When Taiwan’s ‘White Terror’ ended - Witness History

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Transcript34 lines

[00:00]
A
Foreign. From the BBC World Service with me, Ashley Byrne. I'm taking you back to July 1987, the day martial law was finally lifted in Taiwan.
[00:18]
B
Change here is not just economic. After four decades of nationalist rule, a form of democracy is coming to Taiwan, the whole country.
[00:27]
C
We are happy that the martial was lifted. Kind of optimistic that in the future we have good ways to fight back our loss.
[00:37]
A
I've been talking to Fred Chin, who was a young student from Malaysia who came to Taiwan to study in 1967.
[00:45]
C
I have three years happy life in Taiwan. Free to go anywhere, to talk, to say anything, without knowing that at the time Taiwan is under martial law.
[00:55]
A
Taiwan had been under martial law since 1949. It meant political parties banned, newspapers, censored, secret police on university campuses, and trials held in military courts. Tens of thousands were detained during what became known as the White Terror. And yet, at the same time, Taiwan's economy was booming and modernizing society under an authoritarian state. Fred Chin, now 76, was completely unaware of the political undercurrents which were about to turn his life upside down.
[01:32]
C
I came to Taiwan to further my study in 1967. But unfortunately, in 1971, I was arrested by the KMT government.
[01:41]
A
Fred had been enjoying those relative freedoms, but everything changed when he was approached by a plainclothes security agent working for the ruling Kuomintang, or kmt, party in he persuaded him to get into a car and travel to Taipei on the pretense that a family member urgently needed to see him.
[02:00]
C
He said, don't worry, nothing happened, nothing serious. You have a stay in Taipei now. Tomorrow he might be going back to Malaysia. So he gave us a call and asked us to locate you and bring you to Taipei to have a short talk. I didn't suspect anything.
[02:15]
A
The security agent kept saying he was taking Fred to see a Mr. Tsai. But that's when alarm bells rang.
[02:23]
C
I told them that, sir, in my memory, I didn't have such a relative by the name Mr. Tsai in Taipei.
[02:29]
A
Fred's ordeal took a sinister twist, went
[02:32]
C
back to Taipei in a small room for 48 to 50 hours of questioning, prohibiting me to go to sleep, to have food or drink, or even go to the toilet.
[02:42]
A
Fred was subjected to two weeks of interrogation and torture as his interrogators tried to force a confession. But Fred couldn't understand what he was meant to be admitting to.
[02:53]
C
I knelt down and begged them, let me know what you really wanted from me. I couldn't endure anymore the pressures, the humiliations that you put on me. Please help me. They said no. Our senior officers prohibited us to hint. Even you have to write down by yourself.
[03:11]
A
The attacks became more and more violent. Fred claims he was forced to stand for hours and at one point was even hung upside down. Exhausted and terrified, he says he was tricked into signing a falsified confession. It was only afterwards that a fellow prisoner explained the charge that had been invented against him.
[03:31]
C
When you were 16 years old, you joined one of the not existing Communist Party and came to Taipei as a student trying to overthrow government. Indicted under the Statute of Punishment of the Rebellion. This was ridiculous. How could a student, a young student of 18 of age, came to Taiwan three years in Taiwan and then turned? How could that happen? You were indicted under that Article 2, Section 1. The only penalty was death. That shocked me. I dropped to the floor.
[04:09]
A
Fred had been convicted of rebellion after being linked to a minor explosion at the US Information Service where he used to att language study. He's always strenuously denied any involvement. A court case followed where Fred learned his fate.
[04:25]
C
I solemnly announce your verdict. Because you came from overseas, you knew not much about Taiwan. You did something wrong against our government. But we were not going to punish you to death. Instead, 12 short years of imprisonment. I just raised my hand. Your Honor, I have question. He stood up. I was so frightened. And he pointed at me. We didn't punish you to death. Why were you not happy? I said, sir, your indictment was totally false. You should Release me.
[05:01]
A
After 12 years on green island, one of Taiwan's most notorious political prisons, Fred expected to be deported back to Malaysia. Instead, he was simply shown the door. He and another former prisoner set up a small construction business. But it soon went bankrupt.
[05:21]
C
We as political prisoners were the lowest class. No one dared to have any contact with us. Because they're afraid if they contact with us, they might fall into certain kind of traps by the government.
[05:36]
A
So Fred ended up on the streets, living off leftovers from expensive restaurants. And then in 1986, after three years without papers, he was finally given a Taiwanese ID card. It ended his statelessness and let him step back into society. Meanwhile, public pressure for basic freedoms was growing, coupled with recognition that Taiwan needed to open up and begin a controlled transition towards democracy. In 1987, the country finally ended almost 40 years of martial law.
[06:12]
B
Economically, this small island off the South China coast is already one of the giants of the Far east. The world's 11th most powerful exporter and one of the fastest developing nations. Martial law imposed in 1949 was lifted two weeks ago. Dissidents have been released from jail and Taiwan's first party of opposition can raise its voice in public to criticize policies of the ruling Kuomintang, the kmt.
[06:41]
A
Do you remember thinking, this is the beginning of the end? At some point I'm going to be able to tell my story.
[06:48]
C
We feel the kind of optimistic that in the future we have a good ways to fight back. We are happy that the martial was lifted.
[07:00]
A
Even as martial war ended, he couldn't shake the sense that he wasn't entirely safe.
[07:06]
C
I knew that there were many political prisoners that celebrating. They asked me to join them and said no because in my mind I still had a certain kind of worry that I might probably be arrested again because I was alone in Taiwan. I really was afraid at the time.
[07:19]
A
And the prejudice, of course, was still widespread, wasn't it?
[07:23]
C
In the beginning, yes. We faced a lot of, in fact, a lot of other discriminations from the public.
[07:32]
A
And it was a long time before Fred was free to tell his story. Security controls restricting speech and anything that looked political were not lifted until 1992. Taiwan only then began offering compensation and finally an official apology to political prisoners in 1998. Slowly, Fred rebuilt his life, working, traveling, and eventually marrying. And he stayed in Taiwan, the place that once imprisoned him. Though more than 50 years on, he still feels the effects of the torture he endured.
[08:11]
C
My eyes, my nose and my ears are not functioning well. I blame them, but what could I do? I still have to endure the pain they did to me like dust.
[08:22]
A
Today, Fred shares his story with younger generations as a reminder of how fragile freedom can be.
[08:29]
C
I'm the happiest man in the world. But you couldn't forget the past. You couldn't forget the tragedies. We could forgive others, but we couldn't forget what happened to us. If you forget the past history, it might happen to you.
[08:47]
A
Fred Chin, former political prisoner in Taiwan, was speaking to me. Ashley Byrne for Witness History from the BBC with World Service. It was a Made in Manchester production. If you've enjoyed listening, why not leave us a review? Please share it with anyone you think would like to hear it. It really helps us let people know about the amazing stories people tell us on Witness History. Make sure you hit subscribe wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

Summary5 min read

Witness History — “When Taiwan’s ‘White Terror’ Ended”

Host: Ashley Byrne (BBC World Service)
Date: August 6, 2026
Duration: 9 minutes
Theme:
A moving exploration of Taiwan’s transition from martial law to democracy, told through the personal story of Fred Chin—a Malaysian student wrongly imprisoned under Taiwan’s “White Terror.” The episode uses Fred’s eyewitness account to highlight the impact of decades-long authoritarian rule, the experiences of political prisoners, and the slow, difficult journey toward justice and freedom.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Backdrop: Taiwan Under Martial Law (00:00–00:54)

Taiwan’s Martial Law: Imposed in 1949, lasting nearly 40 years.
- Political parties banned; press censored; secret police monitored universities; trials held in military courts.
- Tens of thousands detained during the “White Terror.”
Irony of Progress: Economic modernization occurred alongside severe repression.
Fred’s Initial Experience:
- “I have three years happy life in Taiwan. Free to go anywhere, to talk, to say anything, without knowing that at the time Taiwan is under martial law.” —Fred Chin (00:45)

2. Arrest & Ordeal (01:31–04:09)

Fred’s Arrest:
- Approached in 1971 by a plainclothes agent using a family emergency as a pretext (01:31).
- Fred was taken for questioning, subjected to psychological manipulation and growing fear.
  - “He said, don’t worry, nothing happened, nothing serious... I didn’t suspect anything.” (01:59)
  - Realizes the ruse: “Sir, in my memory, I didn’t have such a relative by the name Mr. Tsai in Taipei.” (02:22)
Interrogation & Torture:
- “Back to Taipei in a small room for 48 to 50 hours of questioning, prohibiting me to go to sleep, to have food or drink, or even go to the toilet.” (02:32)
- Endures two weeks of torture, not knowing what crime he is accused of.
  - “I knelt down and begged them, let me know what you really wanted from me... They said no. Our senior officers prohibited us to hint. Even you have to write down by yourself.” (02:52)
- Forced into signing a falsified confession after extreme duress.
Shocking Charges:
- Falsely accused of being part of a “non-existing Communist Party” and plotting rebellion, punishable by death under Article 2, Section 1.
  - “This was ridiculous. How could a student... have come to Taiwan and then turned?” (03:30)
  - Reaction: “That shocked me. I dropped to the floor.” (03:30)

3. Trial, Imprisonment, and Aftermath (04:09–06:11)

Sentencing:
- Initially facing the death penalty, Fred is instead sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment after the court cites his overseas status.
  - Quoting the verdict: “Because you came from overseas... Instead, 12 short years of imprisonment.” (04:25)
  - When Fred objects, the judge responds: “We didn’t punish you to death. Why were you not happy?” (04:25)
Life After Release:
- Following 12 years in Green Island political prison, Fred expected deportation but is simply let go. Attempts to start a business fail due to stigma.
  - “We as political prisoners were the lowest class. No one dared to have any contact with us.” (05:21)
- Experiences statelessness for three years, living on the streets before being granted a Taiwanese ID card in 1986.

4. Political Change and Slow Healing (06:11–08:21)

Democratic Shift:
- Economic boom and societal pressures fuel calls for reform.
- Martial law is finally lifted in July 1987.
  - “Martial law imposed in 1949 was lifted two weeks ago... Taiwan’s first party of opposition can raise its voice in public.” —News archive (06:11)
- Fred’s cautious optimism:
  - “We feel the kind of optimistic that in the future we have a good ways to fight back. We are happy that the martial was lifted.” (06:48)
Enduring Fear and Discrimination:
- Even after martial law, Fred fears re-arrest and chooses not to celebrate.
  - “I still had a certain kind of worry that I might probably be arrested again because I was alone in Taiwan. I really was afraid at the time.” (07:05)
- Discrimination lingers:
  - “We faced a lot of... discriminations from the public.” (07:23)
Steps Towards Reconciliation:
- True speech freedoms and redress only arrive years later:
  - Restrictions lifted in 1992.
  - Compensation and official apology come in 1998.

5. Legacy and Lessons (08:10–08:47)

Lasting Impact:
- Fred continues to suffer health issues from torture.
  - “My eyes, my nose and my ears are not functioning well. I blame them, but what could I do? I still have to endure the pain they did to me like dust.” (08:10)
Sharing History:
- Addresses younger generations about the fragility of freedom and the importance of memory.
  - “I’m the happiest man in the world. But you couldn’t forget the past. You couldn’t forget the tragedies... We could forgive others, but we couldn’t forget what happened to us. If you forget the past history, it might happen to you.” (08:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Naivete in Oppression:
“I have three years happy life in Taiwan...without knowing that at the time Taiwan is under martial law.” (00:45)
On Shock of Accusation:
“You were indicted under that Article 2, Section 1. The only penalty was death. That shocked me. I dropped to the floor.” (03:30)
On Life After Prison:
“We as political prisoners were the lowest class. No one dared to have any contact with us.” (05:21)
On End of Martial Law:
“We feel... optimistic that in the future we have a good ways to fight back. We are happy that the martial was lifted.” (06:48)
On Enduring Fear:
“I really was afraid at the time.” (07:05)
On Memory and Forgiveness:
“We could forgive others, but we couldn’t forget what happened to us. If you forget the past history, it might happen to you.” (08:29)

Key Timestamps

00:00–00:54 — Taiwan’s martial law background and Fred’s early experience
01:31–04:09 — Fred’s arrest, interrogation, torture, and coerced confession
04:09–06:11 — Sentencing, prison life, release, and struggles with reintegration
06:11–07:05 — Martial law lifted; first steps towards democracy
07:05–08:10 — Ongoing fear, discrimination, and belated reconciliatory measures
08:10–08:47 — Fred’s reflections on trauma, memory, and the importance of sharing history

Summary Takeaway

This short but intense episode illuminates Taiwan’s authoritarian past and its painful path toward democracy by focusing on the personal trauma, resilience, and eventual hope of one man. Fred Chin’s story is both a warning and a reminder: that the freedoms many enjoy rest on the memory of those who paid the highest price. “If you forget the past history, it might happen to you.” (08:29)

Loading summary

Transcript34 lines

[00:00]
A
Foreign. From the BBC World Service with me, Ashley Byrne. I'm taking you back to July 1987, the day martial law was finally lifted in Taiwan.
[00:18]
B
Change here is not just economic. After four decades of nationalist rule, a form of democracy is coming to Taiwan, the whole country.
[00:27]
C
We are happy that the martial was lifted. Kind of optimistic that in the future we have good ways to fight back our loss.
[00:37]
A
I've been talking to Fred Chin, who was a young student from Malaysia who came to Taiwan to study in 1967.
[00:45]
C
I have three years happy life in Taiwan. Free to go anywhere, to talk, to say anything, without knowing that at the time Taiwan is under martial law.
[00:55]
A
Taiwan had been under martial law since 1949. It meant political parties banned, newspapers, censored, secret police on university campuses, and trials held in military courts. Tens of thousands were detained during what became known as the White Terror. And yet, at the same time, Taiwan's economy was booming and modernizing society under an authoritarian state. Fred Chin, now 76, was completely unaware of the political undercurrents which were about to turn his life upside down.
[01:32]
C
I came to Taiwan to further my study in 1967. But unfortunately, in 1971, I was arrested by the KMT government.
[01:41]
A
Fred had been enjoying those relative freedoms, but everything changed when he was approached by a plainclothes security agent working for the ruling Kuomintang, or kmt, party in he persuaded him to get into a car and travel to Taipei on the pretense that a family member urgently needed to see him.
[02:00]
C
He said, don't worry, nothing happened, nothing serious. You have a stay in Taipei now. Tomorrow he might be going back to Malaysia. So he gave us a call and asked us to locate you and bring you to Taipei to have a short talk. I didn't suspect anything.
[02:15]
A
The security agent kept saying he was taking Fred to see a Mr. Tsai. But that's when alarm bells rang.
[02:23]
C
I told them that, sir, in my memory, I didn't have such a relative by the name Mr. Tsai in Taipei.
[02:29]
A
Fred's ordeal took a sinister twist, went
[02:32]
C
back to Taipei in a small room for 48 to 50 hours of questioning, prohibiting me to go to sleep, to have food or drink, or even go to the toilet.
[02:42]
A
Fred was subjected to two weeks of interrogation and torture as his interrogators tried to force a confession. But Fred couldn't understand what he was meant to be admitting to.
[02:53]
C
I knelt down and begged them, let me know what you really wanted from me. I couldn't endure anymore the pressures, the humiliations that you put on me. Please help me. They said no. Our senior officers prohibited us to hint. Even you have to write down by yourself.
[03:11]
A
The attacks became more and more violent. Fred claims he was forced to stand for hours and at one point was even hung upside down. Exhausted and terrified, he says he was tricked into signing a falsified confession. It was only afterwards that a fellow prisoner explained the charge that had been invented against him.
[03:31]
C
When you were 16 years old, you joined one of the not existing Communist Party and came to Taipei as a student trying to overthrow government. Indicted under the Statute of Punishment of the Rebellion. This was ridiculous. How could a student, a young student of 18 of age, came to Taiwan three years in Taiwan and then turned? How could that happen? You were indicted under that Article 2, Section 1. The only penalty was death. That shocked me. I dropped to the floor.
[04:09]
A
Fred had been convicted of rebellion after being linked to a minor explosion at the US Information Service where he used to att language study. He's always strenuously denied any involvement. A court case followed where Fred learned his fate.
[04:25]
C
I solemnly announce your verdict. Because you came from overseas, you knew not much about Taiwan. You did something wrong against our government. But we were not going to punish you to death. Instead, 12 short years of imprisonment. I just raised my hand. Your Honor, I have question. He stood up. I was so frightened. And he pointed at me. We didn't punish you to death. Why were you not happy? I said, sir, your indictment was totally false. You should Release me.
[05:01]
A
After 12 years on green island, one of Taiwan's most notorious political prisons, Fred expected to be deported back to Malaysia. Instead, he was simply shown the door. He and another former prisoner set up a small construction business. But it soon went bankrupt.
[05:21]
C
We as political prisoners were the lowest class. No one dared to have any contact with us. Because they're afraid if they contact with us, they might fall into certain kind of traps by the government.
[05:36]
A
So Fred ended up on the streets, living off leftovers from expensive restaurants. And then in 1986, after three years without papers, he was finally given a Taiwanese ID card. It ended his statelessness and let him step back into society. Meanwhile, public pressure for basic freedoms was growing, coupled with recognition that Taiwan needed to open up and begin a controlled transition towards democracy. In 1987, the country finally ended almost 40 years of martial law.
[06:12]
B
Economically, this small island off the South China coast is already one of the giants of the Far east. The world's 11th most powerful exporter and one of the fastest developing nations. Martial law imposed in 1949 was lifted two weeks ago. Dissidents have been released from jail and Taiwan's first party of opposition can raise its voice in public to criticize policies of the ruling Kuomintang, the kmt.
[06:41]
A
Do you remember thinking, this is the beginning of the end? At some point I'm going to be able to tell my story.
[06:48]
C
We feel the kind of optimistic that in the future we have a good ways to fight back. We are happy that the martial was lifted.
[07:00]
A
Even as martial war ended, he couldn't shake the sense that he wasn't entirely safe.
[07:06]
C
I knew that there were many political prisoners that celebrating. They asked me to join them and said no because in my mind I still had a certain kind of worry that I might probably be arrested again because I was alone in Taiwan. I really was afraid at the time.
[07:19]
A
And the prejudice, of course, was still widespread, wasn't it?
[07:23]
C
In the beginning, yes. We faced a lot of, in fact, a lot of other discriminations from the public.
[07:32]
A
And it was a long time before Fred was free to tell his story. Security controls restricting speech and anything that looked political were not lifted until 1992. Taiwan only then began offering compensation and finally an official apology to political prisoners in 1998. Slowly, Fred rebuilt his life, working, traveling, and eventually marrying. And he stayed in Taiwan, the place that once imprisoned him. Though more than 50 years on, he still feels the effects of the torture he endured.
[08:11]
C
My eyes, my nose and my ears are not functioning well. I blame them, but what could I do? I still have to endure the pain they did to me like dust.
[08:22]
A
Today, Fred shares his story with younger generations as a reminder of how fragile freedom can be.
[08:29]
C
I'm the happiest man in the world. But you couldn't forget the past. You couldn't forget the tragedies. We could forgive others, but we couldn't forget what happened to us. If you forget the past history, it might happen to you.
[08:47]
A
Fred Chin, former political prisoner in Taiwan, was speaking to me. Ashley Byrne for Witness History from the BBC with World Service. It was a Made in Manchester production. If you've enjoyed listening, why not leave us a review? Please share it with anyone you think would like to hear it. It really helps us let people know about the amazing stories people tell us on Witness History. Make sure you hit subscribe wherever you get your BBC podcasts.