Changing of the guard ceremonies in memorial hall for island’s first president will be moved outside from next week.
Taiwanese honour guards will no longer perform changing of the guard ceremonies around a giant statue of the island’s first president, Chiang Kai-shek, as part of a national effort to stop “worshipping authoritarianism”. Starting from Monday, the elaborate military performance will be moved outdoors to Taipei’s Democracy Boulevard, close to the capital’s iconic blue and white memorial hall dedicated to Chiang, which houses his 21-foot (6.3-metre) bronze statue.
The move is in line with the Ministry of Culture’s goal of promoting transitional justice by eliminating the cult of personality and authoritarianism associated with Chiang Kai-shek. The former leader, who fled mainland China to Taiwan after losing to Mao Zedong’s Communists, is seen as a divisive figure in Taiwan’s history.
The country’s efforts to address past political persecution under Chiang’s rule are evident in the removal of statues and renaming of landmarks associated with him. The decision to move the changing of the guard ceremony symbolizes Taiwan’s ongoing transition towards a more democratic and open society.