Death and funeral of Lee Teng-hui

Lee Teng-hui, former president of the Republic of China, died of septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on 30 July 2020.

Death and funeral of Lee Teng-hui
Memorial at the Taipei Guest House
Date1 - 16 August 2020

President Tsai Ing-wen instructed a memorial to be set up at the Taipei Guest House from 1 to 16 August and the national flag to be flown at half-mast for three days starting 31 July.[1]

Illness and death

On 8 February 2020, Lee was hospitalised at Taipei Veterans General Hospital after choking while drinking milk and retained in the hospital under observation due to lung infection concerns.[2] Later, he was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia caused by pulmonary infiltration, and was subsequently intubated.[3][4][5] President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice-president Lai Ching-te and Premier Su Tseng-chang visted Lee at the hospital on 29 July 2020.[6][7] Lee died of multiple organ failure and septic shock at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on 30 July 2020, aged 97 (98 in some sources, by East Asian age reckoning).[8][9][10]

Memorial events

President Tsai Ing-wen instructed a memorial to be set up at the Taipei Guest House from 1 to 16 August 2020 and the national flag to be flown at half-mast for three days starting 31 July.[1]

On 9 August, Yoshirō Mori, former prime minister of Japan, led a delegation and conveyed to president Tsai condolences from current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before paying tribute to Lee at the Taipei Guest House, where he expressed gratitude for Lee's contributions to Japan–Taiwan relations. While not designated as an envoy, Mori is said to act on behalf of Abe. Mori had approved Lee's application for medical treatment in Japan during his premiership, against Beijing's protests and his cabinet's concerns.[11][12]

On 12 August, Alex Azar, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and the highest-level US official to visit Taiwan since 1979, paid his respects to Lee at the Taipei Guest House.[13]

On 14 August, a woman, identified as Cheng Hui-chung, vandalised the memorial by throwing a balloon filled with red paint at Lee's portrait.[14]

  • President Tsai Ing-wen paying tribute
  • People of Taiwan paying tribute
  • Yoshirō Mori paying tribute
  • Alex Azar paying tribute

Funeral

Planning

A spokesperson of the president's office said that despite the provision under the State Funeral Act (1948) that a national with great contributions to the state or the mankind can be interred in a "state funeral cemetery" in the national capital, the act has never been invoked due to the relocation of the government.[15] In practice, the president assigns 21 members (in case of a passing president) to form a funeral committee, which arranges the funeral in the rite modelled after the state funeral.[16]

On 3 August, President Tsai announced a 32-member funeral committee, comprising Lai Ching-te, Lien Chan, Vincent Siew, Su Tseng-chang, Yu Shyi-kun, Hsu Tzong-li, Wu Jin-lin, Chen Chu, Wang Jin-pyng, Weng Yueh-sheng, Hsu Shui-teh, Chien Foo, David Lee, Wu Po-hsiung, Huang Kun-huei, Wellington Koo, James Soong, Peng Ming-min, Koo Kwang-ming, Morris Chang, Huang Kun-fu, Yuan Tseh Lee, Perng Fai-nan, Wang Wun-yuan, Chen Po-chih, Chiang Chi-chen, Ko Wen-je, Chiu Hsien-chih, Liu Yi-te, Hsu Kuo-yung, Joseph Wu and Yen Teh-fa.

As Lee was a Christian, the president's office delegated the preparation of his funeral services to the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, in accordance with the wish of his family.[15]

Funeral service and cremation
Lee's funeral procession making a lap around the Presidential Office Building

At 6:36am on 14 August, the casket carrying Lee's remains was moved from Taipei Veterans General Hospital to Che-lam Presbyterian Church, where Lee's private funeral took place behind closed doors. Lee's widow, Tseng Wen-hui, was absent over concern for her health. The service was presided by pastors Yeh Chi-hsiang and Huang Chun-sheng. At the start of ceremony, the bell was rung for 21 times. During the service, the Taiwanese Hokkien version of the "Rock of Ages, cleft for me" was sung.[17][18]

After the funeral service, the funeral procession made a symbolic lap around the Presidential Office Building, where crowds lined up to pay their final tribute. The cremation took place at Taipei City Second Funeral Parlor. Lee's granddaughter Lee Kun-yi carried the urn containing his ashes back to Lee's residence.[17][18]

Burial

A burial ceremony is planned on 7 October at Wu Chih-shan Military Cemetery in New Taipei City.[18]

Further reading

References


  1. "Lee Teng-hui memorial to be open to public from Aug. 1-16". Focus Taiwan. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  2. "Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui making progress in pneumonia recovery". Taiwan News. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  3. Chang, Ming-hsun; Chang, Liang-chih; Mazzetta, Matthew; Huang, Frances (29 July 2020). "Hospital rebuts Lee Teng-hui death rumors". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  4. "Lee Teng-hui in dire condition: hospital source". Taipei Times. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  5. "Former president who brought direct elections to Taiwan dies". Associated Press. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  6. Lin, Hui-chin; Chung, Jake (31 July 2020). "Former president Lee Teng-hui dies". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  7. "Lee Teng-hui in dire condition: hospital source". Taipei Times. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  8. Lin, Hui-chin; Chung, Jake (31 July 2020). "Former president Lee Teng-hui dies". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  9. "Lee Teng-hui dies; pivotal figure in Taiwan's transition to democracy". Central News Agency. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  10. "【李登輝病逝】97歲or98歲　李登輝享年到底多少歲？" [[Passing of Lee Teng-hui] 97 or 98 Years? How old was Lee Teng-hui?] (in Chinese). HK01. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  11. "Japanese delegation led by Yoshiro Mori visits Lee Teng-hui memorial". Taipei Times. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  12. "Ex-PM Mori meets Taiwan president before paying tribute to Lee Teng-hui". Japan Times. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  13. "U.S. health secretary visits Lee Teng-hui memorial in Taiwan". UPI. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  14. "Woman vandalizes memorial of late Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui". Taiwan News. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  15. "【李登輝辭世】治喪委請台灣基督長老教會規劃　府：尊重家屬意願" [[Passing of Lee Teng-hui] Funeral Committee invites Presbyterian Church to plan for funeral; President Office: Respect family wish]. [[Apple Daily (Taiwan)|]]. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  16. "【李登輝辭世】兩蔣國喪都是1個月　背遺囑戴孝謁陵不可免" [[Passing of Lee Teng-hui] One month natinal mourning for Two Chiangs]. [[Apple Daily (Taiwan)|]]. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  17. "李登輝最後巡禮 繞府1圈 遺體火化 孫女李坤儀捧骨灰回翠山莊暫厝" [Lee Teng-hui's final procession around president's office; Cremated, ashes taken back to resident by Lee Ken-yi]. [[Apple Daily (Taiwan)|]]. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  18. "Family, friends, public bid farewell to Lee". Taipei Times. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
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