Taiwan’s Academia Historica on Tuesday held a launch event for the publication of Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) diaries written during his first presidential term between 1948 and 1954. The diaries and other cultural relics were returned to Taiwan in September after a 10-year legal battle with Stanford University in the U.S.
This is the first volume in a series that will be published in chronological order based on Chiang's term in office and year. In addition, Academia Historica intends to publish Chiang Ching-kuo’s (蔣經國) diary from 1970 to 1979 by the end of this year and will digitize the historical artifacts for research as soon as possible.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), a fourth-generation member of the Chiang family, said in a media interview, that he hopes the diaries will be fully disclosed to present the original appearance of history.
The cultural relics include Chiang Kai-shek's diary from 1917 to 1972, Chiang Ching-kuo's original diary from 1937 to 1979, as well as family letters, manuscripts, telegrams, presidential approval documents, diplomatic messages, and microfilms.