Renaming of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Renaming Of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

The renaming of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan to National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall (Chinese: 國立台灣民主紀念館, Chinese: 国立台湾民主纪念馆) was announced by President Chen Shui-bian on May 15, 2007. The surrounding plaza was rededicated to democracy as Liberty Square. This move was condemned by the pan-blue media as a political move by the Democratic Progressive Party to denounce the historical heritage of the Republic of China. The site has now been restored back to the original title of the "Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall" as of July 20, 2009 with the Nationalists back in power.

Chen was then a member of the Republic of China (ROC) Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP. In 2007 his party and its allies controlled the executive branch of the ROC government. The opposition, the Kuomintang, or KMT, and its allies held a one-vote majority in the legislature. With a national election looming in 2008, support and opposition divided along partisan lines. Legal wrangling ensued, with the debate centering on the prerogatives and powers of each branch of the ROC government. Legally, the executive branch held the authority to rename the monument and square without ratification by the legislature. The legislature, however, could deny some funding if it declined to recognize the new names in appropriate documents. The Taipei city government, then under KMT control, also weighed in, arguing historical status for the relatively new site and invoking city ordinances forbidding the alteration of such sites. For the remainder of Chen's term both old and new names remained in use, with preferences lining up largely on partisan lines.

On May 20, 2008, Ma Ying-jeou arose as the victor in 2008 Presidential Elections which also saw his Kuomintang party increase its majority in the legislature as the public became disillusioned with the misrule and money-laundering of the Democratic Progressive Party led by former President Chen Shui-Bian. During the campaign Ma had promised to restore the original names and inscriptions at the site. After his election Ma promised to undertake wide consultation before making a final decision about names. In August 2008 Ministry of Education officials announced that the administration recognized the original name of the memorial as the official one but that no final decision would be made on the matter until the public was consulted. In January 2009 the Ministry of Education announced that no public forums would take place, that the original plaque designating the hall as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial would be restored by the end of the summer, and that Liberty Square would be allowed to stand as the name of the plaza.