Wang Hsi-ling explained

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]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: Taiwan Murderer Changes His Story. 1985-05-11. 2007-11-12. The New York Times.
  2. News: Los Angeles Times. 2008-01-06. Taiwan Probing Link to Murder; Intelligence Officials Tied to Death of Writer in U.S.. https://web.archive.org/web/20110524125333/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/64369674.html?dids=64369674:64369674&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+17,+1985&author=DAN+MORAIN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Taiwan+Probing+Link+to+Murder+Intelligence+Officials+Tied+to+Death+of+Writer+in+U.S.&pqatl=google. dead. May 24, 2011. 1985-01-17. Morain. Dan.
  3. News: Taiwan Admiral Named at Murder Trial. 1985-03-21. 2007-11-12. The New York Times.
  4. Book: Taylor, Jay. 385–394. The Generalissimo's Son: Chiang Ching-Kuo and the Revolutions in China and Taiwan. 2000. Harvard University Press. 0674002873.
  5. News: Taiwan admiral gets life in Calif. slaying. Philadelphia Daily News. Chang. Wendel. 1985-04-19. 2008-01-04.
  6. News: 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. 2007-12-10. 2008-01-06. Chinese. https://archive.today/20120715115704/http://news.yam.com/cna/politics/200712/20071210046039.html. 2012-07-15. dead.
  7. News: Taiwan Gives Clemency to 3 Convicted of Slaying Writer. 1991-01-22. 2007-11-12. The New York Times.
  8. News: 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. 2007-11-11. 2008-01-06. Chinese.