Wang Hsi-ling
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Vice-Admiral Wang Hsi-ling (born 18 July 1929), also spelled Wang Shi-ling or Wong Hsi-ling, was the director of
Republic of China (Taiwan) Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
Ministry of National Defense's intelligence bureau and the highest-ranking officer in the
Republic of China Armed Forces The Republic of China Armed Forces (ROC Armed Forces) are the armed forces of the Republic of China (ROC), once based in mainland China and currently in its remaining jurisdictions which include the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu ...
ever court-martialed. Wang was implicated during the murder trial of the United Bamboo Gang leader
Chen Chi-li Chen Chi-li (11 May 1943 – 4 October 2007), nicknamed King Duck or Dry Duck, was a gangster from Taiwan, best known for heading the United Bamboo Gang. His murder of dissident journalist Henry Liu in Daly City, California, United States, in 1 ...
, when evidence arose that Chen claimed that Wang had ordered him to go to
Daly City Daly City () is the second most populous city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with population of 104,901 according to the 2020 census. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and immediately south of San Francisco (sharing its ...
,
California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
to kill the dissident journalist
Henry Liu Henry Liu (; 7 December 1932 – 15 October 1984), often known by his pen name Chiang Nan (), was a Taiwanese-American writer and journalist. He was a vocal critic of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party), then the single ruling party of th ...
in 1984. American officials travelled to Taiwan to interview him and administer a
polygraph A polygraph, often incorrectly referred to as a lie detector test, is a device or procedure that measures and records several physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while a person is asked ...
examination in February 1985; then-
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
Chiang Ching-kuo Chiang Ching-kuo (27 April 1910 – 13 January 1988) was a politician of the Republic of China after its retreat to Taiwan. The eldest and only biological son of former president Chiang Kai-shek, he held numerous posts in the government ...
was at first reluctant, but on 8 February acceded to their demand. Wang denied that he had ordered Chen to kill Liu, stating he only wanted Chen to "teach Liu a lesson", and further denied that his superiors had approved the killing. His three interviewers agreed that the polygraph results showed that both of his statements were false. On 19 April 1985, he was sentenced to life in prison by a
Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the ...
military tribunal; He could have faced the death penalty. Less than a month later, Chen retracted all of his testimony implicating Wang. Wang was imprisoned at the
Taiwan Garrison Command The Taiwan Garrison Command () was a secret police/national security body which existed under the Republic of China Armed Forces on Taiwan. The agency was established at the end of World War II, and operated throughout the Cold War. It was d ...
facility for political prisoners in Jingmei,
Taipei County New Taipei City is a special municipality located in northern Taiwan. The city is home to an estimated population of 3,974,683 as of 2022, making it the most populous city of Taiwan, and also the second largest special municipality by area, b ...
(now
Wenshan District Wenshan District is a district in Taipei, Taiwan. It is the southernmost district of the twelve districts in Taipei. ''Wenshan'' previously referred to the region south of the Taipei Basin (including Xindian and Pinglin). History In 1894 (lat ...
,
Taipei City Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the ...
); his cell was reportedly equipped with a kitchen and a study, and his family was allowed to live with him. He, Chen, and Chen's associate Wu Tun were granted clemency in 1991 and released from prison, having served less than six years of their life sentences. It was never determined for whom Wang was covering up, though scholars agree that he was not the initiator of the plan. Later analysts suggest that Chiang's son Chiang Hsiao-wu ordered the killings. However, as late as 2007, Republic of China officials continued to deny any connection of Chiang's to the case.


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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wang, Hsi-Ling Living people Taiwanese people convicted of murder People convicted of murder by Taiwan Taiwanese prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Taiwan Taiwanese people from Zhejiang Taiwanese politicians convicted of crimes Naval attachés 1929 births Military Intelligence Bureau