President Chiang Kai-shek's Freedom Day message
January 23, 1970
More than 14,000 Chinese Communist POWs of the Korean War resisted threats and overcame difficulties in their courageous choice of freedom outside the bamboo curtain. On January 23 of 1954, they reached this free island bastion of the Republic of China. Their dauntless spirit and intrepid action have made a matchless contribution to the history of man's struggle for freedom.
January 23 has subsequently been observed as Freedom Day. This movement to enhance human dignity and encourage mankind's struggle for freedom has countered attempts at enslavement and has won widespread support among the free and democratic nations of the world. Consequently, the World Anti-Communist League decided in 1968 to observe January 23 as World Freedom Day. Growth of this movement bears witness to the rising unity of the world's anti-Communist forces. The determination and fighting spirit of enslaved peoples have been heightened immeasurably in their quest for liberty.
I have often pointed out that Communism is at the root of all aggressive wars and that the Peiping regime is the source of evil behind all undertakings of aggression. Until the Chinese mainland is freed from the Red scourge, the world cannot expect an era of tranquillity.
Rapid progress has been made in all aspects of the Republic of China's San Min Chu I (Three Principles of the People) reconstruction in the national recovery base of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. This has made an important contribution to the safeguarding of peace and freedom in the Asian and Pacific region. The Peiping regime has been forced down the road of political disintegration, social disorder, economic desiccation and military upheaval. The regime is at the end of its rope and far-reaching changes can be expected on the mainland at any moment. Collapse of the regime is inevitable as soon as it comes under attack by external freedom forces supported by the anti-Maoists and anti-Communists of the mainland.
The triumph of freedom and defeat of slavery are immutably ordained. History supplies the undeniable proof. However, peace is not to be obtained by procrastination. Freedom has to be won by applying moral strength to the struggle. We need to unite all our brethren at home and abroad, military and civilian alike, and provide opportunity for every individual to contribute his or her wisdom and strength. All of us must dedicate ourselves absolutely and heroically to the cause of the Anti-Mao and National Salvation Front.
We can hope that our mainland compatriots will devote their attention and their energies to the self-salvation movement to destroy Mao and the Communists and assure the survival of the nation. All who are strong of body and of will must rise against tyranny, ally themselves with the awakened cadres of the Communist Party and military, prepare to join the great army of the National Revolution and strike a fatal blow at the Peiping regime whenever opportunity permits.
Even more importantly, we have to unite with the freedom-loving people of the world, develop the strength of universal principles and justice, sweep away the dark clouds of appeasement and compromise in the face of the Communist peril and assure the progress of this worldwide movement to protect freedom. We are convinced that the early recovery of the Chinese mainland is indispensable to the reinforcement of Asian security and the safeguarding of freedom anti-peace throughout the world.
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Documents: Vice President C. K. Yen's Freedom Day address
January 23, 1970
Today is the 16th anniversary of Freedom Day. The Freedom Day movement is highly significant in the development of the struggle against Communism. It was on this momentous day that a group of anti-Communist freedom fighters called upon the spirit of justice and realized their ideal. In doing so, they dealt a lethal blow to the whole system of communist tyranny, opened the eyes of the democracies and assured the success of the free world in maintaining the dignity of humankind. This movement quickly gained the support of all freedom-loving people and became a part of the world-wide anti-Communist crusade. Representatives from all walks of the nation's life are gathered at this mass rally today in order to mark the occasion with solemnity and at the same time to expand the international scope of the united front of anti-Communism. Once again we announce our unswerving determination to destroy the Iron Curtain and deliver our enslaved people.
Sixteen years ago, more than 14,000 of our anti-Communist freedom seekers in Korea overcame all obstacles along the demarcation line between freedom and enslavement and between day and night. In the end their conscience, their willingness to shed their blood, their determination and their courage prevailed. They bravely made their wise decision. This momentous occurrence demonstrates how those shut behind the Iron Curtain hate Communism and love freedom. The free world has been steeled in its faith that justice will be upheld. The Freedom Day movement engendered by this great event has produced a surging wave of anti-Communism strong enough to penetrate the Iron Curtains of both East and West. Tens of thousands of enslaved people have been inspired to escape from enslavement and seek freedom in the clear illumination from our light-houses of liberty. No one can deny that the Freedom Day movement has profoundly influenced the worldwide anti-Communist struggle.
Even so, humankind remains half slave and half free. Those of us who stand on the far frontiers of the world anti-Communist movement have responsibility for reminding all mankind of the necessity to heighten its anti-Communist vigilance so as to safeguard world peace and human freedom. We must go on to unite the anti-Communist strength of all the world, destroy the Iron Curtains and bring all of the enslaved peoples out into the fresh air of freedom.
I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to suggest the following three points of reference for our compatriots and other freedom-loving people of the world.
First, we need to warn the free world once again that both the Chinese and Russian Communists are pursuing the goal of global communization. With world peace and the freedom of human kind subjected to such imperilment, no single nation or people can exist in isolated security. We are all in the same boat and our interests are identical. That being the case, we must call upon all the free countries to move forward together, shoulder to shoulder, in a worldwide anti-Communist united front.
Second, the aggressiveness of the Maoist regime was unanimously recognized by the free world countries as long ago as the Korean War period. If any country now entertains the illusion of making friends with the Chinese Communists, it can only invite endless trouble for itself and prolong the suffering of the 700 million Chinese people shut behind the Iron Curtain. We have reason to ask that all free countries distinguish friends from enemies, recognize their own self-interest and disinterest, and abandon any false hope that the Chinese Communists can be appeased.
Third, President Chiang Kai-shek has pointed out that recovery of the Chinese mainland and the annihilation of the Maoists is the common obligation and unceasing dedication of the Chinese people. In the changing world situation of today, I must call upon our civilian and military compatriots and the overseas Chinese to understand the direction of our Revolution, to consolidate our anti-Communist position and to bring the totality of our strength together for the common struggle. Under the inspired direction of our great leader President Chiang Kai-shek, we shall accomplish the sacred mission of recovering the mainland and delivering our compatriots.