Taiwanese politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cheng Wei-yuan (traditional Chinese:鄭為元; simplified Chinese:郑为元; pinyin:Zhèng Wèiyuán; 20 January 1913– 3 August 1993) was a Taiwanese politician. He was the only Minister of National Defense (1987-1989) with the complete personal achievements in all the 4 power systems (Kuomintang, Politics, Military and Intelligence) in the ROC history. Being one of the few top-rank KMT generals sympathizing the victims by the Martial Law operation during White Terror and supporting the democratic modernization trend of the state;[1] he kept the open-mind policy of communication to cooperate with the demands of parliament, media and societies, including the subtle relation with the newly founded Democratic Progressive Party.[2]
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1957: Returned as the Chief of the G3 (Operation) section of MND; supervised the fortress construction in Kinmen and Matsu Islands.
1958: Promoted to the lieutenant-general rank as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of MND in charge of support operations during Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.
1959: Promoted as the Chief of G1 (Personnel) Bureau of MND, then the Chief of Staff of ROC Army.
1981: Retired in term of the military career in order to perform civil services.
1982: Nominated the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC), Chairman of Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, Chairman of Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation.[4] During his term in VAC, ROC Arm Forces reformed with significant downsizing to adapt the world situation change in 80s, Cheng devoted all resources to assist retired veterans transforming to civilian life in society, such as the paratrooper veteran association...
1983: After a visit to the Chinese refugee camps in northern Thailand, Cheng dispatched the veteran technician mission to northern Thailand to assist farming, vegetable and fruit agriculture to replace the traditional opium production of the Golden Triangle area, and the success earned the welcoming praise of His Majesty Rama IX in 1984.[5]
1987: Shortly after taking Minister term in MND on April 28, Cheng arrived in Kinmen with a special envoy of the Political Warfare Bureau conducting the field investigation and excavation discovering the victim civilian cadavers at the first scene to solve the criminal case of Lieyu Massacre on 23 May, which lead to 30 involved officers under the Kinmen Defense Command detained to court-martial, and 45 related officers received the administrative sanction transfer.[6] Later on 14 July, he also endorsed the historical decree of PresidentChiang Ching-kuo to end the notorious 38-year Martial law ruling period to pave the foundation for the democratic reform in Taiwan.[7] MND also accordingly abolished 30 relevant special laws and regulations based on the Martial Law, and granted the commutation or release of the related current prisoners sentenced by courts-martial under the authorities.[8][9]
1988: On 14 January, 17 hours after the death of PresidentChiang Ching-kuo, Minister Cheng and General Hau dispatched the public telegram on behalf of 22 commanding generals declaring the allegiance to Vice President Lee Teng-hui, and supported him following the procedure of Constitution to succeed the presidency, which delayed the internal power struggle within Kuomintang core and prevented the emerging crisis of Coup d'état by Madame Chiang Kai-shek's influences.[10]
On March 15, Cheng addressed a statement in Legislative Yuan that personnel of the military were free to join any political party. Nevertheless, they were not allowed to take part in any anti-government protest.[11] Cheng accompanied PresidentLee Teng-hui on a visit to Singapore in 1989.[12]
On May 1, President Lee accepted Cheng's proposal to release the falsely accused General Sun Li-jen after 33 years of house arrest by Chiang Sr. and Jr.[5]
1989: Retired from the civil service and nominated as a National Policy Advisor in ROC Office of the President (OP).
1990: Nominated with honour as the Senior advisor in OP.
Minister Cheng always maintained the gentlemanship attitude with positive humour in response to smooth chaotic situation, such as once being confronted by a legislator famous for the violent behavior pattern at the time, he replied with a poet piece by MasterSu Shi 927 years ago.[13][5]
He was awarded the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun by President Lee Teng-hui to appreciate his contribution to the military reform and democracy,[14][15] nonetheless he remained the humble attitude in respect to the state, hence requested his family not to show off the medal in the public memorial as per the ROC military custom after his death.[16][5]
Zheng Jing; Cheng Nan-jung; Ye Xiangzhi; Xu Manqing (13 June 1987). "金門守軍殺人事件驚人內幕"[Shocking inside story of the Kinmen Military Murder Case] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei: Freedom Era Weekly Vol. 175-176. Retrieved 25 July 2022– via Oneup Network Oneup Network.
"戰功庇蔭後代 「免死金牌」 傳黃百韜獨子換一命"[War merit extends to cover the descendant - Order of Blue Sky and White Sun granted immunity on the only son of Gen. Huang Baitao from death penalty] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei: China Times. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2022– via Yahoo! News.
曹常璧 (29 August 2012). "《我們的國家我們的黨》勳章蒙灰記"["Our Country, Our Party" Memoir of Medals in Ashes] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taoyuan, Taiwan : 馬祖資訊網. Retrieved 2022-07-24.