Chiang Kai-shek - Biography.

Chiang Kai-shek - Biography. Chinese nationalist, leader of Taiwan Birth October 31, 1887 Death April 5, 1975 Place of Birth Fenghua, China Political Kuomintang (Nationalist, or KMT) Party Term 1950-1975 (Taiwan) Known For Leading efforts to unify China and to defeat Japan in World War II Overseeing the rapid modernization of the Taiwanese economy Milestones 1911-1916 Participated in the revolutionary struggle against imperial rule to establish the Republic of China 1923 Returned from military studies in the USSR to oversee training of the KMT army 1925 Established control of the KMT after the death of Sun Yat-sen 1927 Broke the KMT alliance with the Chinese Communist Party 1928 Occupied Beijing, proclaiming himself president of a unified China while still battling Communist forces for control 1936 Resumed the alliance with the Communists after being kidnapped and convinced that a united front was necessary to defeat the Japanese 1946 Resumed civil war with the Communists after the expulsion of Japanese forces from China 1949 Fled to Taiwan after the KMT was defeated by Communist forces 1950s Instituted land reform and policies for rapid industrialization, helping elevate Taiwan to one of the highest standards of living in Asia 1965 Lost economic assistance from the United States because rapid growth made further aid unnecessary Did You Chiang's split with the Communists is partly attributed to his marriage to Soong Mei-ling, who was part of a powerful Christian family. Know Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling were jointly named Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1937. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.