Chiang ruled Taiwan as an autocratic generalissimo until death in 1975. His son and successor, Chiang Ching-kuo, then surprised the world by lifting martial law, allowing opposition parties to emerge, and eventually abdicating in favor of the first free elections in China since 1913. Countries around the world began to look at the Taiwanese model… Read more »
As Chiang expected, the end of World War II led to the outbreak of open civil war in China. Any strength Chiang conserved during the war availed him little, as the communists sent the remnants of his government fleeing to Taiwan in 1949. At first, the Taiwanese held out hope of a massive counterattack against… Read more »
As a person and a politician, Chiang could be violent, erratic, domineering and full of contradiction. According to American journalist Theodore White, he was prone to sudden rages, leading to casual beatings, even killings. Politically, Chiang preached Sun Yat-sen’s Three People’s Principles, but also hawked traditional Confucianism, a strong dictatorship, and a blend of neo-Confucianism… Read more »