Chiang Chung-ling

Chiang Chung-ling (Chinese: 蔣仲苓; pinyin: Jiǎng Zhònglíng, September 21, 1922 – March 18, 2015) was a Taiwanese army general, former Minister of Defense and Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party).[1]

Chiang Chung-ling
蔣仲苓
Gen. Chiang Chung-ling
Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang
In office
18 June 2000 – 30 March 2003
ChairmanLien Chan
20th Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China
In office
16 December 1994 – 31 January 1999
PresidentLee Tung-hui
DeputyChao Chih-yuan
Wang Wen-hsieh
Wu Shih-wen
Preceded bySun Chen
Succeeded byTang Fei
17th Commander-in-Chief the Republic of China Army
In office
November 1981 – June 1988
PresidentChiang Ching-kuo
Preceded byHau Pei-tsun
Succeeded byHuang Hsin-chiang
Personal details
Born(1922-09-21)September 21, 1922
Yiwu County, Chekiang Province, Republic of China
DiedMarch 18, 2015(2015-03-18) (aged 92)
Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
NationalityRepublic of China
AwardsOrder of Blue Sky and White Sun
Military service
AllegianceRepublic of China
Branch/serviceRepublic of China Army
Years of service1936–1992
RankGeneral
Battles/warsThird Taiwan Strait Crisis

As Minister of Defense, he called for the use of Sky Horse missiles to rival Chinese M-class missiles.[2] Also, several high-profile military deaths occurred during his term as Minister of Defense. When being questioned by reporters outside the parliament on September 19, 1995, he replied with a rhetorical question, "哪個地方不死人?" ("Where do people not die?").[3] His reply caused a sensation and public condemnation, and finally he apologized on September 25, 1995.

After a C-130H military transport plane crashed on October 10, 1997, near Taipei, Chiang Chung-ling resigned as Minister of Defense on October 11 to take responsibility for the crash, in which all five crew members died.[4]

Death

In 2015, he died at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, aged 92, of heart failure.[5]

References
  1. Swaine, Michael D. (1999). Taiwan's National Security, Defense Policy, and Weapons Procurement Processes. Rand Corporation. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-8330-2798-6.
  2. Mistry, Dinshaw (2005). Containing Missile Proliferation: Strategic Technology, Security Regimes, and International Cooperation in Arms Control. University of Washington Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-295-98507-7.
  3. "▲國防部前部長蔣仲苓病逝　享壽93歲。（圖／翻攝自國防部發言人臉書）". NOWnews (in Chinese). 19 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  4. "Defence minister resigns over plane crash". The Nation. October 12, 1997. p. 3. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  5. Lu, Hsin-hui; Chen, Jay (19 March 2015). "Former Defense Minister Chiang Chung-ling dies at 93". Central News Agency. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
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