Taiwan removes Chiang Kai-shek statue from scenic area

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Workers removed a statue of former leader Chiang Kai-shek (蔣中正) from the Lishan Guesthouse (梨山賓館) in Taichung on Wednesday (Sept. 10). The bronze monument, which served as a landmark for nearly five decades, will be preserved at the nearby Lishan Heritage Museum (梨山文物陳列館). The removal marks another step in Taiwan's ongoing transitional justice efforts to address symbols from the island's authoritarian past.

Authorities announced plans to replace the statue with a calligraphy art installation featuring the Taiwanese cherry salmon, an endemic species. Many residents gathered to witness the removal process, and local vendors expressed sadness over the statue's departure from the scenic area. The monument, inscribed with the phrases "Forever Grateful" and "Erected by the People of Lishan," had become a familiar sight since its establishment in 1976.

Tsao Chung-yu (曹忠猷), director of the Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area (參山國家公園管理處), a government tourism agency, noted that a master calligrapher will create the new installation. The official also stated that the national flag's position will be adjusted to the back of the circular area. The changes reflect broader efforts to transform public spaces while maintaining cultural significance through artistic expression.

The Lishan removal represents part of a broader trend across Taiwan's institutions. Soochow University (東吳大學), a private institution in Taipei, recently proposed moving its Chiang Kai-shek bust to storage facilities. The school's Chung Cheng Library (中正圖書館), named after Chiang's formal name, plans to raise funds for renovations and potentially rename the facility entirely.

Student representatives at Soochow University have repeatedly discussed renaming the library, prompting university officials to establish a committee to handle the statue relocation. The committee follows directives from Taiwan's Ministry of Education (教育部) to relocate such authoritarian symbols from campus spaces. Jason Hung (洪振翔), president of the student council at Soochow University, acknowledged Chiang Kai-shek's role in the university's reestablishment in Taiwan after World War II.

Taiwan's Ministry of Education (教育部) supports these institutional changes through the "Grant for Colleges and Universities to Implement Transitional Justice Education Programs" (補助大專校院辦理轉型正義教育實施計畫). The program mandates the removal of authoritarian symbols from educational institutions. The ministry established subsidy programs to assist private schools in implementing transitional justice education initiatives across Taiwan's higher education system. ◼