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User:Mliu92/sandbox/Attempted assassination of Chiang Ching-kuo

Coordinates: 40°45′53″N 73°58′29″W / 40.7647°N 73.9746°W / 40.7647; -73.9746
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424 CCK assassination attempt
四二四刺殺蔣經國案
LocationPlaza Hotel, New York City
Coordinates40°45′53″N 73°58′29″W / 40.7647°N 73.9746°W / 40.7647; -73.9746
Date24 April 1970 (Eastern Time)
TargetChiang Ching-kuo
Deaths0
Injured2
PerpetratorPeter Huang, Cheng Tzu-tsai
MotiveCalling attention to Taiwanese independence movement

Cheng Tzu-tsai and Peter Huang attempted to assassinate then-Vice Premier Chiang Ching-kuo (Chiang Kai-shek's son) on April 24, 1970 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Both men were members of World United Formosans for Independence (WUFI), which quickly distanced the organization from their action. After a successful fundraising campaign, both men posted bail and fled the United States; they were sentenced in absentia and were later extradited to serve their jail sentences. Upon returning to Taiwan in the 1990s, over twenty years later (after the statute of limitations had run out on the assassination attempt), both were jailed for illegal entry.

Planning

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Conspirators

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  • Cheng Tzu-tsai (鄭自才; Zhèng Zìcái, born (1936-12-01) December 1, 1936 (age 87))
  • Peter Huang (黃文雄; Huáng Wénxióng, born (1937-10-02) October 2, 1937 (age 86))
  • Cecelia Huang (黃晴美; Huáng Qíngměi, Cheng's wife and Huang's sister)
  • Lai Wen-hsiung (賴文雄; Lài Wénxióng)

Planned in 1969. [1]Cheng Tzu-tsai, then the secretary-general of WUFI, had conceived and organized the plot along with his brother-in-law Peter Huang, Cheng's wife Huang Ching-mei, and WUFI member Lai Wen-hsiung (賴文雄; Lài Wén Xióng).[2][3]

24 April 1970

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On April 24, 1970, Cheng and Huang carried out the attempted assassination.[4] Although Cheng intended to be the assassin, Huang volunteered in consideration of Cheng's wife and children. While Cheng was handing out pamphlets and shouting as a distraction,[5] Huang approached Chiang with a gun at the Plaza Hotel, but a Diplomatic Security Service special agent pushed him out of the way, causing the bullet to strike the hotel's revolving doors.[6][7] Cheng hurried to Huang's side once the gun was fired, and both men were arrested.

Aftermath

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WUFI later issued a statement disclaiming involvement.[8] Huang pled guilty in a 1971 trial to charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm,[9] but was granted bail before sentencing, and fled the United States.[10][11] Cheng pleaded innocent to attempted murder, but was convicted after a WUFI colleague testified he had given the weapon to Cheng.[2]

Cheng also jumped bail in 1971 just before his conviction, fleeing to Sweden for asylum, but was extradited to the US a year later in 1972.[12] Cheng fought the extradition attempt with a hunger strike, but was loaded while characterized as "semi-conscious" on the flight from Stockholm to New York.[12] That flight was diverted to Copenhagen when the plane developed mechanical issues, and Cheng was taken to the hospital after falling unconscious to receive intravenous fluids.[12] After a second flight from Copenhagen to London, Cheng again fell unconscious, where he was taken, foaming at the mouth, to the health center in Heathrow Airport. He was later moved to a prison hospital.[12][13] Cheng applied for a writ of habeas corpus while he was detained in the United Kingdom, but this was refused in 1972 and an appeal was denied in 1973.[5] Upon returning to the United States, Cheng was sentenced to up to five years in prison[14] and spent 22 months in jail.[15]

References

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  1. ^ 許維德 (13 April 2007). "海外台獨運動中驚天動地的那一聲槍響：「424刺蔣案」主角之一鄭自才訪談錄" [Overseas Taiwan independence movement, that earth-shattering gunshot: "424 Chiang assassination attempt", exclusive interview with Cheng Tzu-tsai]. World United Formosans for Independence. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference TT000215 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan (1 December 2007). "Forum discusses Chiang Ching-kuo assassination bid". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  4. ^ "2 Cited in Plot: Security Tight for Chiang". Spokane Daily Chronicle. UPI. 25 April 1970. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b Tzu-Tsai Cheng v. Governor of Pentonville Prison, 2 All E.R. 204 (United Kingdom House of Lords (Judicial Committee) 16 April 1973) ("Lords Wilberforce and Simon, voting to allow the appeal; and Lords Hodson, Diplock and Salmon, voting to dismiss the appeal.").
  6. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (19 May 2012). "Would-be Chiang Ching-kuo assassin honored by Taipei University". Want China Times. Taipei. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  7. ^ "2 Taiwanese Held in Shooting". The Milwaukee Journal. UPI. 25 April 1970. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  8. ^ "Single Pistol Shot Narrowly Misses Chiang's Son-Heir". The Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. AP. 25 April 1970. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  9. ^ "Taiwan native found guilty of trying to kill politician". The Montreal Gazette. 19 May 1971. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  10. ^ Hsueh Huayuan (2011). "Attempt to Assassinate Chiang Chingkuo". Council for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Two Would-Be Assassins Said Now in China". Lawrence Journal-World. AP. 29 December 1971. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d "Drugged would-be killer extradited". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP-Reuter. 6 September 1972. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  13. ^ "Fugitive Gets Stay". The Palm Beach Post. 6 September 1972. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Would-Be Assassin Convicted". The Milwaukee Journal. 9 August 1973. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  15. ^ Chiu, Yu-Tzu (24 April 2000). "Taiwan waking up to history: Peter Ng". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
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  • "Man Fires Shot at Chiang's Son". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. AP. 25 April 1970. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  • "Chiang's Son Nearly Shot in New York". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. UPI. 25 April 1970. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  • "peter huang 黃文雄 and tzu-tsai cheng 鄭自財 (Press photographs)". zero focus (blog). 15 February 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  • Butler, Vincent (25 April 1970). "Attempt to Kill Son of Chiang Thwarted". Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune Press Service. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  • Tsai, Shih-shan Henry (September 2005). Lee Teng-Hui and Taiwan's Quest for Identity. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 96–97. ISBN 1-4039-7056-4. Retrieved 29 October 2015. During his Cornell days, Lee [Teng-hui] socialized with all kinds of Asian students in Ithaca. Among the Taiwanese who made acquaintance with the Lees were Mr. Huang Wen-hsiung (Peter), a Cornell graduate student and an architect named Ch'eng Tzu-ts'ai, who was married to Huang's sister Cecilia.
  • Phillips, Steven (2005). "3: Building a Taiwanese Republic: The Independence Movement, 1945–present". In Tucker, Nancy Bernkopf (ed.). Dangerous Strait: The U.S.—Taiwan—China Crisis. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 57–58. ISBN 0-231-13564-5. Retrieved 29 October 2015. Terrorism proved one of the most controversial issues in the history of the TIM [Taiwanese Independence Movement]. In the 1970s and early 1980s, many of those connected to WUFI called for revolution—usually defined as the overthrow of the Nationalist government. The most infamous event of the TIM's violent period was the April 1970 attempt on the life of Chiang Ching-kuo during his visit to New York City. Shooter and WUFI member Huang Wen-hsiung (Huang Wenxiong) and an accomplice were quickly arrested. Both jumped bail, but were found guilty in absentia. Officially, WUFI condemned the attack:


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