo Kwang-ming Foundation. 'We must face our history honestly and move forward.' Not everyone agrees. Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou has defended Chiang's legacy, saying it was 'a bit excessive' to label him a dictator. 'As a political leader, Chiang bore responsibility for certain wrongdoings,' Ma said. 'But his contributions to Taiwan outweigh his mistakes. Having a memorial hall for him is not unreasonable.' Taipei Mayor Wayne Chiang Wan-an, a great-grandson of Chiang Kai-shek, pushed back on recent remarks by the island's current leader, William Lai Ching-te, who in February described Chiang as 'a dictator who committed heinous crimes to maintain his rule over Taiwan'. The Taipei mayor urged leaders to 'face history with caution and humility' and to 'adopt a broader, more inclusive vision'. More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
