Chen, Yi

Chen, Yi (1883-1950): Infamous Chief Executive of Taiwan (1945-1947). He was born in Zhe-Jiang, China. He studied in the Military Academy (1902-1909) and Army University (1917-1920) in Japan. During the 1920's-1930's, he served different military and civil positions in the nationalist KMT regime. In 1935, he went to Taiwan to attend an exposition held by Japanese colonial authority, and was impressed by the much higher living standard enjoyed by the Taiwanese. He received the surrender of Japanese colonial authority on behalf of the KMT government in 1945. His administration in Taiwan, however, worsened the economic crisis and corrupted the judicial system; making the tension between native Taiwanese and mainlanders soaring. Upon the outbreak of the 228 incident (Feb. 28, 1947), he secretly asked for two-divisions reinforcement from mainland China, while pretended negotiable in the face of Taiwanese delegates. The following bloodshed cost numerous lives, and rooted the resentment against mainlanders for many senior Taiwanese to date. He was dismissed by Chiang, Kai-Shek under international pressure, but was promoted to the governor of Zhe-Jiang province in 1948. He was accused of collaboration with the Communists and executed in Taipei, Taiwan.