Chiang Ching-kuo

Chiang Ching-kuo (jyäng jĭng-gwô), 1909–88, eldest son of Chiang Kai-shek, Chinese Nationalist leader, and president of Taiwan. Returning after 12 years in the Soviet Union (1937), he served in minor Chinese government posts until the Nationalist retreat to Taiwan (1949). Afterward he rose to control the armed forces, the intelligence agencies, and became powerful within the Kuomintang party. He was defense minister (1965–72) and premier (1972–78) before becoming president in 1978, a post he held until his death. In his last years he oversaw significant democratization in Taiwan.

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Chiang Ching-kuo

 or Jiang Jingguo

(born March 18, 1910, Qikou, Zhejiang province, China—died Jan. 13, 1988, Taipei, Taiwan) Son of Chiang Kai-shek, and his successor as leader of the Nationalist government in Taiwan. He was formally elected by the National Assembly to a six-year presidential term in 1978 and reelected in 1984. He tried to maintain Taiwan's foreign-trade relationships and political independence as other countries began to break off diplomatic relations in order to establish ties with mainland China. Other actions during his presidency included ending martial law, allowing opposition parties, and encouraging native-born Taiwanese to participate in government.