Chiang Chung-ling
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).
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 Tung-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 | September 21, 1922 Yiwu County, Chekiang Province, Republic of China |
| Died | March 18, 2015 (aged 92) Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan |
| 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 |
As Minister of Defense, he called for the use of Sky Horse missiles to rival Chinese M-class missiles. 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?"). 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.