As tensions with Beijing reach boiling point, the shadow of Taiwan’s notorious former president, Chiang Kai-Shek, looms larger than ever. Also the former President of Mainland China, the 'Generalissimo' was one of the 20th century's most consequential leaders.

Fifty years after his death, Chiang remains one of Taiwan’s most divisive figures. His statues are being removed and his legacy debated as the island reckons with the history of martial law rule, from mass arrests and executions to the suppression of native languages. For some, he laid the foundations of modern Taiwan. For others, he symbolises decades of repression. Across the Strait, he is venerated as a symbol of national unity and remembered for his steadfast belief in One China, despite his defeat by Mao's Communists in the Chinese Civil War.

With inside access to China, where Chiang's old house is now a tourist attraction, and consulting the multiplicity of perspectives within Taiwan itself, that include a rock band who perform in Taiwanese Hokkien, we confront the full range of perspectives that surround the historic figure at the centre of a global political crisis. This award-winning special ultimately explores Chiang’s divisive legacy and how this continues to shape Taiwan’s politics, its sense of identity, and how the territory envisions its future with China today.