Chang An-lo

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Chang An-lo
張安樂
Chang in 2017
Born (1948-03-13) 13 March 1948 (age 76)
Nanjing, Jiangsu
NationalityTaiwanese
Other namesThe White Wolf
Alma materTamkang University
Political partyChinese Unification Promotion Party
Criminal chargesDrug smuggling

Chang An-lo (Chinese: 張安樂; pinyin: Zhāng Ānlè; born 13 March 1948), also known as the White Wolf (白狼; Bái Láng), is a Taiwanese Chinese ultranationalist, organized crime figure, entrepreneur, and politician. He is supportive of Chinese unification, having founded the Chinese Unification Promotion Party.

Work with the Triad[edit]

Further information: Organized crime in Taiwan

In 1985, Chang was convicted and incarcerated in the United States for ten years for drug smuggling, kidnapping, and extortion.[1][2][3][4] While in custody, he cooperated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and provided tapes that revealed how Taiwanese military intelligence directed the Bamboo Union to use violence against dissidents of the Kuomintang during martial law in Taiwan.[5]

A former leader of the Bamboo Union crime brotherhood,[6][5][7] Chang fled Taiwan in 1996 after being placed on the wanted list by authorities in Taipei for involvement in organized crime,[8][9] leading him to live in exile in Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.[10][11][12] Chang is credited with giving the Bamboo Union a political mission and a touch of romantic character which has made it more appealing to gain members from rival criminal gangs.[13]

During his time in China, the Chinese Unity Promotion Party was founded in 2004. He then started a Taiwan-based branch of the party in 2005.[14] He returned to Taiwan in June 2013 and was arrested by Taiwanese police on arrival at Songshan Airport and released on bail.[11] President Ma Ying-jeou received criticism for his lax treatment of Chang.[12]

Political career[edit]

Upon his return to Taiwan, Chang opened a campaign headquarters affiliated with the "Chinese Unification Promotion Party" in downtown Tainan in order to prepare for elections in 2016.[15]

Following a police raid of one of the party's headquarters in November 2013, police stated their concerns about the political party's links to organized crime to the press.[16] Police alleged that the political party was being used as a front for membership in the Bamboo Union gang in New Taipei City; police also allege that illegal firearms had been trafficked and used in racketeering and turf war by the Yeh Shih branch (named after historical figure Ye Shi).

In 2013, his party claims that it has a membership of 20,000 persons, and 75 branch-offices (or headquarters).[17]

In one notable protest in February 2019, Chang tripped and stumbled into his own prop coffin that he had brought to symbolise Taiwanese fatalities that would result from resistance to invasion from the PRC.[18] In August 2019, Chang was arrested by Taiwanese police and prosecutors charged him and five party workers with taking illicit political donations, embezzlement, and tax evasion.[19]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "'White wolf' Chang An-lo arrested in Taipei after 17 years on run". South China Morning Post. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  2. ^ "The White Wolf of Taiwan: Chang An-lo and his reunification party". The China Project. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  3. ^ Chin, Ko-Lin (8 July 2016). Heijin: Organized Crime, Business, and Politics in Taiwan. Routledge. pp. 37–38. ISBN 978-1-315-49828-7. OCLC 953604095.
  4. ^ Arax, Mark (12 June 1985). "Reputed Gang Leader Jailed on Kidnaping and Extortion Charges". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b "The White Wolf". The Economist. 4 September 2014. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  6. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (18 December 1986). "8 in Gang Linked to Taiwan Get Prison Sentences". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  7. ^ Arax, Mark (19 September 1985). "Reputed Gang Chief Charged in Liu Killing". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ "Chang An-lo" (in Chinese). Criminal Investigation Bureau. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  9. ^ Pomfret, John (31 December 2000). "The China Connection". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  10. ^ Chin (2003), p. 205.
  11. ^ a b Taiwan gang leader 'White Wolf' arrested after China exile, Herald Sun, 30 June 2013, retrieved 30 June 2013
  12. ^ a b Cole, J. Michael. "The Return of Gangster Politics in Taiwan". The Diplomat. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  13. ^ Xia, Yun. "The White Wolf of Taiwan". The Diplomat. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  14. ^ Hsiao, Alison (5 March 2017). "Reporter's Notebook: Survivors of 228 Incident divided along ethnic lines". Taipei Times. p. 3. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  15. ^ Tseng, Wei-chen; Chung, Jake (9 September 2013). "'White Wolf's' party to contest in 2016 elections". Taipei Times. p. 3. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  16. ^ Cheng, Shu-ting; Chung, Jake (8 November 2013). "Police link party to organized crime". Taipei Times. p. 3. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  17. ^ 張安樂29日返台：我沒有犯罪 (in Chinese). Central News Agency. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2014. 中華統一促進黨有75個黨部，黨員2萬餘人
  18. ^ Pan, Jason. "White Wolf' falls onto coffin; CUPP protesters detained". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  19. ^ Pan, Jason. "Prosecutors charge 'White Wolf,' other CUPP members with illegal gains". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 August 2019.

References[edit]

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