Kuomintang

The KMT or Kuomintang is a Chinese political party now based in Taiwan.

Founded in 1912 by Sun Yat-sen, it helped topple the Qing Emperor. The KMT came to power in 1927 under Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975). The KMT tried to destroy the Communist party of Mas Zedong, but was unable to stop the invasion by Japan, which controlled most of the coastline and major cities, 1937-1945. Chiang Kai-shek secured massive military and economic aid from the United States, and in 1945 became one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, with a veto. The KMT governed most of China until it was defeated in civil war by the Communists in 1949. The leadership and hundreds of thousands of businessmen and other supporters fled to Taiwan, and continued to operate there as the "Republic of China." The KMT regime kept the island under martial law for 38 years, killing up to 30,000 opponents during its dictatorial rule by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) and his son Chiang Ching-kuo (1910-1988). It allowed democracy, with full election of parliament in the early 1990s and first direct presidential election in 1996.

The KMT lost power in the 2000 elections to the Democratic Progressive party. It has restructured itself, but continues to represent the descendants of the mainland Chinese who arrived in 1949, as opposed to the native islanders who support the Democratic Progressive party. The KMT is committed to "One China" but the Democratic Progressive party seeks independence, a demand that is fiercely opposed by China, even to the point of military threats. The KMT leader Ma Ying-jeouis is currently well ahead in polls for the presidential elections in March 2008.

Bibliography

• Fairbank, John K., ed. The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 12, Republican China 1912-1949. Part 1. Cambridge U. Press, 1983. 1001 pp.
• Fairbank, John K. and Feuerwerker, Albert, eds. The Cambridge History of China. Vol. 13: Republican China, 1912-1949, Part 2. Cambridge U. Press, 1986. 1092 pp.
• Hille, Kathrin. "Resurgent KMT must confront its dark past," Financial Times December 6, 2007 online
• Rigger, Shelley. Politics in Taiwan: Voting for Democracy (1999) online edition
• Wachman, Alan M. Taiwan: National Identity and Democratization (1994) online edition