Who were they? They were Taiwan's presidents. In 1949, Chiang, Kaishek and his troops retreated to Taiwan after losing his war to the communist in China. After he came to Taiwan, he announced martial laws and started his dictatorship. He prosecuted a lot of innocent Taiwanese elites and took their lives away. Until the day he died, he always though about taking back China from the communist. Taiwan was just a temporary place for him and his people to stay. He died in 1975. His body was placed in Cihu for people to pay their respect.
His son, Chiang, Chingkuo, continued his policies; however, Chiang Chingkuo realized that going back to China was impossible due to the China geting stronger, losing the support from the United States government, and the poor relationships with other countries in his life time. He started his Great Ten Projects which was to construct Taiwan infrastructures during the worldwide economic crisis in the 1970's. Because of the correct policies in the 70's, Taiwan economics improved extremely and transformed Taiwan into a industrial country from an agricultural country. He also constructed the most difficult and beautiful highway through the Taroko National Park.
Facing the stronger democracy request from people all around the island, Chiang, Chingkuo understood the changing of the political environment in his later years. He announced that his sons wouldn't take over his throne and also lifted the 38 years long martial laws in 1987. He started appointing Taiwanese for the high level and important government jobs. For example, he appointed Lee Tenghui, a Taiwanese, as his vice president. In 1988, he died and Lee Tenghui became the Taiwan president. Taiwanese elected their first president in 1996 and Taiwan became a real democracy country.
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| We took leisure day traveling from Taichung to Taoyuan county. Our first stop was Touliao Mausoleum which hosted Chiang, Chingkuo's body. It displayed the story of the Black Cat Squadron which flew U2 spy aircrafts over Chinese territory and took pictures from 1961 to 1974 under the support of the United States' government. (No picture for the display.) |
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| Taken by Ann The guard was a real person who had to stand at the entrance of the mausoleum for 1 hour. He couldn't move even when there was a mosquito on his body. Therefore, the unite had another person stand by him to drive away mosquitoes or wipe off his sweat because of the heat, etc. A lot of tourists didn't believe he was a real person, especial tourists from China. They tried to poke or touch them or using many ways to make them move or laugh. Their behavior was stopped by the person who stood by the guard. |
