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Taiwan in 1977: Holding the Reins

1978; University of California Press; Volume: 18; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/2643180

1533-838X

Gerald A. McBeath,

Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics

THIRTY YEARS AGO, on February 28, 1947, Taiwanese demonstrated against the imposition of Nationalist rule in Taiwan. Their actions were met by official violence as troops fired on demonstrators, killing hundreds. This incident, now called the 2-28 event, set an unfortunate tone for the KMT in Taiwan. Thirty years later, on November 19, 1977, hundreds of Taiwanese stormed a police station in Chungli, accusing the government of corrupting the elections. In this instance, however, police received orders from higher ups to employ no violence. Using neither guns nor clubs, officers left the field to rioters who burned cars, police dormitories, and the station house itself. Shortly thereafter, the riot also burned out, and order was restored. The Chungli riot seems unlikely to occupy an important place in the history of modern Taiwan. Yet the incident summarizes key aspects of a generation of Nationalist adaptation to Taiwan, and it informs us of the dynamis m and tensions of this island society as it rushes into an uncertain future. Examining the challenges faced in 1977-economic, diplomatic, and political-and the Chiang administration's responses, will help explain this incident and its portents.