In 1978 Chiang Ching-kuo became the president of the Republic of China, but his political foundations had been cultivated by his previous life experiences.
In Russia
In 1925, the 16-year-old Chiang Ching-kuo told his teacher Wu Ching-heng that he wanted to go to Moscow to "engage in revolution." He meant that he wanted to see that communist country, which had a good image in the world, and use the opportunity to mold himself.
At the beginning of the 20th century, China was still in the bitter aftermath of the Opium War, facing unprecedented troubles within and without. Europe, meanwhile, was hesitant, frightened after the First World War, trying to heal its wounds. In 1917, the Bolshevik-led Russian Revolution sent tremors around the world. Amid such turmoil, many Chinese and Western youth "looked to Russia as their teacher."
After taking power, the Russian communists announced that they were willing to rescind the "unequal treaties" the Russian Czars had signed with the Manchu rulers of Qing dynasty China. The southern revolutionary government, which had enjoyed little international support since the Chinese Revolution of 1911, also received help from Moscow. And even though Sun Yat-sen didn't think that communism was appropriate for China, in the early twenties, Sino-Soviet relations were permeated with "an air of friendship between the domestic and foreign socialists," which surely made the young Chiang Ching-kuo all the more inclined to go to Russia. In October of 1925, he entered a Russian university set up especially for students from China. "I worked hard studying Russian, and also put effort into other Western disciplines such as economics," he wrote in his memoirs, My Days in Russia.
Two years later, he graduated just as Chiang Kai-shek was overseeing a KMT party purge against communists, defining the elder Chiang as anti-communist. Three times Chiang Ching-kuo requested permission to return home, but each time he was refused, because the communists believed that they could use him as a trump card for improving Soviet-Chinese relations. He was in fact a hostage.
In the meantime he pursued advanced studies in the Russian Military Affairs Research Center, and then later he was sent to a reform-through-labor camp, where he worked in an electric goods factory. At one time he also went to work in a mine in Siberia. In March of 1937 he was finally granted permission to leave Russia and returned to his homeland. He had been away for 12 years.
His years in southern Jiangxi
In 1938, not long after he returned, Chiang took the post of assistant chief of security for Jiangxi Province and was also put in charge of training for new army recruits. The following year he became chief administrative officer of the fourth Jiangxi district, commander of public security and county executive of Gan County. He began his campaign to "build a new southern Jiangxi."
Back then, the region had "poor people and few financial resources, bandits running amok, and backward culture." Chiang first dealt with the local bandits, organizing four large public security squads, and he personally went out to the countryside to oversee efforts to quell bandit activities. Then, he moved to lay public roads, so as to facilitate transportation throughout the area.
In 1941, he formally unveiled the "Three-Year Plan to Build a New Southern Jiangxi." So that "everyone has work," he opened factories and other economic facilities. So that "everyone has food," he worked hard to improve agriculture, increasing grain production and building rice-husking mills and flour factories. So that "people would have clothes to wear," he promoted the planting of cotton and the raising of silkworms, and established weaving mills and clothing factories. So that "everyone has a place to live," he planted many forests, built brick factories, foundries, nurseries and lumber mills. So that "everyone has books to read," he put a high school in every district, a junior high school in every county, and elementary schools in every neighborhood. These "five things for everyone" constituted the major goals of his campaign to build a new southern Jiangxi.
As governing ideals he proposed: "The government should never oppress people nor tolerate any corrupt behavior. In the economic realm, it should work to eliminate exploitation and extortion. In the social realm it should work to achieve an absence of infighting and troublemaking. Culturally, the government should work to eliminate illiteracy and ignorance." For his efforts to build up Southern Jiangxi, the people called him "Blue Sky Chiang"-in reference to a much-admired incorruptible official of the Song dynasty.
In Taiwan
In 1949, after the mainland was lost to the Communists, Chiang Ching-kuo came with 2 million soldiers to Taiwan, where he had to start all over again.
He first worked reforming the party, setting six goals: establishing a system for political staff leaders; firming up party discipline; stepping up efforts to purge the party of communist agents; reinstalling KMT party officers into the military; implementing the "Four Major Openings"; and revamping political training. He also founded a school for KMT cadres in the military. These reforms helped to bolster political awareness in the military.
Chiang Ching-kuo was also responsible for many important military decisions, including the May 1940 retreat from Zhoushan and Hainan, and the evacuation of 17,000 civilians from Dachen Island in 1954, during which he insisted on staying until the flag was lowered and leaving on the last boat. During his early years in Taiwan, he often went to the front lines in Matsu and Chinmen, where he endured the same hardships as the officers and enlisted men.
In 1955 he began to probe the possibilities of building a cross-island highway. He took 21 trips deep into the Central Mountain Range, and in 1957 he took the post of chairman of the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen, which was charged with caring for retired servicemen and providing them with medical treatment, education and job opportunities. The Central Cross Island Highway was finally completed in 1960.
In 1972, Chiang Ching-kuo took the post of premier. It was just at the time when the ROC was mired in a series of foreign affairs crises: the ROC lost its seat at the United Nations, Japan broke relations, and the United States was making overtures to the Communists. When he took over he proposed 10 administrative reforms, stressing that government workers must be diligent in their duties, seeing themselves as public servants and thus treating people fairly and not caring for fame and fortune. On the economic front, he initiated the "Ten Major Projects," which stressed transportation infrastructure first and industrial development second.
Major Events in the Life of Chiang Ching-kuo
1910: Born in Xikou, Fenghua County. Chiang Kai-shek was his father, Mao Fu-mei his mother.
1925: Joined the KMT and left for the Soviet Union.
1935: Married his wife Faina, who gave birth to his son Hsiao-wen the same year.
1937: Allowed to return to China.
1938: Served as assistant chief of security and chief of army recruit training for Jiangxi Province. Daughter Hsiao-chang was born.
1939: Served as chief administrator of Jiangxi's Fourth District. His mother died in a Japanese air raid.
1940: Responsible for evacuating Hainan and Zhoushan.
1945: Dispatched on a special mission to Changchun for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the return of northeast China. For the same purpose, he was sent to Moscow to negotiate with the Soviets. His son Hsiao-wu was born.
1948: Assisted Yu Hung-chun, who was in charge of economic affairs in Shanghai. His son Hsiao-yung was born.
1949: The mainland was lost to the communists, and he left for Taiwan.
1950: Served as director of political warfare at the Ministry of Defense, and made preparations for founding a military school for KMT cadres.
1955: Oversaw the evacuation of Dachen.
1956: Work began on the Central Cross-Island Highway. Became vice-chairman of the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen, and took over as chairman the following year.
1958: A Communist bombardment of Kinmen began on August 23, and he took charge of the island's defense.
1960: The Central Cross-Island Highway opened.
1964: Became vice-minister of defense, and minister of defense the following year.
1969: Became vice-premier.
1970: There was an attempt to assassinate him on a trip to America.
1972: Became premier. The following year made his plan for the Ten Major Projects.
1978: Became president.
1982: Had an operation on his retina at Veterans' General Hospital. His overall health was in decline.
1984: Began another term as president.
1987: Declared the end of martial law and allowed family visits to the mainland.
1988: Died in his official residence. His body was taken to a tomb in Touliao, Taoyuan County.
p.9
In Russia Chiang Ching-kuo lived in an agricultural village, worked in a factory and also labored in a mine in Siberia. Because his wife is by his side in this shot, it was probably taken in or about 1935.
p.10
"The hardship we endured in those days was not a dream, but real suffering on the grandest scale," wrote Chiang Ching-kuo about his 12 years in Russia in his memoirs My Days in Russia.
p.11
Chiang's employment identification when he served as the chief administrator and commanding officer of Southern Jiangxi's Fourth District.
On December 12, 1939, the Japanese armed forces bombed the town of Xikou, and Chiang Ching-kuo's mother Mao Fu-mei was one of those killed in the attack. This shot was taken when he was in mourning.
p.12
In 1939 Chiang Ching-kuo served as the chief executive of Gan County. He enjoyed the job, and once said, "There is glory associated with the position; it's as precious and honorable as being a scientist, writer or artist." The photo shows him with residents of the county.
p.13
One of the goals of the "Building a New Southern Jiangxi" campaign was giving "everyone books to read." The photo shows an extracurricular activity for elementary and junior high students.
Chiang Ching-kuo was a very amiable man, and made many good friends when he was in Southern Jiangxi. This photo was given to him by a self-described "group of loyal friends."
p.14
On June 14, 1949, Chiang Ching-kuo flew to northeast China to observe the situation and boost the morale of the armed forces there. At the time the northeast was in a state of turmoil, and Chiang Kai-shek wrote some dozen letters which he entrusted to Chiang Ching-kuo to deliver to his generals. This photo was taken in the Anshan train station.
In 1947 Chiang Ching-kuo was ordered by his father to assist Yu Hung-chun, chairman of the Central Bank, to bring the bank's reserves to Taiwan. In May he wrote down his reflections about this trip.
p.15
In April 1949 Chiang Ching-kuo accompanied his father to sweep the family tombs. Then he went to Shanghai and left the mainland.
p.16
On February 10, 1955, Chiang Ching-kuo, who was then director of political warfare at the Ministry of Defense, was at Zhejiang's Dachen Island to oversee the lowering of the last ROC flag before the remaining people on the island decamped for Taiwan.
"Beginning at 5:00 people gathered in three harbors, forming long lines," wrote a reporter about the retreat from Dachen. "Whole families, including infants and elderly, came with their simple luggage and in a remarkably orderly fashion boarded the small boats." This photo gives a good idea of what it must have been like.
p.17
In the early period in Taiwan, Chiang, as director of political warfare at the Ministry of Defense, frequently visited the front lines in Kinmen. This photo was taken in 1954.
Unlike his father Chiang Kai-shek, who was a remote, solemn figure as president, Chiang Ching-kuo was much more approachable. This shot was also taken on Kinmen in 1954.
p.18
Remembering the lessons of having lost the mainland, in Taiwan Chiang reestablished the system of posting KMT cadres in every military unit. This picture, which was taken about 1953, shows Chiang when he was director of political warfare.
p.19
In 1956, as vice chairman of the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen, Chiang accompanied American friends on a tour of Lanyu. Because the island lacked an airport, they landed off its coast in a seaplane and then transferred to a small boat.
p.20
Work on the first cross-island highway began in 1956, and Chiang twice led teams looking for suitable routes. This picture was taken in 1959.
p.21
On May 3, 1960, the Central Cross-Island Highway was opened.In the photo on the right Chiang is joined by Lin Tse-shan, then director of the Taiwan Highway Bureau, and bus stewardesses.
As premier, Chiang Ching-kuo stressed investment in major public works projects, thus creating demand in the domestic market. In April of 1977 he visited a China Steel mill. (courtesy of the Central News Agency)
Foreign trade was one of the cornerstones of economic development in Taiwan. In April of 1978, Chiang, as ROC president, participated in an exhibition of export machinery sponsored by the China External Trade Development Council. (courtesy of Central News Agency)
p.22
On January 1,1979, America broke relations with the ROC. This dealt a grave blow to Taiwan. On December 16, the American Ambassador Leonard Unger informed James Soong, then deputy director of the Government Information Office, who passed the message on to President Chiang. On December 29, just before relations were to be broken, Chiang met with US Assistant Secretary of State Warren Christopher to discuss the future of Taiwan-US relations.
Chiang's employment identification when he served as the chief administrator and commanding officer of Southern Jiangxi's Fourth District.
On December 12, 1939, the Japanese armed forces bombed the town of Xikou, and Chiang Ching-kuo's mother Mao Fu-mei was one of those killed in the attack. This shot was taken when he was in mourning.
In 1939 Chiang Ching-kuo served as the chief executive of Gan County. He enjoyed the job, and once said, "There is glory associated with the position; it's as precious and honorable as being a scientist, writer or artist." The photo shows him with residents of the county.
One of the goals of the "Building a New Southern Jiangxi" campaign was giving "everyone books to read." The photo shows an extracurricular activity for elementary and junior high students.
Chiang Ching-kuo was a very amiable man, and made many good friends when he was in Southern Jiangxi. This photo was given to him by a selfdescribed "group of loyal friends.".
On June 14, 1949, Chiang Ching-kuo flew to northeast China to observe the situation and boost the morale of the armed forces there. At the time the northeast was in a state of turmoil, and Chiang Kai-shek wrote some dozen letters which he entrusted to Chiang Ching-kuo to deliver to his generals. This photo was taken in the Anshan train station.
In 1947 Chiang Ching-kuo was ordered by his father to assist Yu Hung-chun, chairman of the Central Bank, to bring the bank's reserves to Taiwan. In May he wrote down his reflections about this trip.
In April 1949 Chiang Ching-kuo accompanied his father to sweep the family tombs. Then he went to Shanghai and left the mainland.
On February 10, 1955, Chiang Ching-kuo, who was then director of political warfare at the Ministry of Defense, was at Zhejiang's Dachen Island to oversee the lowering of the last ROC flag before the remaining people on the island decamped for Taiwan.
"Beginning at 5:00 people gathered in three harbors, forming long lines," wrote a reporter about the retreat from Dachen. "Whole families, including infants and elderly, came with their simple luggage and in a remarkably orderly fashion boarded the small boats." This photo gives a good idea of what it must have been like.
In the early period in Taiwan, Chiang, as director of political warfare at the Ministry of Defense, frequently visited the front lines in Kinmen. This photo was taken in 1954.
Unlike his father Chiang Kai-shek, who was a remote, solemn figure as president, Chiang Ching-kuo was much more approachable. This shot was also taken on Kinmen in 1954.
Remembering the lessons of having lost the mainland, in Taiwan Chiang reestablished the system of posting KMT cadres in every military unit. This picture, which was taken about 1953, shows Chiang when he was director of political warfare.
In 1956, as vice chairman of the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen, Chiang accompanied American friends on a tour of Lanyu. Because the island lacked an airport, they landed off its coast in a seaplane and then transferred to a small boat.
Work on the first cross-island highway began in 1956, and Chiang twice led teams looking for suitable routes. This picture was taken in 1959.
On May 3, 1960, the Central Cross-Island Highway was opened. In the photo on the right Chiang is joined by Lin Tse-shan, then director of the Taiwan Highway Bureau, and bus stewardesses.
As premier, Chiang Ching-kuo stressed investment in major public works projects, thus creating demand in the domestic market. In 1976 he inspected the construction of the elevated free way at Yuanshan. （courtesy of the Central News Agency）
As premier, Chiang Ching-kuo stressed investment in major public works projects, thus creating demand in the domestic market. In 1976 he inspected the construction of the elevated free way at Yuanshan. （courtesy of the Central News Agency）
Foreign trade was one of the cornerstones of economic development in Taiwan. In April of 1978, Chiang, as ROC president, participated in an exhibition of export machinery sponsored by the China External Trade Development Council. （courtesy of Central News Agency）
On January 1, 1979, America broke relations with the ROC. This dealt a grave blow to Taiwan. On December 16, the American Ambassador Leonard Unger informed James Soong, then deputy director of the Government Information Office, who passed the message on to President Chiang. On December 29, just before relations were to be broken, Chiang met with US Assistant Secretary of State Warren Christopher to discuss the future of Taiwan-US relations.
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