Taiwan discusses the removal of 760 statues of former president Chiang Kai-shek., Taipei - 08 May 2024
Tourists observe changing of honor guards next to the statue of Taiwan former president Chiang Kai-shek inside the memorial hall in Taipei, Taiwan, 08 May 2024. (Issued 08 May 2024). The Taiwanese government has committed to accelerating the removal of nearly 800 statues of Chiang Kai-shek, a controversial figure who led the island under martial law until his death in 1975. Established in 2018, a transitional justice committee recommended the relocation of these statues from public areas. Chiang, who fled to Taiwan after losing China's civil war in 1949, has been a source of political debate. While many statues have been moved to a park in northern Taipei, the debate continues, especially concerning the prominent statue in Taipei's memorial hall.