Taiwan has announced plans to remove over 750 statues of Chiang Kai-shek, a former dictator who ruled the island for nearly three decades. Chiang’s reign was marked by brutality and political repression, with an estimated 140,000 people imprisoned and 3,000 to 4,000 executed. Despite his authoritarian rule, Chiang is also credited with modernizing Taiwan and helping to secure its independence from China. The decision to remove his statues has sparked debate in Taiwan, with some arguing that it is an attempt to erase the country’s historical ties to China.