President associated with both authoritarian rule and the lifting of martial law in 1987
Chiang Kai-shek’s eldest son. After study and work in the Soviet Union, he returned to China in 1937 and built power in Nationalist local administration and intelligence and security institutions. In Taiwan he served as defence minister and premier, becoming KMT chairman in 1975 and ROC president in 1978. He continued economic development and authoritarian rule, while allowing greater space for opposition and media late in his presidency. He lifted martial law in Taiwan in 1987 and died in office in 1988.
Career timeline
- 1925–1937Studied and worked in the Soviet Union
- 1937Returned to China
- 1972–1978Premier of the ROC
- 1975Became KMT chairman
- 1978–1988President of the ROC
- 1987.07.15Lifted martial law in Taiwan
Taiwanese musician who joined the hunger strike and negotiated withdrawal
Taiwanese songwriter and singer known for Descendants of the Dragon. He moved to mainland China in 1983 and joined the 1989 protests. Fasting with Liu Xiaobo and others, he advocated nonviolence and negotiated with martial-law troops before dawn on 4 June to facilitate the students’ departure. As an eyewitness who remained in the square, he distinguished the negotiated evacuation from the shootings in surrounding streets. Deported to Taiwan in 1990, he continued his musical career abroad.
Career timeline
- 1978Wrote Descendants of the Dragon
- 1983Moved from Taiwan to mainland China
- 1989Fasted with Liu Xiaobo and others
- 1989.06.04Helped negotiate departure from the square
- 1990Deported to Taiwan
Uyghur student leader known for the televised confrontation with Li Peng
Uyghur activist whose original name is Örkesh Dölet. As a Beijing Normal University student in 1989, he became prominent in independent student organization and the hunger strike. His confrontation with Premier Li Peng during the televised meeting of 18 May made him widely known. He left China after the crackdown, went into exile and later settled in Taiwan, working as a political commentator and democracy activist. He stood in Taiwan’s legislative elections in 2014 and 2016.
Career timeline
- 1989Joined the hunger strike as a Beijing Normal University student
- 1989Confronted Li Peng in televised talks
- 1989Went into exile after the crackdown
- 1996Settled in Taiwan
- 2014–2016Contested legislative elections
