Taiwan Today

Fully two years have passed by since President Chiang Kai-shek resumed his duties in Taipei on March 1, 1950. These past two years may truly be considered as one of the most critical periods in Chinese history, during which President Chiang has amply demonstrated the indispensability of his leadership. In January 1949, when certain sections of the Chinese public clamored for peace in the face of the Communists' rapid advance toward the Yangtze River, President Chiang unhesitatingly announced his retirement and handed over his duties to Vice-president Li Tsung-jen in order that the Government might have a chance to negotiate a settlement with the Chinese Communist Party. The subsequent negotiations, however, fully proved that the Communists did not have an iota of sincerity. Moreover, while the Communists were using the negotiations as a camouflage for their feverish preparations for new attacks, the authorities in Nanking had been so disheartened and demoralized by the incompetence and faltering leadership of the Acting President that practically nothing was done to strengthen the defenses along the Yangtze for the purpose of holding the enemy in check. The result was that when the Communists resumed their offensive in the latter part of April, they carried all before them and succeeded in overrunning the whole of Central and Southwestern provinces before the end of the year. The Soviet-backed Communist regime under Mao Tse-tung was inaugurated in Peiping on October 1, and the National Government was soon compelled to move its seat to Taipei. To all free-loving Chinese the last few weeks of 1949 and the first two months of 1950 were very dark days indeed. The mainland had been lost to the Communists. Acting President Li Tsung-jen had virtually fled to the United States on the pretext of seeking medical treatment. The country was leaderless, and a Communist invasion of Taiwan appeared to be imminent. With General Li stubbornly refusing to return to Taiwan despite the urgent appeals made by various public bodies, there was a growing conviction the Free China had no choice but to turn to the leadership of President Chiang. When the President Chiang finally yielded to the demand of the people and resumed his office on March 1, it was truly a turning point in Chinese history. Under his inspiring leadership miraculous changes have been brought about on Taiwan during the last two years. Free China now enjoys political, economic and social stability. Industrial development has been accelerated, production has been increased, a favorable balance of trade has been achieved, and the principles of constitutional democracy have been implemented. In addition, Free China's armed forces are undergoing a thorough reorganization and an intensive training with the help of the American Military Assistance Advisory Group, and have already greatly improved in morale and fighting ability. Taiwan is now generally recognized as a citadel of democracy and an important bastion for carrying on the anti-communist struggle. And people everywhere in the democratic countries, including many of his former critics, have become convinced that President Chiang's leadership is essential not only to the success of the Chinese people's struggle for freedom and independence but also to the ultimate triumph of democracy over Communism. President Chiang will not disappoint the Chinese people and their friends abroad. Under his leadership the people of Free China will not only make Taiwan secure from attack, but will before long march back to the mainland to deliver the 450,000,000 Chinese from Communist oppression, and thereby help to put an end to the Communist scourge which is menacing free peoples in all parts of the world.