(1887 - 1975) Chinese general and political leader. He was president of China from 1928 until he was overthrown in 1949 by Chinese communist forces. Chiang fled to Taiwan (Formosa), where he established the government of the Republic of China. Among the reasons cited for his defeat was his loss of flexibility in dealing with changing conditions. Growing more rigid, he became less responsive to popular sentiment and to new ideas. He came to prize loyalty more than competence and to rely more on personal ties than on ties of organization. His dependence on a trusted clique also showed in his army, in which he favored narrow traditionalists over many abler officers. —Conquest of Chaos Approved Glossary (8.7.92)