Citizen protest against the Nationalist government in 1932 was one of the most prominent and visible displays of resistance to authority during World War II.
The military coup that resulted in the ouster of Chiang by a new pro-Constitution government was widely regarded as an important milestone in the development of Taiwan’s competing political institutions. It also served as a backdrop for debates about how best to strengthen democracy in Taiwan. Gaogao (United Front) and Kuomintang (Nationalists) held joint sessions at Taipei City’s Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall from April 9, 1933, until November 27, 1934. Many of these events were closely linked: both parties used this hall as their primary propaganda office and residence for members of their respective parliamentary delegations. In this article, we describe how the March 28, 1933, session at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall became the first public meeting between Taiwanese democracy activists and Taiwanese nationalist leaders. We also explore topics related to Taiwanese democratic history, including GGAO (United Front) and Kuomintang membership numbers in 1934. We conclude with a brief look at some recent developments in China and Taiwan’s relationship with each other following the ousting of China’s last independent ruler – similar to what is taking place today.
Taiwan and China have a long history of military and political relations
In this article, we focus on how the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall became a key milestone in the development of Taiwan’s competing political institutions. Chiang Kai-shek was a Chinese nationalist leader and author whose thwarted attempts to establish independence for Taiwan in 1919 sparked a civil war in China’s eastern provinces. The war, which was the bloodiest civil war in the history of the country, ended in a negotiated ceasefire in February 1921 and promptly became the focus of international attention. For Taiwan’s democratization process and subsequent success in qualifying for World Health Organization’s New World Health Organization cancer initiative, this was another important and topical issue. Nation-building, the building of a society out of the ruins of previous ones, and strengthening one’s physical and mental health were major topics of discussion at the time.
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: A must-see Site for tourists in Taiwan, 1930-1934
After the Peking opera controversy of October 1932, censorship in Taiwan became a serious issue. New identities and new media were generating rapid public discussion, especially on the internet and television, about freedom of speech and privacy. Wan Ching-min, the editor-in-chief of the official Taiwan newspaper, the Guardian, faced a cold reception when he spoke about Wang Shin-chi, the ambassador to the United States and a member of the Kuomintang: The Kuomintang’s Wan Ching-min sparked a heated debate among his peers in the Taipei City press gallery when he spoke about the United States and freedom of speech. “Now, I won’t run into journalists who think this way, but you …” he said, to laughter and jeers from his fellow readers.
Chen Shui-bian and the Kuomintang: A key moment in Taiwan’s democratic transition
In 1934, Chen Shui-bian, a Guanzhou-based university professor and member of the Kuomintang, was elected the first National Party Chairman of the Taiwanese Free Provinces. This was a big deal in Taiwan: he was the first Taiwanese official to serve in this role. As the ex-president of the Kuomintang, Chen was well aware of the importance of this position: he was actively working to strengthen the party from within. Chen’s formal election as party Chairman was delayed a few months, due in part to his desire to be proactive during the transition from democratic to glasnost in Taiwan. In the Spring of 1934, he attended a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Nationalist Party in Taiwan and spoke about the importance of building a “new national culture” with a “new national orientation.” Chen also reminded the crowd that the Nationalists had won a landslide victory in the Jiangnhensi (Shandong) province in 1931: “This is a moment of history, isn’t it?” he asked, to laughter and applause. “This is the new national culture, these are the new national words.”
Gaogao activists and Kuomintang members gathered at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in 1934
In 1934, the Guangzhou-based guoji (party organization) supporting Chen Shui-bian, who ran as the Kuomintang’s candidate for the provincial legislature, held a meeting in Hualien, Hainan Province, to discuss the need for a unified front in the face of rising nationalism in the country. The idea was to gather anti-government, pro-government, and anti-Communist organizations together in order to promote greater collaboration and mutual support among all parties. The group also discussed forming a new “front” in the “name of the people” – a bold move in an era when the word “people” was taboo and every political party was expected to be part of the official government. The leaders of these organizations met in Guangzhou in October 1934, where they established the Guangzhou-based Party of National Salvation, which later became known as the Kuomintang. The main purpose of this group was to coordinate and promote inter-party collaboration and to gather against political developments that might threaten national unity.
On the subject of Taiwanese democracy: What is your take?
In the wake of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, activists against Taiwan’s independence were keen to remind the public about the importance of freedom of speech and the press. They also called for universal suffrage, free and fair elections, and a brighter future for the people of Taiwan.
How to reach Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall?
As the meeting room of the Guangzhou-based Party of National Salvation was a few blocks from the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, many participants went there to meet their friends and family. The meeting room was a working-class apartment building in Taipei Harbor, which served as a political and cultural center for the city. It was not an inconvenient location for such activities: visitors could easily walk to the center of town from the meeting room.
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall at the Taipei City Museum is one of the most fascinating places in Asia. Although most people do not know it, this building served many important roles during World War II: it was the official residence of the Taipei government, and it also functioned as a freedom of speech and press forum. These are just a few moments from the life of one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century, Tsai Win-ming, who was buried in this hall. If you want to learn more about the great man, you should go to the Taipei City Museum. In this article, we describe how the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall became a key milestone in the development of Taiwan’s competing political institutions. We also explore topics related to Taiwanese democratic history, including GGAO (United Front) and Kuomintang membership numbers in 1934. We conclude with a brief look at recent developments in China and Taiwan’s relationship with each other following the ousting of China’s last independent ruler – similar to what is happening today.
