President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of March 27 with retired British Army captain Gerald Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Fitzpatrick. In addition to welcoming the couple to Taiwan on behalf of the entire ROC military and people, the president also expressed his deepest appreciation to Mr. Fitzpatrick for his contributions in clarifying the facts of history.
In remarks, the president first noted that in mid-April 1942, General Liu Fang-wu (劉放吾), commander of the 113th Regiment of the New 38th Division of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, led troops on an offensive to rescue British officers and troops that had been encircled by Japanese forces, enabling the British to move northward. In addition, General Liu's offensive also saved British and American journalists, missionaries, and family members. The battle became known as the Victory at Yenangyaung, he said.
The president stated that the heroic deeds of General Liu and the troops of the 113th Regiment had been hidden for over half a century. It was not until 1992, when former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher paid a visit to General Liu, that the deeds were publicized. The ROC government then issued a presidential citation to General Liu in recognition of his contributions, the president said.
President Ma pointed out that although the ROC forces repelled the Japanese army, they also suffered heavy casualties in the process. He added that this came at a time in World War II when the situation was fraught with peril, so victory in battle at that key juncture significantly boosted the morale of the Allied forces. It was also the first victory beyond the Republic of China's borders in the War of Resistance against Japan, making it all the more significant, the president said. Furthermore, in January 1943, nine months after the victory at the Battle of Yenangyaung, the ROC signed new equal and reciprocal treaties with the United States and the United Kingdom in Washington and Chongqing, respectively, that supplanted the previous unequal treaties. This was a demonstration, the president commented, of international recognition of the contributions of the ROC forces in the battle.
President Ma furthermore stated that Captain Fitzpatrick chronicled his experiences in two books entitled "No Mandalay, No Maymyo — 79 Survive" and "Ditched in Burma." These two books have set the record straight about the fighting in Burma, and brought this epic history to people's attention around the world, the president said. In addition, Captain Fitzpatrick personally paid a visit to the late General Liu's survivors and also sent letters to the British prime minister and foreign minister urging the UK government to own up to the facts of history and recognize the sacrifices and contributions of the ROC military forces in the battle, the president added.
President Ma stressed that the ROC's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has added the two books by Captain Fitzpatrick to its collection to provide important historical information about what occurred on the battlefields in Burma during the Second World War. The MND has also prepared patriotic education materials based on the two books, he said, to train a spotlight on the historical significance of what took place. In addition, the president remarked, a special edition of a third book called "Chinese Save Brits — in Burma" features on its front cover an image of a limited-edition porcelain plate that was issued in commemoration of the ROC's centenary two years ago, he said. President Ma also noted that a captured Japanese helmet from the Battle of Yenangyaung was presented to the MND in recognition of the sacrifices and contributions of the ROC army. The president commented how deeply touching this gesture was.
President Ma remarked that Captain Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Fitzpatrick would be interviewed by the media during their stay in Taiwan and were also scheduled to hold a press conference to relate the facts about what took place on the battlefields in Burma. This will highlight the integrity and moral courage of the ROC forces, and will spark patriotic spirit, said the president, who expressed hope that visits to the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine, the Memorial Hall of General Sun Li-jen (孫立人將軍紀念館), and the former POW camp site in Jinguashi will help Captain Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Fitzpatrick better understand the efforts made by the ROC to preserve the relics of history from the War of Resistance against Japan.
Captain and Mrs. Fitzpatrick were accompanied to the Presidential Office by British Trade & Cultural Office Taiwan Director Chris Wood to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting were Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu (高華柱), Chief of the General Staff Yen Ming (嚴明), and National Security Council Advisor Francis Yi-Hua Kan (甘逸驊).