RE CHIMK - Taiwan 'native son' wins honor in navy of Republic of China - Adm.Kuo Tsung-ching

Sep 28, 2026

A newspaper-style feature centers on Adm. Kuo Tsung-ching, a rear admiral in the Chinese navy, and explains how his upbringing and political upheavals shaped his military career. The article recounts his arrest by Japanese forces during Taiwan’s occupation, the later shift after 1946 restoration to the Republic of China, and his mainland service despite war and communist takeover. It also highlights language barriers in his early cadet years and a supportive family background.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

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Pages5

Reading Time8 min

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Taiwan 'native son'

Wins honor in navy of Republic of China

RE CHIMK VOL.XXII NO.10 # Taiwan 'native son' wins honor in navy of Republic of China Adm.Kuo Tsung-ching He left Taiwan to serve his motherland when he was ayoung man in 1946.but could only stay on the mainland threeyears because of the Communist take-over in 1949. He is a first generation military officer cultivated by thegovernment of the Republic of China among native Taiwaneseyouths. Kuo Tsung ching,aged 54,is now a rear admiral in theChinese navy,holding the post of deputy commander fleet com-manc,which is designated for an officer of vice-admiral rank. Adm.Kuo described why and how he took up his mili-tary career in an interview in he living room of his second-floor apartment in downtown Taipei. His Paris-educated wife sat by his side,at times correcting him cn small details. The six-foot tall admiral said he developed a deep resent-men:at the age of 16 over the Japanese occupation of Tai-wan,which at that time had gone on for 48 years. He was arrested by the Japanese military police,handedover to a civilian court for prosecution,but acquitted on thegrounds that he was a minor.One of the attorneys hired byhis father.Liu Kuo-sai,is now the vice-president of theLegislative Yuan(Parliament). "That record of arrest and prosecution virtually had mebranded,"Adm.Kuo said."I would have no future in Taiwanas Iong as the Japanese maintained their rule of the island." He said he then planned to sneak into the China mainland."Fortunately,World War ll ended two years later in 1945.closing out Japan's 50-year rule of Taiwan,and I was able tocomplete my high school education,"Adm.Kuo recalled. In 1946,a year after Taiwan was restored to the Republicof China and became a Chinese province again,young Kuo,then 19,passed a test to be one of the 20 candidates from theisland in an entrance examination to the Navy Academy,whichwas to be held in Nanking.former capital of the Republic ofChina on the mainland. The fact that he was one of only 200 successful candidatesamong thousands from the various provinces,was no reaso0for particular celebration,as his parents,like other Chinesewho are traditionally against seeing their children leave home,raised objections to his choice of a military career. Before he went to the mainland for the navy examination,Kuo had taken part in an entrance examination to the NationalTaiwan University,then the sole higher educational instutitionon the island,known as the Taiwan Imperial University duringthe Japanese occupation. He received admission from both schools,but his parents wanted him to study law at the Taiwan University.His elder brother.then a medical student,however,persuaded them to allow Kuo to have his way. "A man can serve his country in every profession,"Adm. Kuo explained,"but 1 believed being a soldier is the most direct way." Kuo stayed in China for only three years to prepare toserve his country.The civif war between the government and the Communists forced the navy academy to move from Shang- hai to Tsingtao in the north,and then to Amoy in the south, and finally to Taiwan,Kuo's home province. He graduated from the academy in southern Taiwan in 1950.and one year later,the Communists took over the China mainland. Recalling his years as a naval cadet,particularly the first year in mainland China,Adm.Kuo said he was laughed at by his colleagues on a number of occasions. "They did not understand my Taiwan dialect,and I could not figure out their Mandarin.I had such a limited knowledge of Mandarin expressions that I could not answer the simplequestion of where I came from." Adm.Kuo now speaks perfect Mandarin,of course,and several other Chinese dialecis,and a few foreign languages, including English,French and Japanese. (Continued on Page 4) 報週国中由自 e March 15,1981 TAIPEI,TAIWAN.REPUBLIC OF CHINA # Govt encourages talent from private sector People taking part innation's development China are taking

FAQs

Who is the main subject of the article?

The article focuses on Adm. Kuo Tsung-ching, describing his role in the Chinese navy and his military background.

Why did Kuo leave Taiwan for the mainland in 1946?

He left Taiwan to serve his motherland and planned to enter the China mainland after World War II ended and Japan’s rule ended in 1945.

What challenge did Kuo face when he was a naval cadet on the mainland?

He struggled with communication at first, lacking Mandarin expressions and not sharing the same Taiwan dialect with colleagues.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by River Wang