Chiang Kai-shek and KMT Government Withdraw to Taiwan After Losing Chinese Civil War
10 December 1949 · 20th Century
On December 10, 1949, Chiang Kai-shek evacuated the last KMT-held city on the mainland and completed the Nationalist government's withdrawal to Taiwan. Mao Zedong had proclaimed the People's Republic of China on October 1. Approximately two million military personnel, officials, and civilians crossed to Taiwan, along with China's gold reserves and national treasures. Chiang declared Taipei the temporary capital of the Republic of China and imposed martial law, which remained in force until 1987. The US Seventh Fleet deployed to the Taiwan Strait in June 1950 following the outbreak of the Korean War, preventing PRC invasion.
Key Figures
Mao ZedongChiang Kai-shek
Locations
TaiwanTaipei
Topics
Cold WarPartitionChinese Civil WarTaiwanexile government
Connected Events — 3 Connections
KMT retreat established ROC on Taiwan under martial law; democratic transition completed 47 years later with direct presidential election Taiwan Holds Direct Presidential Election Under PRC Missile Intimidation
Japan's defeat ended its colonial control of Taiwan; the resumption of Chinese Civil War after WWII produced the KMT's 1949 retreat to the island Japan Signs Surrender Instrument Aboard USS Missouri; Allied Occupation Begins
Democratic election completed the transformation of the KMT's 1949 authoritarian exile government into a popularly legitimized democracy Taiwan Holds Direct Presidential Election Under PRC Missile Intimidation
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