The Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai-Shek

For many Taiwanese people, the Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai-shek brings back painful memories of the suppression, wrongful arrests, and killings which took place during the "White Terror" and four decades of martial law in Taiwan. The most significant event which marks the beginning of the Terror is known as the February 28 Incident.

On February 27, 1947, a woman was arrested in Taipei for selling illegal cigarettes. The officer took away her cigarettes as well as her cash and struck her on the head with his pistol. As bystanders gathered in protestors, the officer shot into the crowd killing one innocent person. During the next ten days, people protested the corruption of the police and demanded justice from the government. Although Governor Chen Yi made promises to negotiate, he secretly called for help from the mainland. On March 8, Chiang Kai-shek's troops arrived at the northern port of Keelung and fired machine gun shots all the way into Taipei.

During the following months, Taiwanese professionals, students, men, women and children were pursued and slaughtered by the Nationalist troops. Martial law was declared and remained in place to suppress any mention of the February 28 Incident. Protestors who voiced their opposition were arrested and/or killed. Only in recent years, since the lifting of martial law in the 1980s, have people begun to publicly address the crimes committed by the government and military.

For more information about the February 28 Incident, visit: Remembering 2-28

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• Wellesley College Taiwanese Students Association
• Date Created: March 29, 1999
• Last Modified: April 21, 2000
• Expires: June 30, 2001