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; pinyin: Guólì Táiwān Mínzhǔ Jìniànguǎn)^[1] was announced by President Chen Shui-bian on 15 May 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 was renamed back to the original title of the "Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall" on 20 July 2009 when the Kuomintang came back in power.

Chen was then a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In 2007 his party and its allies controlled the executive branch of the ROC government. The opposition, the Kuomintang (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 20 May 2008, Ma Ying-jeou arose as the victor in 2008 presidential elections which also saw his KMT increase its majority in the legislature as the public became disillusioned with the misrule and money-laundering of the DPP led by former President Chen. 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.^[2][3] In August 2008, the Ministry of Education (MOE) 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 MOE 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.^[4]