“What is the Republic of China [ROC]?” was the question posed yesterday by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in the latest of his jailhouse writings.

Chen referred to remarks by his predecessors as evidence that doubts on the legitimacy of the term ROC continue to linger. His comments come shortly after the concept of being “Taiwanese” was raised as an issue by the ongoing presidential campaigns.

“Former president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) once said on March 13, 1950 ... that ‘our Republic of China was destroyed when we lost the mainland at the end of last year,’” Chen wrote in a statement published by his office.