Chiang Chung-ling | |
---|---|
蔣仲苓 | |
Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang | |
In office 18 June 2000 – 30 March 2003 | |
Chairman | Lien Chan |
20th Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China | |
In office 16 December 1994 – 31 January 1999 | |
President | Lee Teng-hui |
Deputy | Chao Chih-yuan Wang Wen-hsieh Wu Shih-wen |
Preceded by | Sun Chen |
Succeeded by | Tang Fei |
17th Commander-in-Chief the Republic of China Army | |
In office November 1981 – June 1988 | |
President | Chiang Ching-kuo |
Preceded by | Hau Pei-tsun |
Succeeded by | Huang Hsin-chiang |
Personal details | |
Born | Yiwu County, Chekiang Province, Republic of China | September 21, 1922
Died | March 18, 2015 Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan | (aged 92)
Nationality | Republic of China |
Awards | Order of Blue Sky and White Sun |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Republic of China |
Branch/service | Republic of China Army |
Years of service | 1936–1992 |
Rank | General |
Battles/wars | Third Taiwan Strait Crisis |
Chiang Chung-ling (Chinese: 蔣仲苓; pinyin: Jiǎng Zhònglíng; 21 September 1922 – 18 March 2015) was a Taiwanese army general, former Minister of Defense and Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party).[1]
As Minister of Defense, he called for the use of Sky Horse missiles to rival Chinese M-class[clarification needed] 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]