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Wang Hsi-ling

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Wang Hsi-ling
Chinese汪希苓
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWāng Xīlíng
Wade–GilesWang1
 Hsi1
-ling2

Vice-Admiral Wang Hsi-ling (born 18 July 1929), also spelled Wang Shi-ling or Wong Hsi-ling, was the director of Republic of China (Taiwan) Ministry of National Defense's intelligence bureau and the highest-ranking officer in the Republic of China Armed Forces ever court-martialed.[1][2]

Wang was implicated during the murder trial of the United Bamboo Gang leader Chen Chi-li, when evidence arose that Chen claimed that Wang had ordered him to go to Daly City, California to kill the dissident journalist Henry Liu in 1984.[3] American officials travelled to Taiwan to interview him and administer a polygraph examination in February 1985; then-President Chiang Ching-kuo was at first reluctant, but on 8 February acceded to their demand. Wang denied that he had ordered Chen to kill Liu, stating he only wanted Chen to "teach Liu a lesson", and further denied that his superiors had approved the killing. His three interviewers agreed that the polygraph results showed that both of his statements were false.[4] On 19 April 1985, he was sentenced to life in prison by a Taipei military tribunal; He could have faced the death penalty.[5] Less than a month later, Chen retracted all of his testimony implicating Wang.[1]

Wang was imprisoned at the Taiwan Garrison Command facility for political prisoners in Jingmei, Taipei County (now Wenshan District, Taipei City); his cell was reportedly equipped with a kitchen and a study, and his family was allowed to live with him.[6] He, Chen, and Chen's associate Wu Tun were granted clemency in 1991 and released from prison, having served less than six years of their life sentences.[7] It was never determined for whom Wang was covering up, though scholars agree that he was not the initiator of the plan. Later analysts suggest that Chiang's son Chiang Hsiao-wu ordered the killings.[4] However, as late as 2007, Republic of China officials continued to deny any connection of Chiang's to the case.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Taiwan Murderer Changes His Story". The New York Times. 1985-05-11. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  2. ^ Morain, Dan (1985-01-17). "Taiwan Probing Link to Murder; Intelligence Officials Tied to Death of Writer in U.S." Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  3. ^ "Taiwan Admiral Named at Murder Trial". The New York Times. 1985-03-21. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  4. ^ a b Taylor, Jay (2000). The Generalissimo's Son: Chiang Ching-Kuo and the Revolutions in China and Taiwan. Harvard University Press. pp. 385–394. ISBN 0674002873.
  5. ^ Chang, Wendel (1985-04-19). "Taiwan admiral gets life in Calif. slaying". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  6. ^ "總統:汪希苓特區和政治犯牢房 天堂與地獄 (President: Wang Hsi-ling's 'special area' and political prisoners' cells — heaven and hell)". Yam News (in Chinese). 2007-12-10. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  7. ^ "Taiwan Gives Clemency to 3 Convicted of Slaying Writer". The New York Times. 1991-01-22. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  8. ^ "台情報員口述江南案內幕:與蔣無關 (Taiwan intelligence operative gives behind-the-scenes description of the Henry Liu case: No connection to Chiang)". Ta Kung Pao (in Chinese). 2007-11-11. Retrieved 2008-01-06.

Further reading

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