The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
Chiang Kai-shek’s Secret Coma, and the Cigar-Smoking, Cross-Dressing, Confucian Descendant Ms. Kung — S5-E23
6 snips
Aug 7, 2025 In the summer of 1972, Chiang Kai-shek mysteriously vanished, slipping into a six-month coma that went unnoticed by the press. Meanwhile, Madame Chiang and her estranged stepson acted as if everything was fine. The podcast unveils strange dinner scenarios involving medical staff poised for revival. Additionally, the eclectic Jeanette Kung is introduced—a cigar-smoking, cross-dressing personality with a challenging spirit, adding a fascinating twist to the narrative of this complex historical moment.
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Episode notes
Last Diary Before The Coma
- On July 21, 1972, Chiang Kai-shek wrote his final diary entry before collapsing the next day into a coma.
- The entry reflected fatigue and a recurring theme of national humiliation motivating him.
Secrecy Orders During The Coma
- Madame Chiang ordered medical and secretarial staff not to take days off and forbade contacting families during the cover-up.
- Staff were told to lie that employees had been sent south on urgent business if relatives phoned.
Jeanette Kung's Prominent Role
- Jeanette Kung, Madame Chiang's favorite niece, played a central role caring for Chiang during his illness.
- She lived an eccentric life, dressing in men's clothes and maintaining strong influence in the household.
