From the 1930s a civil war was underway in mainland China between Chiang Kai-shek’s Republic of China government and the Communist Party led Mao Zedong. When the civil war ended in 1949, 2 million refugees, predominantly from the Nationalist government, military, and business community, fled to Taiwan. On October 1, 1949 the Peoples Republic of China was founded in mainland China. Chiang Kai-shek died, in April 1975, and was succeeded to the presidency by Yen Chia-kan while his son Chiang Ching-kuo succeeded to the leadership of the Kuomintang. He set the stage that led to incredible economic successes of the territories starting in the mid 1980s.
In 1987, Chiang ended martial law and allowed family visits to mainland China. His administration saw a gradual loosening of political controls and opponents of the Nationalists were no longer forbidden to hold meetings or publish papers. Opposition political parties, though still illegal, were allowed to form Democratic Progressive Party was established in 1986.
The Chiang Kai-Shel Memorial Palace is packed with artefacts from the establishment of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Featured are Sun Yat-Sen and Chiang Kai-Shek with paintings, photos and memorobilia of past glories. The USA features in the history given their role in supporting what was to be the bulwark against Communist China.
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