Chiang Kai-shek's name restored to Taipei monument

The Ministry of Education (MOE), which has jurisdiction over the hall and the square, said the compromise should appease people on both sides of the controversial issue.

"We believe that this compromise will contribute to social harmony," said Vice Minister of Education Lu Mu-lin.

Lu was referring to controversy over the designation of the hall, dedicated in 1980 to commemorate the late President Chiang Kai-shek, who was regarded as a controversial figure for his totalitarian rule of Taiwan while fighting against attempted invasions by Chinese Communist troops.

Chiang was also seen by many as a hero who helped put a check on Communist expansion in the Asia-Pacific region while promoting education, democracy and free economic system which he had no chance to carry out in China during eight years of war resisting Japan's invasion and the ensuing civil war against the Communists who were aided by the Soviet Union.

Former President Chen Shui-bian of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) renamed the memorial hall as the "National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall" and an inscription on the main gate to the complex in the CKS Park was also changed to "Liberty Square" from the original "Ta Chung Chih Cheng," which translates as "Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness," with public funds in May 2007.

Lu said the plaque restoration project cost an additional NT$1.1 million.

He said the previous government's unilateral and reckless move of renaming the memorial hall was controversial and did not meet legal requirements and follow administrative procedures.

"In line with the provisions of a number of laws, including the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act and the Basic Organic Law of Central Administrative Agencies, the Ministry of Education needed to reinstate the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall plaque removed by the DPP, to protect the dignity of our laws," Lu explained.

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