Wang Hsi-ling

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) Ministry of National Defense's intelligence bureau and the highest-ranking officer in the Republic of China Armed Forces ever court-martialed.[1][2]

Wang was implicated during the murder trial of the United Bamboo Gang leader Chen Chi-li, when evidence arose that Chen claimed that Wang had ordered him to go to Daly City, California to kill the dissident journalist Henry Liu in 1984.[3] American officials travelled to Taiwan to interview him and administer a polygraph examination in February 1985; then-President Chiang Ching-kuo 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.[4] On 19 April 1985, he was sentenced to life in prison by a Taipei military tribunal; He could have faced the death penalty.[5] Less than a month later, Chen retracted all of his testimony implicating Wang.[1]

Wang was imprisoned at the Taiwan Garrison Command facility for political prisoners in Jingmei, Taipei County (now Wenshan District, Taipei City); his cell was reportedly equipped with a kitchen and a study, and his family was allowed to live with him.[6] 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.[7] 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.[4] However, as late as 2007, Republic of China officials continued to deny any connection of Chiang's to the case.[8]